2020 Faculty Honors

  • Morgan Philbin, PhD, assistant professor of sociomedical sciences, was selected a recipient of the 2021 ODP Early-Stage Investigator Lecture by NIH and the Office of Disease Prevention. She is recognized as an early-career prevention scientist who has made substantial research contributions to her respective field and is poised to become a leader in prevention research.  
  • Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, and Epidemiologists Daniel Belsky, PhD, Salim Abdool Karim, PhD, W. Ian Lipkin, MD, Mark Olfson, MD, MPH, Deborah Hasin, PhD, MS, and Katherine Keyes, PhD, MPH, were named to the 2020 Highly Cited Researchers list from Clarivate Analytics, which recognizes world-class researchers who have demonstrated significant influence in their fields, and have published multiple papers that rank in the top 1 percent by citations in their fields. Read more.
  • Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou, ScD, MSPH, professor of environmental health sciences, was appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Committee to reassess the Department of Veterans Affairs Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. Read more. 
  • Salim Abddol Karim, PhD, professor of global health in epidemiology and director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), was awarded the John Maddox Prize 2020 jointly with Anthony Fauci, in recognition of their exemplary work as government advisors on health and communicating the complex and changing science of COVID-19 to the public and policymakers.
  • Quarraisha Abdool Karim, PhD, professor of epidemiology, received an honorary doctorate, Doctor of Science, from the University of Stellenbosch at a graduation ceremony on December 15, 2020. The degree was conferred for Abdool Karim’s ‘commitment to research and education in the field of women's health in Africa and globally, particularly her successful efforts in increasing the national and international focus on HIV, and her pivotal role in HIV prevention research’.
  • Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. Baccarelli was named to the Academy for his pioneering work showing that environmental chemicals and lifestyle risk factors adversely affect the human epigenome. Read more.
  • Elena Ladas, PhD, Sid and Helaine Lerner Associate Professor for Global Integrative Medicine (in Epidemiology, Pediatrics, and in the Institute of Human Nutrition), received a Provost's Faculty Seed Grant under the “Addressing Racism: A Call to Action for Higher Education” Initiative. Read more.
  • Ian Lipkin, MD, professor of epidemiology and director of CII, was honored by the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund for his contribution to the research that identified the novel virus behind massive die-offs of farmed tilapia. The findings of the study were a stellar scientific breakthrough and have a tremendous impact on global food security, nutrition, and farmers’ livelihoods. Read more.
  • Salim Abdool Karim, PhD, a clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist and professor of global health in epidemiology, was named one the most influential Africans in 2020 by the Paris-based publication, Jeune AfriqueRead more.
  • Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH, Dean of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and Craig Spencer, MD, MPH, were named to the Crain’s New York Business 2020 Notable in Health Care in New York City list. Read more.
  • Kelli Stidham Hall, PhD, MS, associate professor of population and family health, was named an Emerging Leader in Health & Medicine by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Read more.
  • Salim Abdool Karim, PhD, and Quarraisha Abdool Karim, PhD, professors of epidemiology, were named the 2020 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award laureates for their outstanding achievements in global health research. Read more.
  • Frederica Perera, PhD, professor of environmental health sciences, was named the recipient of the 19th Annual Spirit Lecture Award, recognizing her contributions to science and community engagement, by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Read more.
  • Mark Bittman’s, new book, “How to Eat: All Your Food and Diet Questions Answered” was selected as “New & Noteworthy” in the New York Times Book Review on March 22. Read more.
  • Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPH, director of ICAP and professor of epidemiology and medicine, co-hosted a special session at the annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections which was held virtually from Boston. Read more.
  • Diana Hernandez, PhD, assistant professor of sociomedical sciences, was appointed as a visiting scholar at the Russel Sage foundation from September 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021. Dr. Hernández will write a book exploring families’ struggles to afford household energy. Read more.
  • Pam Factor-Litvak, PhD, MS, professor in epidemiology, Jeanine Genkinger, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology, and Rupak Shivakoti, PhD, MHS, assistant professor in epidemiology were named the Yusuf Hamied Fellows for 2020. Read more.
  • Manuela Orjuela-Grimm, ScM, MD, assistant professor of epidemiology, had her paper selected by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The paper “Fortification of bakery and corn masa-based foods in Mexico and dietary intake of folic acid and folate in Mexican national survey data” was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and is one of a few to investigate folic acid intake after fortification, and the first such report for Mexico. Read more.
  • Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH, Dean of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, took  part in a conversation at Columbia Medical Center (CUIMC), on the issues and challenges around diversity and leadership, to commemorate Women’s History Month. Read more.
  • Renata Schiavo, lecturer of sociomedical sciences, was designated a member of the national steering committee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2020 Annual Conference, “Sharing Knowledge to Build a Culture of Health.” Read more.
  • David Rosner, PhD, MPH, professor of sociomedical sciences, took part in a conversation on the threat of lead poisoning to the health of residents of Brooklyn and throughout New York City. Dr. Rosner will share the tainted history of decaying walls and aging infrastructure that are a particular risk to children and communities that have been historically marginalized. Read more.
  • Gina Wingood, ScD, MPH, professor of sociomedical sciences, was named guest editor for a special issue of the journal Vaccines, “Vaccination and Public Health: Optimizing Vaccine Uptake Through the Application of Social and Behavioral Science Theory, Principles, and Strategies.” Read more.
  • Salim Karim, MBBCH, MS, PhD, Caprisa Professor for Global Health in Epidemiology, and Quarraisha Abdool Karim, MS, PhD, professor in epidemiology, were praised by Bill Gates for leading the way on HIV. Read more.
  • Jennifer Hirsch, PhD, professor in sociomedical sciences, co-authored a book, Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study of Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus with Columbia Professor Shamus Khan that was named to NPR’s List of Best Books of 2020. Read more. 
  • Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. Baccarelli was named to the Academy for his pioneering work showing that environmental chemicals and lifestyle risk factors adversely affect the human epigenome. Read more.
  • Elena Ladas, PhD, Sid and Helaine Lerner Associate Professor for Global Integrative Medicine (in Epidemiology, Pediatrics, and in the Institute of Human Nutrition), received a Provost's Faculty Seed Grant under the “Addressing Racism: A Call to Action for Higher Education” Initiative. Read more.
  • Ian Lipkin, MD, professor of epidemiology and director of CII, was honored by the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund for his contribution to the research that identified the novel virus behind massive die-offs of farmed tilapia. The findings of the study were a stellar scientific breakthrough and have a tremendous impact on global food security, nutrition, and farmers’ livelihoods. Read more.
  • Salim Abdool Karim, PhD, a clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist and professor of global health in epidemiology, was named one the most influential Africans in 2020 by the Paris-based publication, Jeune AfriqueRead more.
  • Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH, Dean of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and Craig Spencer, MD, MPH, were named to the Crain’s New York Business 2020 Notable in Health Care in New York City list. Read more.
  • Kelli Stidham Hall, PhD, MS, associate professor of population and family health, was named an Emerging Leader in Health & Medicine by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Read more.
  • Salim Abdool Karim, PhD, and Quarraisha Abdool Karim, PhD, professors of epidemiology, were named the 2020 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award laureates for their outstanding achievements in global health research. Read more.
  • Frederica Perera, PhD, professor of environmental health sciences, was named the recipient of the 19th Annual Spirit Lecture Award, recognizing her contributions to science and community engagement, by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Read more.
  • Mark Bittman’s, new book, “How to Eat: All Your Food and Diet Questions Answered” was selected as “New & Noteworthy” in the New York Times Book Review on March 22. Read more.
  • Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPH, director of ICAP and professor of epidemiology and medicine, co-hosted a special session at the annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections which was held virtually from Boston. Read more.
  • Diana Hernandez, PhD, assistant professor of sociomedical sciences, was appointed as a visiting scholar at the Russel Sage foundation from September 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021. Dr. Hernández will write a book exploring families’ struggles to afford household energy. Read more.
  • Pam Factor-Litvak, PhD, MS, professor in epidemiology, Jeanine Genkinger, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology, and Rupak Shivakoti, PhD, MHS, assistant professor in epidemiology were named the Yusuf Hamied Fellows for 2020. Read more.
  • Manuela Orjuela-Grimm, ScM, MD, assistant professor of epidemiology, had her paper selected by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The paper “Fortification of bakery and corn masa-based foods in Mexico and dietary intake of folic acid and folate in Mexican national survey data” was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and is one of a few to investigate folic acid intake after fortification, and the first such report for Mexico. Read more.
  • Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH, Dean of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, took part in a conversation at Columbia Medical Center (CUIMC), on the issues and challenges around diversity and leadership, to commemorate Women’s History Month. Read more.
  • Renata Schiavo, lecturer of sociomedical sciences, was designated a member of the national steering committee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2020 Annual Conference, “Sharing Knowledge to Build a Culture of Health.” Read more.
  • David Rosner, PhD, MPH, professor of sociomedical sciences, took part in a conversation on the threat of lead poisoning to the health of residents of Brooklyn and throughout New York City. Dr. Rosner will share the tainted history of decaying walls and aging infrastructure that are a particular risk to children and communities that have been historically marginalized. Read more.
  • Gina Wingood, ScD, MPH, professor of sociomedical sciences, was named guest editor for a special issue of the journal Vaccines, “Vaccination and Public Health: Optimizing Vaccine Uptake Through the Application of Social and Behavioral Science Theory, Principles, and Strategies.” Read more.
  • Jennifer Hirsch, PhD, professor of sociomedical sciences, co-authored “Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study of Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus,” which was named number 4 on the Esquire Magazine list of “The Best Books Coming Out This Winter to Solve Your New Year’s Resolution to Read More.” Read more.
  • Ian Lipkin, MD, professor of epidemiology and director of CII, was honored by the government of China with a medal recognizing his profound impact on their country. For nearly 20 years, Dr. Lipkin has worked closely with scientists and officials in China to strengthen its public health system. Read more.
  • Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPD, MPA, director of ICAP at Columbia Mailman School, and Ian Lipkin, MD, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia Mailman, contributed to an NPR round-up on the Decade of Public Health. Stephen Morse, PhD, MS, epidemiology professor, contributed to an Associated Press (AP) article in the Washington Post on U.S. infectious diseases. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health faculty experts spoke on the greatest scientific successes in the last ten years. Read more.