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Public Health Foundation of India President received honorary doctorate

5 May 2023
Professor Sanjay Zodpey awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine 
President of the Public Health Foundation of India, Professor Sanjay Zodpey awarded a Doctor of Medicine (honoris causa) for his contributions to public health in India and worldwide.

Professor Zodpey was admitted into the degree on Friday, 5 May, in a ceremony presided over by the University of Sydney Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson AC.

“It’s an honour to recognise Professor Zodpey’s tireless work within the Public Health sector and his immense contributions in public health education that are felt worldwide. His selfless service and unwavering commitment to health, science and people will permeate for generations,” said Chancellor Hutchinson.

Sanjay Zodpey

Professor Sanjay Zodpey receiving his Doctor of Medicine (honoris causa) at the University of Sydney. 

Professor Zodpey’s dedication to public health in India, the region and the world extends even further than his work as President of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), which promotes inter-disciplinary and health systems connected, education and research in public health. He also had an integral role in setting up Indian Institutes of Public Health nationwide and served as Vice-President of Academics at the Public Health Foundation of India. In addition, he was the Founding Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health in Delhi.

Before he joined PHFI, Professor Zodpey was a faculty member and Vice-Dean in a medical school and has completed post-graduate academic qualifications in five disciplines: Medicine, Public Health, Sociology, Public Administration and Economics. He has also held positions as a visiting and an honorary professor at several universities around the world.

The widely recognised academic leader is an internationally renowned epidemiologist, public health scientist, award-winning educator, and a celebrated academic leader. He has advocated for integrating global health into medical education, developing multidisciplinary public health workforces within public health schools, and for partnerships and locally driven priorities in low and middle-income countries, including India. Professor Zodpey has also played an integral role in developing international collaborations with leading Universities and institutions, which includes the University of Sydney.

It’s an honour to recognise Professor Zodpey’s tireless work within the Public Health sector and his immense contributions in public health education that are felt worldwide.
Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson AC

He has worked as an investigator for over 160 funded projects, authored more than 425 publications, and has been the editor of the Indian Journal of Public Health for nine years; he was also featured on Tropical Medicine’s worldwide ranking of scientists for his research contributions, which only spotlighted 2 percent of scientists.

Dr Zodpey’s incredible accomplishments include being appointed as an expert to various panels, advisory groups, technical task forces, and committees.

He was elected National President of the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine for two consecutive terms, and he is a Fellow of the Indian Public Health Association, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, Indian Society for Malaria and Other Communicable Diseases, and National Academy of Medical Sciences (India).

Dr Zodpey was also the Chair of the Global Evaluation and Monitoring Network for Health, a Board Member of the Routine Health Information Network, and a Member of the Institute of Medicine’s Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education.

Dr Zodpey has many awards and honours for his work and contributions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He was conferred with the ‘COVID Warrior Award,’ and received the ‘Public Health Education Leadership Award’ for promoting public health education in South-East Asia Region.

Faye Couros

Assistant Media and PR Advisor (Central)

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