2024 Hudson Fellows Symposium: A Celebration of Public Health Innovation and Legacy
Published: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
The Hudson Fellows in Public Health Symposium 2024, held on October 15, 2024, at the OU Hudson College of Public Health, was a remarkable event that celebrated public health innovation and leadership. This year’s symposium featured Dr. Alfredo Morabia, Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Public Health and renowned public health historian.
Dr. Morabia delivered an engaging keynote lecture titled "Becoming Population Thinkers: A Brief History of the Public Health Approach", where he discussed the evolution of population-based thinking in public health, from the Black Death to the COVID-19 pandemic. The audience, both in person and via Zoom, was captivated by his insights into how data and statistical methods have shaped public health responses over centuries.
Following the lecture, attendees were invited to a book signing and photo opportunity with Dr. Morabia, where he signed copies of his latest work, The Public Health Approach: Population Thinking from the Black Death to COVID-19. The book, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, has already become an important contribution to the field, offering a historical perspective on the public health approach to contemporary challenges.
As a highlight of the event, Dr. Leslie and Mr. Clifford Hudson, the naming donors of the college, presented Dr. Morabia with a commemorative gift to honor his participation in the symposium and his contributions to public health. The Hudsons’ ongoing support and generous $5 million endowment, which has sustained the symposium since its inception in 2016, were recognized as critical to advancing public health education and research at OU. Their presentation to Dr. Morabia symbolized the College’s deep gratitude for his work and for the Hudsons' visionary philanthropy.
The Hudson Fellows in Public Health Symposium continues to be the premier academic event of the College, celebrating impactful research and fostering dialogue between public health leaders, students, and practition