McGill Awards Honorary Doctorate to Dr. Soumya Swaminathan

Tags: Awards Person in news

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO Chief Scientist, is set to receive an honorary doctorate from McGill University during the Spring 2024 Convocation ceremonies.

An Overview of the News

• McGill University, renowned for its academic excellence, bestows honorary degrees upon individuals with exceptional contributions to scholarly, scientific, or artistic fields, or significant societal impact through professional or philanthropic endeavors.

• McGill University will confer upon Dr. Swaminathan the Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D Sc) in Health Sciences on May 28.

Soumya Swaminathan's distinguished career:

• Dr. Swaminathan, aged 65, has a distinguished career spanning over 40 years in public health and infectious diseases.

• Notably, she served as WHO's Deputy Director-General (Programmes) until the end of 2022 and thereafter as its first Chief Scientist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Swaminathan's leadership during the pandemic:

• Dr. Swaminathan played a key role in coordinating global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Her leadership facilitated research coordination, dissemination of critical information, and guidance to policymakers on effective strategies to combat the virus.

McGill University's highest honor:

• The honorary doctorate represents McGill's highest honor, symbolizing the transformative impact of individual achievement.

• McGill President Deep Saini emphasizes that the award reflects shared values and aspirations within the university community.