Student Awards & Honors
Faculty and students in our programs work in close collaboration with one another. Students gain knowledge, skills, and peers as they work to complete their graduate education. And student work is recognized through a variety of awards.
Public Health Student Awards
MPH Academic Achievement Award
To the graduating MPH student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has consistently demonstrated the highest level of academic achievement and who shows promise for making significant contributions to public health practice.
Outstanding MPH Applied Learning Experience Award
To the graduating student in the MPH program who best demonstrates the ability to apply public health knowledge and skills to address a significant public health issue, who identified resources and overcame obstacles in the course of the work, and who demonstrated a commitment to the project and to the health of the public during the course of the project.
MS-Health Informatics and Analytics Capstone Award
To the graduating student in the MS-Health Informatics and Analytics (HIA) program who most fully identifies and addresses a health care need or problem using the methodologies learned in the HIA program, and who demonstrated a commitment to the project and to the health of the public during the course of the project.
MD/MPH and DVM/MPH Academic Achievement Award
To the graduating student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has consistently demonstrated the highest level of academic achievement and who shows promise for making significant contributions to public health practice.
H. Jack Geiger Public Health Advocacy Award
This award is made possible via a generous gift from an alumnus, Melanie Doupé Gaiser, MPH '07. The award is given to a graduating student from the Tufts Public Health and Professional Degree Programs (PHPD) who has demonstrated a body of work contributing to advocacy for public health and social justice. By recognizing such work, the Tufts PHPD hopes to instill in all students a lifelong interest in and commitment to advancing social justice and the health of the public. Deadline to apply is February 24, 2023, at 5 pm EST.
Delta Omega Honor Society Inductions
The purpose of the Delta Omega Society is to encourage excellence in public health scholarship and research and to recognize academic and professional achievement in the field of public health. The MPH program is the Alpha Omega Chapter of the Delta Omega and their inductees this year are being honored for their demonstration of real or potential qualities of leadership in public health in addition to academic excellence.
Delta Omega Student Poster Session at American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting
Each year the Delta Omega Student Poster Session showcases the scholarship and research of students in accredited schools and programs of public health. Students selected will be invited to present at APHA with registration fee, airfare and hotel covered by PHPD. In addition, the Delta Omega National Office will award the selected students with a $350.00 cash prize. To be considered an abstract must be submitted to the Tufts PHPD Delta Omega Selection Committee for consideration of a nomination. Students do not have to be Delta Omega members but must be degree seeking and be nominated by an active chapter. Further, the student must have participated sufficiently in the work to take responsibility for the content of the abstract and be willing to provide any relevant data upon request.
Call for applications is sent out in March. Abstracts should be no more than 250 words. More details on the criteria will follow as they are announced by the Delta Omega Honor Society. Abstracts must be submitted to Olivia Zimra-Turley, associate director of student affairs, at olivia.zimra_turley@tufts.edu.
Morton A. Madoff Fellowship
Given to acknowledge and honor Dr. Madoff's contribution in promoting the training and career development of students with interests in public health, public policy, and health care management, the award in the amount of $3,000, is made in March each year and is to be used prior to the last day of March of the following year. Must be a degree-seeking student in the Tufts University School Medicine in good academic standing and obtain the permission of the dean of their program (i.e., Dean of Students or Dean of PHPD). Application deadline is February 24, 2023, at 5 pm EST.
Health Communication Student Awards
Tim Edgar, PhD, Award
Tim held a secondary faculty appointment at the School of Medicine for 14 years before joining Tufts’ full-time faculty in 2016. A giant in the world of health communication was lost and his colleagues and students mourn the loss of his indomitable, guiding spirit. This award is made possible by anonymous donors whose lives were touched by Professor Edgar. A prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the student who has demonstrated a commitment to health communication to use for professional development. The recipient will be one student who, through their academic achievements, practice activities, and comportment, reflects the characteristics that guided Tim’s professional life. For graduating students in the MPH programs in the 2022-2023 Academic Year (August 2022, December 2022, and May 2023). Application deadline is February 24, 2023 at 5pm EST.
Dual-degree Student Awards
Norman S. Stearns MD/MBA Award
This award is given annually to one student in the combined MD/MBA program who displays excellence in academics and leadership.
MD/MBA Academic Achievement Award
This award is given annually to the student(s) in the combined MD/MBA program who consistently demonstrated the highest level of academic achievement.
MD/MBA Best Team Consulting Project Award
Awarded to the team that is judged by the faculty to have prepared and presented the best consulting project for their customers in the MD/MBA program.
Ian MacNeill, PhD, Award
To the graduating student who demonstrated an outstanding ability to analyze and interpret and display and communicate critical information derived from research data. This award honors the work of Dr. Ian MacNeill, who through his academic career has set the standard for research and scholarship in applying analytical tools in public health sciences.
Biomedical Sciences Student Awards
MS in Biomedical Sciences Academic Achievement and Professionalism Award
To the graduating student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has consistently demonstrated the highest level of academic achievement and professional behavior.
MS in Biomedical Sciences Student Leadership Award
This award has been established by the MBS program to recognize one MBS student for outstanding leadership, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and leading by example.
MS in Biomedical Sciences Dr. Alvar Gustafson Award
This award was established by the MBS program to honor its founding Director, Dr. Alvar Gustafson. It recognizes one MBS student for dedicated service and compassion while demonstrating the high level of social responsibility and civic engagement exemplified by Dr. Gustafson during his four decades at Tufts.
Marsha Semuels Leadership Award
This award is named in honor of Marsha Semuels, the former executive dean at Tufts University School of Medicine. Six years ago, Dean Semuels was visionary in proposing that Tufts University School of Medicine develop a Physician Assistant program. She was instrumental in actualizing this nascent concept to the Physician Assistant program we have today. Nominated by their fellow students, the recipient of this award is recognized for having served as a student and community leader during their tenure here at Tufts. This individual epitomizes the best of the Tufts tradition: active citizenship, professional engagement, and student activism.
Physician Assistant Student Awards
Distinguished Student Award
This award is given by the principal faculty to a member of the graduating class in recognition of their exceptional commitment to the Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant program, their dedication and professionalism in all aspects of their training, and their peer support of fellow students.
A. Wells Ziegra Compassionate Care Award
This award is named in honor of the late Albert Wells Ziegra, an emeritus physician assistant in cardiothoracic surgery at Tufts Medical Center and respected faculty member for the PA program at Tufts University School of Medicine. Professor Ziegra demonstrated patience, humor, and a passion for medicine both in and outside of the classroom. He took pride in his profession and enjoyed sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with students in order to deepen their understanding. Nominated by the principal faculty, the recipient of this award is recognized for their passion and dedication to the physician assistant profession. This individual demonstrates a desire to help others and an eagerness to learn and share new knowledge.
Honos Civicus Society
Honos Civicus, Latin for “civic honors”, celebrates and publicly recognizes graduating students who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to community service and civic engagement during their studies at PHPD. Honos Civicus provides an opportunity to celebrate and reflect upon the program’s community involvement while creating an alumni network of health professionals who are excited to continue their commitment to active citizenship throughout their careers. Deadline is February 27, 2023 at 5pm EST.