7/17/2025
PITTSBURGH – M. Saiful Huq, Ph.D., director of medical physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, has been awarded the U.S. Presidential Gold Medal and Lifetime Achievement Award. This award, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States, was bestowed by former President Joseph R. Biden in 2024 and formally presented to Huq at the 2025 Global Health Catalyst Summit in Boston.
Huq's recognition highlights his exceptional contributions to cancer care, medical physics, education, research and health equity. Renowned globally for his scientific expertise and humanitarian leadership, Huq has dedicated his career to improving cancer care in underserved regions worldwide. 
“I am deeply humbled by this recognition, which I accept not as an individual honor but as a reflection of the collective journey I’ve been privileged to share with countless colleagues, mentors and global partners,” said Huq. “This award celebrates the spirit of collaboration and the belief that equitable cancer care is not a privilege but a universal right.”
Recently, Huq led and authored five research papers published in The Lancet Oncology, addressing critical public health challenges related to cancer control in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries and the Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh. His research identifies barriers contributing to disparities in cancer outcomes and proposes actionable solutions. These findings were presented last year at a meeting with His Excellency Nobel Laurette Professor Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor to the government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, as well as at the Global Health Catalyst Summit in Bangladesh.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Huq has been recognized for a lengthy career dedicated to serving others,” said Heath Skinner, M.D., Ph.D., chair of radiation oncology at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. “In addition to his impressive work in medical physics – which includes innovations in clinical care and research, as well as mentoring several generations of medical physicists – Dr. Huq is a global leader advocating for increased access to the highest quality of cancer care throughout the UPMC Hillman network, as well as throughout the world.”
Huq joined UPMC Hillman in 2004 where he established the medical physics residency program and mentored numerous students, residents and postdocs. He has 189 peer-reviewed publications and delivered more than 240 invited presentations globally.
Huq has received numerous awards including the William D. Coolidge Gold Medal Award, the highest honor from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM); the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Upstate New York Chapter of AAPM; the Global Health Catalyst Distinguished Leader Award; the Distinguished Medical Physicist Award from the Indo-American Society of Medical Physics; and the International Day of Medical Physics Award for inspiring the next generation of medical physicists.
Huq has also been elected as a fellow of both the AAPM and the Institute of Physics, underscoring his sustained contributions to the field. He has served as president of the AAPM and chair of the AAPM Board of Directors. He was also a member of the International Advisory Board for the journal Physics in Medicine and Biology and founding member of the editorial board of the Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering Express.
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Caption: UPMC Hillman physicist receives U.S. Presidential Gold Medal and Lifetime Achievement Award
Credit: Saiful Huq, Ph.D.
