11/13/2026
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health honored 10 alumni for their outstanding contributions to public health during its Alumni Awards ceremony on Nov. 12.
“Our alumni show just how many ways public health can make a difference, from advancing scientific discovery and educating the next generation to strengthening health systems and protecting communities,” said Maureen Lichtveld, M.D., M.P.H., dean of Pitt Public Health. “We are proud to recognize these exceptional alumni, whose work embodies the breadth of public health and the impact of a Pitt Public Health education.”
The 2026 award recipients are:
Ketul J. Patel, M.H.A., class of 1997, received the Practice Award. President and chief executive officer of Wellstar Health System, Patel leads one of the Southeast’s largest health care organizations, with 13 hospitals, more than 400 care sites and more than 35,000 team members across Georgia. Previously, Patel served as vice president of operations at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital before leading Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and CommonSpirit Health’s Pacific Northwest region. A three-time honoree on Modern Healthcare’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare, Patel has focused his career on improving quality and patient safety, expanding access to care and advancing community health.
Roderick Harris, Dr.P.H., class of 2013, received the Practice Award. Harris is health commissioner for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health in Ohio, the local public health authority serving more than 883,000 of the county's 1.2 million residents. Previously, Harris spent eight years as deputy director of the Allegheny County Health Department, where his work included advancing health equity, maternal and child health, violence prevention and community partnerships.
Kai Yu, Ph.D., class of 2000, received the Research Award. Yu is a senior investigator in the Biostatistics Branch of the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, where he addresses statistical and computational challenges arising from large, complex molecular epidemiology datasets. His work includes developing methods to identify genetic susceptibility to cancer, characterize interactions between genes and environmental factors and translate complex data into insights about cancer causes and prevention. He was elected a Fellow of the American Statistical Association in 2020.
Katherine W. Reeves, Ph.D., class of 2008, received the Research Award. Reeves is senior vice provost for graduate education and dean of the UMass Amherst Graduate School, where she also is a professor of epidemiology. Her research focuses on modifiable risk factors related to hormone signaling, with particular emphasis on environmental chemicals and their potential effects on bone health, cancer risk and cancer biomarkers.
Abimbola “Abi” Fapohunda, Dr.P.H., class of 1999, received the Teaching Award. An assistant professor in Pitt Public Health’s Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Fapohunda has more than 20 years of experience in epidemiology, public health education, public health consulting and community engagement. She also initiated and led the development of Global TEACH, an initiative connecting students in the United States and Nigeria through cross-cultural learning, research and community engagement. Her commitment to inclusive education was recognized with Pitt’s 2024 Provost’s Award for Diversity in the Curriculum.
Matthew Nicholaou, Dr.P.H., class of 2011, received the Teaching Award. Nicholaou is professor and chair of the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences at Weber State University, where he teaches courses ranging from biostatistics to molecular diagnostics and oversees undergraduate research. During his tenure, he has expanded laboratory and research opportunities for students in a department that serves more than 450 students across four academic programs and maintains more than 140 clinical affiliations.
Kevin J. Sullivan, Ph.D., M.P.H., class of 2019, received the Early Career Excellence Award. Sullivan is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and a psychiatric epidemiologist specializing in aging and cognitive function. His research examines risk factors and biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. He directs the MIND Center Aging Research Training Program, serves as assistant director of its Neuroepidemiology Research Core and is site principal investigator for two NIH–funded clinical trials aimed at preventing cognitive decline in older adults.
Alexander Sundermann, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., class of 2014 and 2022, received the Service Award. An assistant professor in Pitt Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology, with a secondary appointment in the School of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Diseases, Sundermann researches the use of pathogen whole-genome sequencing and environmental sampling to detect, investigate and prevent health care-associated outbreaks. A former infection preventionist, he applies this research in UPMC hospitals in real time to help prevent infections and improve patient safety. He is a fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Sundermann has been a volunteer EMT for 18 years and currently serves on the board for Ross/West View EMS and Rescue.
Vince Radke and Marilyn Radke, both M.P.H., class of 1977, received the Impact Award. The Radkes’ public health careers have spanned roles from smallpox eradication to environmental health, taking them around the world and into communities in need. Their work included providing basic care in remote areas of Kenya and responding to disease outbreaks in the United States, where Marilyn Radke helped lead vaccination efforts during a measles outbreak in the early 1990s. The Radkes are now establishing an endowed scholarship for Pitt Public Health graduate students, extending their commitment to the next generation of public health professionals.
Photo Details (click to view high-resolution image)
Credit: University of Pittsburgh
