Dr. Michael Osterholm, one of the world’s leading infectious disease epidemiologists, with expertise in pandemic preparedness, disease outbreak investigations and public health practice, will have an endowed chair in his name at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, where he has served on the faculty for the past 48 years. The Michael T. Osterholm Endowed Chair in Infectious Disease Research and Policy was made possible with generous funding from philanthropist Christy Walton and the Alumbra Innovations Foundation, as well as more than 1,000 individual donors who have supported the chair’s endowment.
Dr. Osterholm is a University of Minnesota Regents Professor; McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Distinguished Teaching Professor in the SPH Division of Environmental Health Sciences, professor in the UMN Technological Leadership Institute in the College of Science and Engineering, and an adjunct professor in the Medical School. He is the coauthor of two New York Times bestselling books, “Living Terrors: What America Needs to Know to Survive the Coming Bioterrorist Catastrophe” (2000) and “Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs” (2017). He was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine and the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Osterholm looks forward to working with this position for many years to come and will continue to serve as CIDRAP Director for the foreseeable future.
Melinda Pettigrew, SPH Dean and Mayo Chair in Public Health, welcomed the announcement. “Dr. Osterholm embodies excellence in our field, and his contributions to the School of Public Health are innumerable,” she said. “His tireless efforts in infectious diseases, public health preparedness, and education have left an indelible mark on our school and the broader community, and it is with immense pride that we honor Dr. Osterholm’s extraordinary achievements with this endowed chair.”
SPH plans to begin the recruitment process for the Michael T. Osterholm Endowed Chair in early fall of 2024. Candidates for the position should be recognized experts specializing in the area of infectious disease research and policy. The holder of the chair will be an SPH faculty member who will also work with CIDRAP, University of Minnesota Research and Innovation Office center. Dr. Osterholm’s full biography is available here.
Contributions to support the Michael T. Osterholm Endowed Chair can be made here.
About the School of Public Health
The University of Minnesota School of Public Health improves the health and well-being of populations and communities around the world by bringing innovative research, learning, and concrete actions to today’s biggest health challenges. We prepare some of the most influential leaders in the field, and partner with health departments, communities, and policymakers to advance health equity for all. Learn more at sph.umn.edu.
