Dr Soumya Swaminathan conferred Honorary Doctorate by University of Guelph
New Delhi: Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Foundation, has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Guelph in Canada.
Expressing her gratitude, Dr Swaminathan said it was a great privilege to be recognised by the University of Guelph, one of Canada’s oldest and most respected institutions in agricultural and veterinary sciences.
A renowned paediatrician and global expert in tuberculosis and HIV research, Dr Swaminathan served as the first Chief Scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Before that, she was the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, from 2015 to 2017.
Since February 2023, she has been serving as the Chairperson of M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and is also the Principal Advisor to the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
With over 40 years of experience in clinical care and research, Dr. Swaminathan has dedicated her career to translating vital research into impactful health programs. As the former Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research, she has prioritised integrating science into health policy-making, enhancing research capabilities in Indian medical institutions, and fostering global partnerships in public health sciences.
Dr. Swaminathan’s academic career spans India, the UK, and the US. She has authored over 480 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She is a Fellow of the US National Academy of Medicine, the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), and all major science academies in India. She holds honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions, including the Karolinska Institute, EPFL Lausanne, and McGill University, London.
Currently, Dr. Swaminathan serves on the boards of Alliance Bioversity, the Population Foundation of India, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and Women Lift Health, among others. She is a member of the Governing Council of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission and a member of the One Health and Climate Change Strategic Committee, Government of Tamil Nadu. She also chairs the Scientific Advisory Board of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
During her tenure as the WHO's first Chief Scientist, Dr. Swaminathan established a Science Division focusing on research, quality assurance of norms and standards, and digital health. She played a pivotal role in coordinating global scientific efforts and was instrumental in setting up Covax to ensure equitable vaccine distribution to low and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the occasion, she told The Indian Express, “We hope to collaborate on One Health and Anti-Microbial Resistance.” The citation read, “As an international health policymaker and global citizen, Dr Soumya Swaminathan stands as a beacon of excellence in the fight to bring equitable healthcare to everyone, particularly underserved communities in the Global South. Dr Swaminathan is an outstanding scientist of international repute whose holistic contributions to medicine, healthcare, global policy, philanthropy, and social welfare exemplify a One Health approach, aligning with the University of Guelph’s own mission to improve life.”
