In recognition of his outstanding contributions to improve the health of all Americans and for his work in advocating for racial and ethnic diversity in the health professions, Louis Sullivan, M.D., will receive an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The award will be presented to Dr. Sullivan on May 7 during commencement ceremonies in Omaha.
Dr. Sullivan is chairman of the board of the National Health Museum in Atlanta, whose goal is to improve the health of Americans by enhancing health literacy and advancing healthy behaviors. He also is chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based Sullivan Alliance to Transform America’s Health Professions.
With the late UNMC administrator Rubens Pamies, M.D., Dr. Sullivan began in 2004, the Virginia-Nebraska Alliance, an academic and research partnership between UNMC, five Historically Black Colleges/Universities in Virginia, and the University of Richmond, the University of Virginia, Eastern Virginia Medical School and Virginia Technical University. Dr Sullivan continues to serve as chairman of this alliance, which has resulted in summer research experiences for students and faculty, as well as several enrolled students at UNMC.
Dr. Sullivan became the founding dean and director of the Medical Education Program at Morehouse College in 1975. In 1981, the school was re-named Morehouse School of Medicine, with Dr. Sullivan as dean and president.
Dr. Sullivan left MSM in 1989, to accept an appointment by President George H.W. Bush to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this cabinet position, Dr. Sullivan managed the federal agency responsible for the major health, welfare, food and drug safety, medical research and income security programs serving the American people. With the exception of his tenure as secretary of HHS from 1989 to 1993, Dr. Sullivan was president of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) for more than two decades. On July 1, 2002, he retired and was appointed president emeritus.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.
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