Lasker Award for Lasker–Bloomberg Public Service Award: Winners by Year

Award years

• 2024

  • Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Salim S. Abdool Karim

    For illuminating key drivers of heterosexual HIV transmission; introducing life-saving approaches to prevent and treat HIV; and statesmanship in public health policy and advocacy

• 2022

  • Lauren Gardner

    For creating the Covid-19 Dashboard, which set a new standard for disseminating authoritative public health data in real time

• 2019

  • Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

    For providing sustained access to childhood vaccines around the globe, saving millions of lives, and for highlighting the power of immunization to prevent disease

• 2017

  • Planned Parenthood

    For providing essential health services and reproductive care to millions of women for more than a century

• 2015

  • Médecins Sans Frontières

    For bold leadership in responding to the recent Ebola outbreak in Africa and for sustained and effective frontline responses to health emergencies.

• 2013

  • Bill Gates, Melinda Gates

    For leading a historic transformation in the way we view the globe’s most pressing health concerns and improving the lives of millions of the world’s most vulnerable.

• 2011

  • The Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health

    For serving since its inception as a model research hospital — providing innovative therapy and high-quality patient care, treating rare and severe diseases, and producing outstanding physician-scientists whose collective work has set a standard of excellence in biomedical research.

• 2009

  • Michael Bloomberg

    For employing sound science in political decision making; setting a world standard for the public’s health as an impetus for government action; leading the way to reduce the scourge of tobacco use; and advancing public health through enlightened philanthropy.

• 2007

  • Anthony Fauci

    For his role as the principal architect of two major U.S. governmental programs — one aimed at AIDS and the other at biodefense.

• 2005

  • Nancy Brinker

    For creating one of the world’s great foundations devoted to curing breast cancer and dramatically increasing public awareness about this devastating disease.

• 2003

  • Christopher Reeve

    For perceptive, sustained, and heroic advocacy for medical research in general and victims of disability in particular.

• 2001

  • William Foege

    For courageous leadership in improving worldwide public health, and his prominent role in the eradication of smallpox.

• 2000

  • Betty Ford

    For using her leadership and prestige to bring about lasting progress in research, medicine, and health aimed at alcohol and drug addiction.

  • David J. Mahoney

    For visionary leadership in educating the public and the donor community about the importance of brain research, and for directing funds for the support of neuroscience.

  • Harold P. Freeman

    For enlightening scientists and the public about the relationship between race, poverty, and cancer.

  • John Edward Porter

    For wise and perceptive leadership on behalf of medical research funding and a deep commitment to strengthening the science enterprise.

  • Science Times of The New York Times

    For sustained, comprehensive, and high-quality coverage about science, disease, and human health.

• 1995

  • Mark O. Hatfield

    For energetic leadership and enduring advocacy in support of biomedical research.

• 1993

  • Nancy Wexler

    For her groundbreaking work in the scientific and public arenas towards finding a cure for Huntington’s disease and for increasing awareness of all genetic disease.

  • Paul G. Rogers

    For tireless leadership in advancing the cause of American health care through his initiatives both as a legislator and as a private citizen.

• 1991

  • Robin Chandler Duke

    For dedicated efforts to enhance the lives of the worldwide community through family planning and population control.

  • Thomas P. O'Neill Jr.

    For his tireless dedication to increasing our nation’s commitment to biomedical research, and a lifetime of public advocacy for the disadvantaged.

• 1989

  • Lewis Thomas

    Scientist, administrator, catalyst and teacher, the poet laureate of 20th century medicine.

• 1988

  • Lowell P. Weicker Jr.

    For his compassion and dedication in the fight to eradicate disease and disability through federal funding of medical research and public health programs.

• 1986

  • Ma Haide (George Hatem)

    For legendary contributions to the control and eradication of venereal diseases and leprosy in China, greatly improving the health of a billion people.

• 1985

  • Ann Landers (Eppie Lederer)

    For respected advice and practical translations of authoritative medical opinion and her tireless commitment to the health and well-being of the American people.

  • Lane W. Adams

    For the extraordinary management skills, integrity and vision with which he has expanded the American Cancer Society into the major volunteer force in the battle against cancer.

• 1984

  • Henry J. Heimlich

    For developing the Heimlich Maneuver, a simple and practical technique for the prevention of death from choking which has saved thousands of lives.

• 1983

  • Maurice R. Hilleman

    For discovering the causes of certain viral diseases and for pioneering breakthroughs in vaccine, especially hepatitis B vaccine development throughout the world.

  • Saul Krugman

    For leadership in conceiving, developing, and testing vaccines against various viral diseases, especially hepatitis B, with vast impact on world health.

• 1979

  • John Foster Wilson

    For bringing prevention and treatment of blindness to hundreds of thousands, even in remote parts of the world.

• 1978

  • Elliot L. Richardson

    For his crucial decision in 1972, as HEW Secretary, to inaugurate a national hypertension control program to lower death rates from stroke, kidney and heart diseases.

  • Theodore Cooper

    For implementing in 1972 the National High Blood Pressure Education Program which has contributed significantly to the cut in deaths from stroke, kidney and heart diseases.

• 1976

  • World Health Organization

    For its historic achievement in the practical eradication of smallpox from the Earth.

• 1975

  • Jules C. Stein

    For unique contributions toward the preservation of vision and the restoration of sight.

• 1973

  • Warren Magnuson

    For his outstanding leadership and support of medical research and health legislation for the people of the United States.

• 1968

  • Lister Hill

    For his leadership in guiding to passage over 80 major pieces of health legislation, which together represent an historic and abiding commitment by the national government to the health of all of our people.

• 1967

  • Claude Pepper

    For his continuing dedication to medical legislation in both Houses of Congress.

• 1966

  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver

    For encouragement of national legislation to improve the care of the intellectually disabled, and effective dedication to their cause.

• 1965

  • Lyndon Baines Johnson

    For outstanding contributions to the health of the people of the United States.

• 1963

  • Melvin R. Laird, Oren Harris

    For recognition of the new challenges to legislative leadership in the field of health on the House Appropriations Sub-Committee on Labor, Health, Education and Welfare.

• 1960

  • Abel Wolman

    Leader of both lay and professional health groups, consultant to industrial companies and advisor to government bodies: his engineering skill and organizational genius contributed much toward achieving a healthier environment for many people.

  • John B. Grant

    International statesman of public health, a recognized authority on the problems of preventive medicine and medical care.

• 1959

  • Maurice Pate

    For notable service to the world’s children and especially for skilled development of the United Nations Children’s Fund program for improving maternal and child health.

• 1958

  • Basil O'Connor

    For extraordinary administrative leadership in the eradication of a crippling disease of childhood, poliomyelitis, through development of an effective vaccine.

• 1957

  • C.J. Van Slyke

    For unique contributions in laying the foundation for a national program of medical research and training.

  • Frank G. Boudreau

    For promoting better mental health, good nutrition, and improved housing.

  • Reginald M. Atwater

    For guiding the American Public Health Association to a position of leadership as the largest organization of its kind in the western world.

  • Rustom Jal Vakil

    For studies on the use of reserpine in the treatment of hypertension.

• 1956

  • William P. Shepard

    For pioneering work as an industrial health physician, educator and government advisor.

• 1955

  • Menninger Foundation

    For a sustained and highly productive attack against mental diseases, leading to better hospitals, better trained staffs, and greatly improved care of the mentally ill.

  • Nursing Services of the U.S. Public Health Service

    For distinguished contributions to the advancement and well-being of the nation through leadership in public health nursing.

  • Robert D. Defries

    For distinguished leadership in the development of preventive medicine and public health throughout Canada.

• 1954

  • Leona Baumgartner

    For distinguished achievements in public health administration, thus strengthening the community health.

• 1953

  • Earle B. Phelps

    In recognition of a lifetime of pioneering leadership in public health and sanitary science.

  • Felix J. Underwood

    For demonstrating how a long-sustained, sound and expanding pattern of health services benefits a people.

• 1952

  • G. Brock Chisholm

    First director of the World Health Organization, for his leadership in organizing this vast post-war, international public health concept.

  • Howard A. Rusk

    For his pioneering work in the service of the physically disabled and as distinguished rehabilitation mentor to the world.

• 1951

  • Florence R. Sabin

    For outstanding accomplishments in public health administration, as Chairman of the Health Committee of the Governor of Colorado’s Post-War Planning Committee.

• 1950

  • Eugene Lindsay Bishop

    For original and meritorious accomplishments in public health administration.

• 1949

  • Marion W. Sheahan

    For distinguished leadership in the fields of nursing and public health.

• 1948

  • Martha M. Eliot

    For administrative achievement in the organization and operation of the Emergency Maternal and Infant Care Program of the Children’s Bureau.

  • R.E. Dyer

    For scientific accomplishments in the field of microbiological research and for distinguished service as Director of the National Institutes of Health during the war and postwar years.

• 1947

  • Alice Hamilton

    For contributions to the prevention of occupational diseases, and the improvement of workers’ health.

• 1946

  • Alfred Newton Richards

    For organizing the Committee on Medical Research of the Office of Scientific Research and Development, and for supervising, during the war, the timely mass production of penicillin, the search for a better antimalarial drug, and the preparation of blood plasma.

  • Fred L. Soper

    For administrative achievement in controlling yellow fever and malaria through a new principle of species eradication of insect carriers.