Kudsia Huda wins Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health alumni award

Kudsia Huda, a distinguished professional from Bangladesh, has been honored with the prestigious Public Health Practice Leadership Award by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her recognition comes as part of the institution's alumni awards for 2026, which celebrate the outstanding contributions of former students to the field of global public health. This accolade highlights her dedication and significant impact within the sector, drawing international recognition to her professional journey and the vital areas she continues to champion.

Currently, Kudsia Huda serves at the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) located in Geneva, Switzerland. Within the organization, her core responsibilities focus on disaster risk management, resilience, and health risks associated with climate change. Her work in these critical departments addresses some of the most pressing global health challenges of our time, requiring extensive field engagement and emotional resilience while managing humanitarian crises and vulnerable communities.

Reflecting on the emotional toll of humanitarian fieldwork, Huda has recounted harrowing experiences from a shelter in Iran's Kerman province. She recalled a poignant interaction where a child asked, "Can you bring my mother back to me?" The child's mother had told her, "You go, I am bringing the doll right now. I will go and come back." Offering comfort to the distressed child, Huda told them, "Surely one day you will meet your mother. On that day you will let your mother know how much you missed her. And do not blame yourself for this." Acknowledging the difficulty of such encounters, Huda noted, "We have to take various kinds of trainings for this. Even then, it sometimes becomes difficult to control emotions."

To maintain her mental well-being amidst high-stress environments, Huda relies on personal connections and creative outlets. She shared that sharing everything with her husband, whom she considers her dearest friend, brings her immense relief. However, she emphasized that writing provides her with the ultimate sense of tranquility, serving as her primary mechanism for stress relief.

Discussing the foundational principles of effective international intervention, Huda emphasized the importance of cultural empathy and local integration. She stated, "To be acceptable to the country or community in which we work, it is necessary to have respect for their lifestyle." This philosophy underpins her approach to public health practice, ensuring that her leadership and health initiatives respect and resonate with the populations they aim to protect.

The announcement of the 2026 alumni awards coincides with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health alumni weekend, held on September 25 and 26 in Geneva, Switzerland. Huda is among five former students recognized for their exemplary contributions to public health. The broader network of institutions mentioned in connection with international contexts includes the Eastern Economic Forum and the European Union, alongside individuals such as Tanjina Hossain and Deepa Firoz.