New York Academy of Medicine Honors Dean Fried
On December 9, the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) honored Dean Linda P. Fried with the Stephen Smith Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Public Health. The award was given in recognition of Dean Fried’s numerous achievements in research, leadership, and advocacy.
In presenting the award, NYAM President Ann Kurth called Dean Fried “a transformative leader whose pioneering research, visionary leadership, and tireless dedication to improving the health of populations have made her one of the foremost figures in the field of public health today.” (The header photo above shows Kurth with Dean Fried and Wayne J. Riley, President of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and Chair of the NYAM Board of Trustees.)
Kurth went on praise Dean Fried’s leadership on behalf of Columbia Mailman School, saying, “Dr. Fried has led the institution to prominence as a global leader in public health education, research, and policy. She has not only expanded the school’s academic programs and research initiatives but has also created an environment where collaboration between public health professionals, policymakers, and communities is fostered to develop solutions to the complex health issues of our time.”
In her speech, Kurth praised her advocacy for health equity and scientific contributions. In conclusion, Kurth said, “Through her research, leadership, and advocacy, she has shaped the direction of public health. Her work has empowered the public health community to think in new and innovative ways about how to tackle the global challenges we face—from aging populations to the social determinants of health and beyond.”
In a video screened at the event, Dean Fried, a NYAM fellow, said she was “deeply appreciative” of the honor. She noted that the award’s namesake, Stephen Smith, was a public health pioneer, NYAM fellow, and founder of the American Public Health Association. He earned his medical degree at Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. Smith went on to research the connections between urban environmental conditions and outbreaks of typhus and cholera, and to lead a sanitary campaign to improve those conditions. (See video below.)
While the full promise of public health remains unfinished today, Fried said it could be actualized through collective will. The solution, she said, “must include igniting civic support for public health, to get us to invest in a public health system that can create healthy longevity, adequately financed with reinvigorated capabilities and with a well-trained workforce.”
In 2019, in partnership with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation, NYAM presented Dean Fried with the 2019 Alma Dea Morani Award, given to outstanding women physicians and scientists who have made a significant mark on history and pivotally advanced the future. Dean Fried also serves on the Age-Friendly NYC Commission, which NYAM co-chairs.
NYAM has worked closely with Columbia Mailman School and the broader Columbia University community for many years. Currently, there are 11 Columbia Mailman-affiliated NYAM Fellows and an additional 120 Fellows affiliated with other Columbia schools. NYAM’s Center for Evaluation and Applied Research has worked with Columbia Mailman faculty in the Environmental Health Sciences department and the NIEHS Center for Environmental Health and Justice in Northern Manhattan for a number of years.
On October 10, NYAM, in partnership with the Columbia Center on Injury Science & Prevention, and the Heritage School of East Harlem, convened an intergenerational group of students, youth researchers, scholars, injury scientists, UNICEF USA representatives, and community-engaged groups to form the Youth-Led Non-Violence Summit to deliberate on the power of the youth voice in injury prevention. In April 2025, NYAM will be the host venue for the 2025 SAVIR Annual Conference, which is co-hosted by Columbia Mailman. This event is a convening designed to foster dialogue, exchange insights, and propel innovations in the injury and violence prevention field.