Dr. Ritu Sadana, a global leader in public health, recognized as distinguished alum by UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

Dr. Ritu Sadana, a global leader in public health who has shaped the World Health Organization’s strategies on ageing and equity for three decades, has been inducted into the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health’s “Alumni Hall of Fame” for 2025.

“UCLA taught me early on that health is created where people live, learn, work, and age - and that students, communities, civil society, and governments all have a role,” Sadana said. “I am especially honored that my induction is to the Lester Breslow Lifetime Achievement Award; Professor Breslow’s focus on health, not only disease, continues to inspire my work with partners around the world.”

In December, seven distinguished graduates of UCLA Fielding were recognized for their work since graduation as having a major impact on public health, in Los Angeles and globally. Sadana’s service includes leading the first WHO Global Strategy on Ageing and Health, conceiving the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030 - endorsed by the UN General Assembly - and leading development of the Decade of Healthy Ageing: Baseline Report, documenting strategies to accelerate country-level progress.

The breadth of her work was cited by Dr. Ninez Ponce, professor and chair in the UCLA Fielding Department of Health Policy and Management, who nominated Sadana for the Breslow Award.

“A central theme of her work is health equity, addressing social drivers of health and reducing disparities, with well-documented efforts in promoting equitable access to services,” Ponce said. “Her work has substantially impacted global health policies and practices, contributing to meaningful improvements in health outcomes for older adults worldwide.”

Sadana is a double Bruin, with a bachelor of art in history and an master of science in public health from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and a doctor of science from Harvard University, with training in economics and epidemiology.

The latest honorees join a list of more than 90 UCLA Fielding School of Public Health alum, ranging from the classes of 1963 to 2019. Nominees are considered by a committee made up of the UCLA Fielding Public Health Alumni Association Board and serving faculty members.

That legacy, of all UCLA Fielding Hall of Fame inductees, is key to the enduring impact of the school on public health around the globe, said Dr. Ron Brookmeyer, dean of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and a distinguished professor of biostatistics.

“We are living in a time of unprecedented challenges and uncertainties for universities and for public health, and organizations like the Public Health Alumni Association are more important now than ever,” Brookmeyer said. “Whether your career is well-established or if you’re just starting out - your presence here today strengthens our collective resolve to improve public health in Los Angeles, in California, and beyond."