Fries Prize for Improving Health
Recipients

2007: Donald R. Hopkins, M.D., M.P.H.

For his initiation of and sustained leadership in the global campaign to eridicate Guinea worm disease, "a forgotten disease of forgotten people."

2006: William T. Sergeant

For his inspirational and extraordinary contributions to a healthy world by leading Rotary International global efforts to eradicate polio.

2005: John W. Farquhar, M.D.

For pioneering ideas, research, and advocacy which led to the recognition of community-wide interventions to improve health.

2004: Faye Wattleton, R.N.

For courageous and effective leadership in the campaign to maintain reproductive rights and improve women's health in the United States and abroad.

2003: P. Roy Vagelos, M.D.

For his visionary leadership while CEO of Merck and Co., and particularly for his role in the prevention of river blindness with the donation of Mectizan to the countries in Africa and South America where the prevalence was extremely high.

2002: Millie I. Webb

For leading the grass roots campaign while President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving which resulted in setting the national standard for impaired driving at .08 blood alcohol content.

2001: Baruch S. Blumberg, M.D., Ph.D.

For developing the hepatitis B vaccine and for his exemplary efforts throughout the world to greatly reduce liver disease and the resulting liver cancer.

2000: Judith Mackay, M.D., F.R.C.P.

For her innovative, persistent and strikingly successful tobacco control initiatives in Asia.

1999: George D. Lundberg, M.D.

For his outstanding editorial championship of the public health.

1998: William B. Kannel, M.D., M.P.H.

For establishing the concept that clinically definable "risk factors" promote cardiovascular disease, and for his leadership of the Framingham Heart Study.

1997: Michael Pertschuk, J.D.

For using public office to advance the public health, for setting the gold standard for health advocacy from the private sector, and for developing persistent and powerful strategies in the campaign for tobacco control.

1996: James P. Comer, M.D., M.P.H.

For developing, disseminating and evaluating the School Development Program which has improved the mental and physical health of thousands of school children.

1995: Lester Breslow, M.D., M.P.H.

For recognizing the dominant effects of chronic illnesses upon the national morbidity, for identification of lifestyle risk factors, and for promotion of social and personal actions to reduce the morbid effects of illness.

1994: C. Everett Koop, M.D.

For courgeous, imaginative, sustained, and uniquely effective advocacy in the campaigns for the reduction of cigarette smoking, the reduction of domestic violence, prevention of AIDS, and the improved health of our children.

1993: Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H.

For fathering the concept of aerobic exercise, and for his leadership in promoting exercise as a life long habit for millions of Americans.

1992: William H. Foege, M.D., M.P.H.

For his visionary leadership in the world-wide eradication of smallpox, vaccination of America's children, and the crusades against tobacco use and unnecessary injuries.