Alumnus Awarded Légion d'honneur Medal (web article)

Gerard Dubois, head of the Department of Public Health at the State University of Amiens and a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, was awarded France's highest civil and military medal, the Légion d'honneur. Prof. Dubois received the medal on February 7 from health minister Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin.

Prof. Dubois was recognized as a champion of anti-tobacco initiatives in France and throughout Europe. Under his leadership, France adopted new measures to ban smoking in at work and other public places. From 2003 to 2007, Dubois chaired the French Alliance against Tobacco, where he continues to serve as honorary chair. He also chaired the National Committee against Smoking from 1993 to 2003.

“This wouldn't have happened without the great training I got from the JHU School of Public Health. This was seminal for my whole career, first as an epidemiologist, then as a public health professional who decided to fight against ‘industrial epidemics’ such as tobacco, alcohol, traffic accidents and industrial food,” said Dubois. “It is always with great pleasure that I ‘breathe’ Baltimore and the School when I have the opportunity to go back.”

Dubois earned his master of public health degree from the School in 1973.--Tim Parsons