Tanjala Purnell, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology, was a recipient of the 2023 JHU Alumni Association Community Champion Award for being a trailblazing researcher, mentor, and national thought-leader in health equity and social justice. The award recognizes outstanding contributions that address critical social, economic and environmental needs throughout our society and communities, including local communities. With over a decade of expertise focused on implementing patient- and community-engaged initiatives to promote health equity, Purnell has facilitated health equity mentoring opportunities for over 150 diverse scholars, organized novel seminars for over 7,000 academic and community members, and developed health equity research methods courses for over 6,000 learners at Johns Hopkins and other communities worldwide.
