Sommer Scholars Program

The Hopkins Sommer Scholars Program is developing a network of public health leaders who make a difference in the world.

Every student accepted into the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the Bloomberg School is automatically considered for nomination to the prestigious Hopkins Sommer Scholars Program. This program provides full tuition and a stipend so that the most inspiring and accomplished applicants to the School can pursue the curriculum that best meets their needs and interests.

About Dean Alfred Sommer

The Hopkins Sommer Scholars Program is named in honor of Dean Emeritus Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS ’73, who served as dean of the Bloomberg School from 1990 through 2005.

In a remarkable career marked by lasting contributions to ophthalmology, epidemiology, micronutrient research, disaster relief, and other areas, Dr. Sommer is best known for his research into vitamin A deficiency. In the footsteps of other pathbreaking public health leaders, he paired remarkable scientific insights with perseverance and ingenuity to save the sight and lives of millions of children.

He proved that vitamin A deficiency dramatically increased childhood morbidity and mortality from infectious disease, and that a four-cent dose of vitamin A not only prevented and cured eye disease, but also reduced childhood deaths by 34 percent.

Because of his work, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and their partners now annually provide millions of vitamin A supplements to children around the world, saving hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

Dr. Sommer is the recipient of numerous honors including the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award and the Spirit of Helen Keller Award. He is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.

About the Scholars

Sommer Scholars exemplify scientific excellence, energy, ambition, political acumen, and a determination to change the world. The program welcomes students from all backgrounds who want to make a difference by leveraging their previous professional experiences to drive discovery and shape public health policy of the future. Sommer Scholars may be writers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, politicians, business executives, journalists, engineers, financial analysts, economists, and others who want to work toward the betterment of the world’s health and are seeking the tools to do so effectively.

The program provides full tuition and a stipend so that the most inspired and accomplished applicants to the School can pursue the curriculum that best meets their needs and interests. Hopkins Sommer Scholars also participate in enrichment activities aimed at developing personal skills, fostering collaboration, and building a network of contacts they can draw on throughout their careers.

Upon graduation, Sommer Scholars become members of a global network of leaders determined to make a difference in the world.

The Sommer Scholars Program has already helped more than 350 students develop leadership and public health skills that are vital to their future careers.