The Michael Klag and Lucy Meoni Lectureship

The Michael Klag and Lucy Meoni Lectureship was established through the efforts of the School’s department chairs, deans and friends in honor of Dean Emeritus Michael J. Klag and Lucy A. Meoni, in appreciation of their commitment to the exchange of ideas as evidenced by the Dean’s Lecture Series and other initiatives during Dr. Klag’s deanship.

Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH ’87 served as dean of the Bloomberg School from 2005 to 2017, leading the way on transformative changes. He promoted incredible technological shifts in learning, raised the School’s profile as a thought leader and policy innovator, oversaw tremendous growth in the faculty, and helped to develop stronger partnerships with the university and with public health schools around the world. An internationally known expert on the epidemiology and prevention of cardiovascular and kidney disease, he has been a Johns Hopkins faculty member since 1987. 

After earning her degree in biostatistics, Lucy A. Meoni, ScM ’82 joined the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine faculty, before changing from a joint to a primary appointment at the Bloomberg School in 2006. During her time at Hopkins, she took part in a variety of impactful research, including serving as Associate Director of the Precursors Study, a groundbreaking longitudinal research project.

During Dr. Klag’s term as dean, which coincided with the School's Centennial, it expanded its reach around the globe, developed innovative and life-changing research programs, and remained a beacon of pride as one of the most highly respected public health schools in the world. More than 10 new centers and institutes and 12 endowed chairs were established under Dr. Klag's leadership. As part of the celebration of its 100th anniversary, the school announced the launch of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative – a comprehensive effort against major threats to the health of Americans: addiction and overdose, adolescent health issues, environmental degradation, obesity, and gun violence. The establishment of the Initiative included support for more than 25 endowed professorships.

A deeply personal initiative for Dr. Klag was founding the Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, named for his late first wife and a focal point for the nation's largest epidemiologically based studies of autism.

For additional information about Dr. Klag, see https://hub.jhu.edu/2016/10/06/michael-klag-bloomberg-school/ and https://magazine.jhsph.edu/2017/the-end-of-an-era.

The Lectureship is meant to recognize a public health leader each year and includes an invited lecturer to discuss the compelling public health issues of our time. It is intended to inspire discussion, debate and action among faculty, students and all who advocate for a safer, healthier world.

For more information about the Michael Klag and Lucy Meoni Lectureship, please contact BSPH.deansoffice@jhu.edu.