The BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (BRAC JPGSPH), BRAC University, celebrated its 20th anniversary at The Westin Hotels and Resorts, Gulshan-2, Dhaka on 12th December. The day-long event brought together distinguished global public health leaders, academics, and experts to celebrate two decades of impactful education, training, research, and advocacy. The event opened with a warm welcome by Dr Laura Reichenbach, Dean of BRAC JPGSPH and Director of the Centre of Excellence for Science of Implementation & Scale-Up (CoE-SISU).

"Over the last 20 years, we have grounded our work across education, training, research, and impact, empowering professionals, informing policies, and fostering community-driven solutions to tackle pressing public health challenges.," said Dr Laura Reichenbach, Dean of BRAC JPGSPH, during her opening speech.

This was followed by a keynote address by Dr. Sabina Faiz Rashid, Mushtaque Chowdhury Chair in Health and Poverty, highlighting the transformative journey of the School over the past 20 years.

The program featured remarks from Professor Dr Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice Chancellor of BRAC University, and Tamara Hasan Abed, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, BRAC University. A special video message from Dr. Jon E. Rohde, Senior Lown Scholar at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, added to the celebrations.

"BRAC JPGSPH is redesigning the global landscape of public health, justice, and equity. We acknowledge the school’s invaluable contributions to the well-being of the communities, both nationally and globally, through its impactful research and advocacy efforts," Dr Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor and working group member of Bangladesh Health Watch said in the Address of the Chief Guest.

Two expert panels addressed the key challenges and opportunities in public health education and research

The panel titled "Public Health Research and Future Needs" was Moderated by Dr Laura Reichenbach, with panelists Professor Dr Kaosar Afsana, Professor Timothy Evans, Sara Hossain, and Asif Saleh. As the discussant Julia Roberts, CEO of BRAC USA was present.

“The challenges in our health systems, including high out-of-pocket expenses, shifting disease patterns, and climate change, are immense. Public health research and programs must move beyond silos to adopt a multidisciplinary approach. We need systems that are not only capable of tackling health emergencies but are also accountable and inclusive," Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC, expressed during the panel discussion.

Another panel titled "Public Health Education: Adapting to Meet Emerging Public Health Challenges" was moderated by Professor Dr Malay Kanti Mridha, Deputy Dean of the School.  This session included Professor Dr Syed Masud Ahmed, Professor Dr Samia Huq, and Professor Dr Dipak Kumar Mitra, with renowned public health expert Dr. Lincoln C. Chen as the discussant.

“The school upholds Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's vision and commitment to advancing public health education through community-centered experiential learning. I hope BRAC JPGSPH continues to inspire and shape the future of public health education in Bangladesh and across the region" Dr Lincoln C. Chen, Former President of China Medical Board, expressed as a discussant during the panel.

Rapid Sessions and Special Features: Interactive sessions showcased the School’s extensive research across its five Centres of Excellence and two Research Hubs, covering topics such as urban health, gender and sexual rights, health systems, and climate change.

A presentation by Bangladesh Health Watch, a civil society initiative, further emphasized the importance of health equity in Bangladesh.

The event concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Laura Reichenbach and a vote of thanks by Professor Dr. Malay Kanti Mridha, reflecting on the vision for the next decade of public health leadership and innovation.

The celebration was a fitting tribute to the late Sir Fazle Hasan Abed KCMG, the School’s founder, and its legacy of advancing community-centric approaches to public health.

The 20-year celebration was a testament to BRAC JPGSPH's unwavering commitment to addressing critical health challenges, building capacity, and driving transformative research to improve lives globally.