(Press-News.org) Baltimore, MD — The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) proudly announces the investiture of Manhattan E. Charurat, PhD, MHS as the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine, one of the institution’s most prestigious academic honors.
The ceremony opened with warm welcomes delivered by Heather Culp, JD, Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, Senior Associate Dean at University of Maryland Medicine, and Shyam Kottilil, MD, PhD, Interim Director of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV). Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, offered remarks recognizing Dr. Charurat’s extraordinary leadership and global impact by listing his many accomplishments. Dr. Charurat is the Director of the Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity (Ciheb) within the Institute of Human Virology. As a global health leader, he recently helped launch and will serve as Executive Director of the University of Maryland Global Health Alliance, accelerating cross-campus collaboration on international health challenges.
With more than 170 peer-reviewed publications, over 5,000 citations, and more than $200 million in successfully awarded funding, Dr. Charurat’s work spans from Baltimore communities to national health systems across Africa. His research includes:
Studies on mother-to-child HIV transmission, documenting how highly effective maternal antiretroviral therapy can eliminate pediatric HIV.
Evidence on the risks of “mixed feeding” in African infants, shaping global prevention guidelines.
Leadership in mobile testing strategies in Nigeria, now replicated internationally.
Implementation of population-level impact surveys and large-scale programs that strengthen testing, treatment, and health system capacity across Africa.
Mentorship and training programs that have built sustainable local expertise in HIV response.
Guest speakers included William Blattner, MD, Co-Founder of the Institute of Human Virology, and Shannon Hader, MD, MPH, former Dean of the American University School of International Service and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Professor in the Department of Environment, Development and Health, who highlighted Dr. Charurat’s scientific contributions and dedication to global health equity.
About the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professorship in Medicine
Established in 2005 by the Homer & Martha Gudelsky Family Foundation, the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professorship in Medicine honors exceptional medical professionals and advances transformative research in medicine. The first holder of the professorship, named in 2011, was Robert Gallo, MD, internationally renowned for his co-discovery of HIV and for co-founding the Institute of Human Virology at UMSOM.
The Gudelsky Foundation has supported the School of Medicine since 1969, beginning with the establishment of the Harry Gudelsky Fund to advance student-led research in cancer and heart disease. The Distinguished Professorship further recognizes the legacy of Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP, Dean Emeritus, and John A. Kastor, MD, former Chair of the Department of Medicine.
About Manhattan Charurat
Dr. Charurat holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington, Seattle; a Master of Health Science in Infectious Disease Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; and a PhD in International Health from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Charurat’s investiture as the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine highlights a career defined by scientific rigor, global partnership, and a commitment to reducing health disparities worldwide.
QUOTES:
Man Charurat: I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Gudelsky Family. Your commitment is not just a gift; it is a statement – a powerful declaration of advancing medicine locally in Baltimore, throughout the State of Maryland and globally. This investiture allows us to dream boldly, to train the next generation, and to reach communities that have long been overlooked or underserved.
Shyam Kottilil: Man has been vital to the survival of the Institute of Human Virology. During a major crisis in 2018, when country directors’ programs and grants were at risk of leaving IHV, we asked Man to step in and lead through a very delicate moment. His credibility and leadership were instrumental in retaining those grants and sustaining our work across six African nations.
Mark Gladwin: It is with great honor and admiration that we celebrate Dr. Manhattan Charurat's journey with the University of Maryland School of Medicine has been one of dedication, excellence, and commitment to advancing our understanding, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases like the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV.
END
Manhattan E. Charurat, Ph.D., MHS invested as the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine
2025-12-19
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