Prof. Rıfat Atun, a Member of the TÜSEB International Scientific Advisory Board, who has been serving as the Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership and Vice Dean for Non-Degree Education and Innovation at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has been appointed Dean for Education and Innovation at the same institution. Prof. Atun will assume his new role effective August 1, 2026.

In his announcement, Andrea Baccarelli, Dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, highlighted Prof. Atun’s extensive expertise in educational theory, methods, and administration, as well as his distinguished academic leadership and longstanding contributions to global public health, noting that these qualifications underpin his appointment as Dean for Education and Innovation.

In his new role, Prof. Atun will provide strategic and operational leadership across the School’s portfolio of degree and non-degree education. He will continue to oversee the Advanced Learning Academy, the School’s lifelong learning portfolio, which includes executive education, professional development, short courses, microcredentials, summer programs, and other non-degree educational offerings. He will also lead the development of an innovation ecosystem at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health to help translate research outputs to impactful solutions to address health challenges worldwide.

Prof. Rıfat Atun, who also serves as a Professor of Global Health Systems at Harvard University and Director of the Health Systems Innovation Lab, has been appointed to this distinguished position, further demonstrating the growing international impact and leadership of Turkish scientists in global academia. With this appointment, Prof. Dr. Atun has become the first Turkish academician in Harvard University's history to be appointed as a Dean, marking a historic milestone for both the University and the Turkish academic community.

As the Health Institutes of Türkiye (TÜSEB), we extend our sincere congratulations to Prof. Rıfat Atun, our esteemed member of the International Scientific Advisory Board, on his appointment to this distinguished position and wish him every success in his new role.