Julio Frenk

Dr. Julio Frenk is a public health scholar and higher education leader whose career spans government, academia, and international policy. A fourth-generation physician, Frenk has focused on improving health, education, and well-being globally. He holds a medical degree from the National University of Mexico, as well as a master of public health and a joint Ph.D. in medical care organization and sociology from the University of Michigan. His professional experience includes leadership roles in public health research, teaching, policy analysis, institution-building, international cooperation, and national public service.

Frenk served as federal secretary of health of Mexico, where he led reforms to the nation's health system and introduced Seguro Popular, a program that expanded access to health care for more than 55 million previously uninsured individuals. He established the Federal Commission for Health Risk Protection, a regulatory agency that has served as a model internationally. Frenk was the founding director-general of the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico and held positions as executive director for evidence and information for policy at the World Health Organization and as senior fellow in the global health program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Frenk has served as president of the University of Miami and as dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where he also held a joint appointment with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He is the first Latino to lead these institutions. Frenk co-chaired the Commission on the Education of Health Professionals for the 21st Century, which published a report in The Lancet that influenced global health education initiatives.

Julio Frenk became the seventh chancellor of UCLA and holds an academic appointment as distinguished professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management within the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Time Magazine recognized Frenk as a top Latino leader for his contributions to public health and higher education. The National Hispanic Health Foundation honored him with a Hispanic Health Leadership Award. His scholarly work includes nearly 200 articles in academic journals, as well as books and book chapters, with more than 37,000 citations.

Frenk is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico, and El Colegio Nacional. He has received honorary degrees from 14 universities in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Mexico. His recognitions include the Clinton Global Citizen Award, the Bouchet Medal for Outstanding Leadership from Yale University, and the Welch-Rose Award for Distinguished Service from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. He is also the founding chair of the board of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.