CDC Foundation Honors Marni Sommer with Award for Health Education
The CDC Foundation announced that Marni Sommer, DrPH, Columbia Mailman professor of sociomedical sciences, is the 2027 recipient of the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award. The award, which will be presented at the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) conference next year, recognizes a distinguished leader who makes significant contributions to health education and health promotion through program development or delivery, policy, advocacy, or research. Sommer is known for transforming menstrual health into a recognized global public health priority.
“Dr. Sommer has elevated menstrual health from a neglected issue to a global public health priority, changing how governments, educators and health leaders support the health, dignity and well-being of girls and women worldwide,” said Judy Monroe, MD, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation.
“I’m honored and grateful for this special recognition from the CDC Foundation and the Fries Foundation,” said Sommer. “The work I do happens because of the collaboration and support of colleagues, students, funders, and friends. I also want to recognize the girls and boys who have generously shared their experiences with puberty over the years.”
Sommer is a global leader in menstrual health whose research and advocacy helped transform a once-overlooked issue into a recognized health priority. Beginning with foundational research among schoolgirls in Tanzania, she documented how menstruation, puberty, and inadequate health education affected girls’ dignity, well-being, and school participation. She translated those findings into culturally tailored puberty books for girls and boys and distributed more than 2 million copies across 10 countries. She helped build the evidence base for menstrual health education, supportive school environments, and national monitoring. Sommer has also advanced practical guidance for humanitarian settings, menstrual-friendly public toilet facilities, and government policies designed to improve the health and well-being of girls and women.
The CDC Foundation manages and administers the Fries Foundation’s public health award programs, which include the James and Sarah Fries Prize for Improving Health and the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award. The James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation identifies and honors individuals, organizations, or institutions that have made great contributions to the health of the public.