On the 31st of May 2023, during the last of their Autumn Graduation ceremonies, the Durban University of Technology (DUT), acknowledged Prof Salim Abdool Karim for his exceptional contributions in the global health environment and his outstanding service to humanity.
At the ceremony, hosted at the Olive Convention Centre in North Beach, Durban, the Faculty of Health Sciences at DUT conferred an honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Health Sciences to South Africa’s leading epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist.
In honour of Prof Abdool Karim, the university also hosted a celebratory gala dinner in further celebration of this award.
On receiving this honorary doctorate, Prof Abdool Karim said “I am deeply honoured by this accolade. It recognises the importance of science in dealing with infectious disease threats. More broadly, it highlights the value of science in making the world a better and safer place.”
On behalf of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), we congratulate Prof Abdool Karim on this excellent achievement.
More about Prof Salim Abdool Karim
Prof Abdool Karim (63), from Durban, is the director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and CAPRISA professor for Global Health in the Department of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. Prof Abdool Karim also serves as adjunct professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard University, Boston, adjunct professor of Medicine at Cornell University, New York, and pro-vice-chancellor of Research at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.
As a distinguished health expert, Prof Abdool Karim has played a leading role in the HIV/Aids and COVID-19 pandemics. His expertise has extensively contributed to HIV/Aids prevention and treatment, as well as the COVID-19 response, thereby saving many lives.
During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof Abdool Karim was chosen to lead the 41-member Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19. This committee provided guidance for the South African government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prof Abdool Karim played a critical role in providing the public and the government with scientific advice on the coronavirus, how it causes COVID-19 and the measures for preventing infection.
In 2022, he was appointed as a special advisor on pandemics to the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). To date, the award-winning Prof Abdool Karim has published more than 500 journal articles, 12 book chapters, co-edited three books and holds six patents. He has been ranked amongst the world’s most highly cited scientists by Web of Science.
Prof Abdool Karim also previously served as President of the SAMRC.