HWS News
21 March 2025 President's Forum Series Welcomes Dr. Chris Beyrer '81, D.Sc. '22
Internationally recognized epidemiologist and public health expert, Dr. Chris Beyrer joins the President’s Forum Series to discuss his career in public health, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing work to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS.
Hobart and William Smith will welcome home internationally recognized epidemiologist and public health expert Dr. Chris Beyrer ’81, Sc.D. ’22 as a guest of the President’s Forum Series on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. in Froelich Hall of the Gearan Center. The talk is free and open to the public.
Dr. Beyrer’s life-saving research, specifically in the field of HIV/AIDS and its impact on marginalized populations, has advanced public health and human rights, changed personal perceptions and behaviors, and improved the health of individuals, communities and countries around the world.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Beyrer back to campus,” says President Mark D. Gearan. “Dr. Beyrer’s passion and commitment to advancing international public health and enhancing our collective well-being are truly inspiring. His lifelong work has made a profound impact helping to improve our world. We look forward to him sharing his significant expertise with our students and the broader HWS community.”
Currently Director of the Duke University Global Health Institute, Beyrer is the Gary Hock Distinguished Professor of Infectious Diseases at Duke University School of Medicine where he also serves as a Professor of Medicine and Research Professor of Global Health.
Before joining Duke, Beyrer was the inaugural Desmond M. Tutu Professor of Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and served as associate director of the JHU Center for AIDS Research and the Center for Global Health.
Born in Berne, Switzerland, and raised on Long Island, Beyrer followed his father’s path (Dr. Charles R. Beyrer '56, P’81) to Hobart, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated cum laude with a bachelor's in history. After graduating he spent time in Asia studying Buddhism, before earning his M.D. at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Beyrer first encountered AIDS in the 1980s in Brooklyn, among the borough’s large Haitian population, before witnessing the nascent AIDS epidemic decimate New York City’s gay community.
Motivated by these tragedies, he went on to earn his MPH at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and subsequently led collaborative research on HIV epidemiology, prevention and treatment in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia for more than 30 years.
During that time, he served as field director for the Thai PAVE and HIVNET studies based in the Chiang Mai province and in 2012 received an honorary doctorate in health science from Chiang Mai University in northern Thailand, conveyed by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, in recognition of his efforts.
Beyrer was the founding director of the Center for Public Health and Human Rights, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and serves on the Academy’s Board for Global Health and on the Committee for Human Rights. He is past president of the International AIDS Society, served as an advisor to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the World Health Organization and Physicians for Human Rights.
Beyrer has testified before the Senate and House of Representatives regarding HIV, AIDS and human rights, and served as a consultant with organizations including the Open Society Institute, the Institute for Asian Democracy, the World Bank Institute, the Office for AIDS Research at National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Military HIV Research Program, the Royal Thai Army, and numerous other organizations.
He is the author of more than 400 scientific papers, the author or editor of eight books, and the author or contributor to hundreds of chapters and abstracts. In 2022, Beyrer was named to the annual list of the world’s most cited scientists.
As an engaged HWS alumnus, Beyrer served as the 2022 Commencement speaker, receiving an honorary degree. He is the recipient of the Hobart Medal of Excellence and was the keynote speaker for 2014 Convocation. Most recently, he spoke to students in the First Year Seminar “American Medicine: Justice, Access, Identities, and Culture” taught by Provost and Professor of Chemistry Sarah Kirk and Associate Provost Susan Pliner.
Established in 2000 by President Mark D. Gearan, the President’s Forum brings a variety of speakers to campus to share their knowledge and ideas with students, faculty and staff, as well as with interested community members.
Top: In 2022, Dr. Chris Beyrer ’81, Sc.D. ’22 delivered the Commencement address.
