Desiree LaBeaud, MD, MS —  associate dean of global health and professor of pediatrics-infectious diseases —  was honored in May with the Stanford Medicine Office of Community Engagement’s Outstanding Faculty Award.

The honor recognizes LaBeaud for her “exceptional efforts in advancing community health and wellness,” and for embodying community engagement and equitable, respectful community partnerships in all her efforts.

For many years, Dr. LaBeaud has worked closely alongside researchers and community organizations in Kenya to investigate the impacts of climate and environmental changes on infectious diseases. This work led her to co-found a nonprofit, HERI-Kenya, dedicated to meeting community-identified needs while addressing trash and other environmental problems that drive diseases like dengue. She also co-edited a book, Transforming Global Partnerships, authored by 90 authors from 26 countries. She’s now teaching a Stanford course in the spring designed to help Stanford undergraduate and graduate students foster equitable global partnerships.

Additionally, she invests her personal time in collaboration with local community organizations representing groups impacted by climate and other environmental challenges, supporting their efforts to elevate health-related concerns.Learn more about LaBeaud’s work here.