Roger Glass ‘63 Awarded School’s Highest Honor, The Lawrenceville Medal

Lawrentians heard from a special guest during the final School Meeting of the academic year on May 15.

Roger Glass, MD Ph.D., ‘63 took the stage of the Kirby Arts Center to discuss his renowned career tackling enteric diseases around the world. Glass was on campus to receive The Lawrenceville Medal, the highest honor the School may grant, conferred upon an alum who has demonstrated “brilliant, lifelong work in a significant field of endeavor.”

Heather Hoover '91 P'20 '23 '24, president of the Lawrenceville Alumni Council, noted that The Lawrenceville Medal is dedicated to the memory of Aldo Leopold, Class of 1905, the distinguished environmentalist and author. Glass received the award from the Alumni Council at an awards dinner later that evening.

Louise Carroll ‘26 introduced Glass to attendees, highlighting his prominent career as a physician scientist with four decades of experience in global health, including leadership roles in public service, research, capacity building, and international collaboration.

Glass shared that he only attended Lawrenceville for three semesters, but the experience changed his career trajectory.

After attending Harvard College for undergraduate, graduate, and medical school, Glass received a doctorate from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. His subsequent career experience took him to underserved areas around the globe.

“When I went to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention), we [he and his wife] decided to take a role in Bangladesh and work at the Diarrheal Disease Control Center - it was an eye opening experience and changed our careers,” he said.

Describing his contributions toward developing a cholera vaccine, Glass underscored the importance of vaccine science for global health effectiveness.

“When our kids were children, they received seven different vaccines,” he said. “Today, there are more than 30 that have been developed and it’s a terrific advancement of science.”

Glass noted his work in virology, immunology, and genetics all influenced his path to develop and implement vaccines in low and middle income countries. He also described how a strong partnership with the Gates Foundation helped lead to equity in vaccine availability throughout the developing world.

“It was an amazing time to see this happen and now vaccines have stopped a number of diarrheal disease deaths from rotavirus,” he said.

Glass encouraged students to “take science where the problems are and follow your passion.”

“I never thought I'd be working on enteric diseases but having experience in the world and working in poor, developing countries is important,” he said, underscoring the issue of equitable access justice in his medical work.

“Vaccines themselves don’t save lives but access to vaccines does - equity,” he said. “The opposite of poverty is not wealth, it’s justice. [My colleagues and I] tried to get health justice.”

“My English class at Lawrenceville taught me you have to take the path less traveled - that’s what I did,” Glass said. “Find your path and think about making a difference as you go forward.”

“We have extraordinary universities and academic research institutions [that can] provide ideas, innovations, and a path forward.”

“I’m delighted to be here to look at the new programs you have here,” he said. “I’m expecting to see many of you among the Nobel laureates. The cost of research is not large, but that’s being challenged. I hope by the time you are through, those resources will again make the U.S. the preeminent provider of good training and research for all of you.”

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.