Celebrating Dr. Rajita R. Bhavaraju
Lifetime Service Award Recipient
Celebrating Dr. Rajita R. Bhavaraju: Lifetime Service Award Recipient
I am pleased to announce that “our own” Rajita Bhavaraju, PhD, MPH, Director of Global Operations for the TB-RePORT International Coordinating Center at Rutgers University, has been selected to receive the Lifetime Service Award from the North America Region of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).
This award recognizes Dr. Bhavaraju’s exceptional, long-standing commitment to advancing tuberculosis prevention, care, research, and workforce capacity building. She has devoted nearly 30 years to the TB field, combining public health training (MPH and PhD from the Rutgers School of Public Health) with sustained leadership in national and global TB initiatives.
Dr. Bhavaraju currently serves as the Director of Operations at the RePORT International Coordinating Center, supporting strategic planning, policy implementation, and multi-country consortium operations, including stewardship of contracts and subawards.
Prior to this role, she was Deputy Director of the Rutgers Global Tuberculosis Institute (formerly the NJMS National Tuberculosis Center), one of the CDC-funded TB Centers of Excellence for training and medical consultation, where she led institute-wide operations supporting education and training, clinical care, prevention, and research programs.
Her contributions to The Union span more than two decades and include service as a Board Member (2010–2014), Chair of the Coordinating Committee for Scientific Activities (2010–2014), and multiple leadership roles within the Nursing and Allied Professionals Section (Secretary, Programme Secretary, Vice-Chair, and Chair; 2002–2010).
In recognition of her sustained service, she was named an Honorary Member of The Union in 2021 and continues to serve on the Union–North America Region Council.
As you may know, Dr. Bhavaraju also serves as a voting member of the U.S. HHS Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (ACET).
As you may know, Dr. Bhavaraju also serves as a voting member of the U.S. HHS Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (ACET).
Her impact also extends to the TB evidence base through peer-reviewed publications addressing TB education and training needs, U.S. TB consultation services, and challenges in latent TB infection care.
She also serves as an Adjunct Instructor at the Rutgers School of Public Health, teaching public health leadership and social/behavioral sciences in both in-person and online formats.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Bhavaraju on this well-deserved honor and thanking her for decades of leadership in the service of TB elimination. RePORT International is fortunate to have Rajita in her leadership role.
Dr. Jerrold Ellner
Director, RePORT International Coordinating Center
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