For more than three decades, physician and global health leader Alawode Oladele MD MPH 93PH has advanced public health, infectious disease care, and health equity across Africa and the Caribbean.
In recognition for his more than 30 years of global service to public health, infectious disease control, and health equity across vulnerable populations worldwide, the 2026 Sheth Distinguished Alumni Award for Global Engagement was presented in a March 31 ceremony to Alawode Oladele MD, MPH, 93PH. Born in Nigeria, Oladele is co-founder of CMG Global Foundation, and supervising physician and laboratory director for infectious diseases and refugee health at DeKalb Board of Health.
In every dimension of his life’s work – academic, professional, humanitarian, and personal – Dr. Alawode Oladele exemplifies the spirit of global engagement that the Emory Alumni Award seeks to honor. His contributions have improved health outcomes, strengthened communities, fostered international partnerships, advanced research, and uplifted thousands of individuals across continents.
From a nomination letter
As CEO of both GIANT Non-Profit Inc. and Premiere International Health Care Inc. Oladele’s career demonstrates global health leadership with continued contributions to social justice issues, economic development, and environmental justice through humanitarian missions to underserved communities across Africa and the Caribbean.
To advance global understanding within the scientific community, Oladele has served as both the principal and co-investigator for numerous clinical trials and research on tuberculosis; the impact of nutritional therapy on HIV/AIDS; HIV among refugee populations; and latent tuberculosis infection.
Honoring Global Engagement
The Sheth Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes Emory University’s alumni who have distinguished themselves in service to universities, governments, private sector firms, and/or non-governmental organizations, and who have made exceptional contributions to global and international engagement. To be considered for the award, the nominee must be an individual who has helped the world through outstanding contributions to humanity, science, art or human welfare that demonstrate the value of global and international engagement; be highly distinguished in his/her business, profession or life’s work; be of such stature and fame that students, faculty, staff and alumni of Emory University will take pride in and be inspired by his/her recognition; and must be an individual who in deed or action reflects the importance of his/her education at Emory University.
Founded in 2002 through a generous gift from Madhu and Jagdish Sheth, Charles H. Kellstadt Professor of Marketing, the award has honored global leaders each year since including Woo Taek Kim 90MBA, Henry Haipeng Zhang (Feng Tang) 00MBA, Lado Gurgenidze 93MBA, Manfred Asamer 86MBA, and Hamish W. Taylor 84MBA.
Vice Provost for Emory Global Engagement Jane Gatewood notes, “As we honored Dr. Oladele with this distinguished award here at Emory University this past Spring, we also recognized his outstanding contributions to international collaboration that continue to broaden our shared knowledge, understanding, and empathy worldwide.”
The Sheth Distinguished Alumni Award reflects Professor Jagdish Sheth’s enduring commitment to global engagement, education, and service. Learn more about his remarkable 35-year legacy at Goizueta Business School.
Learn more about how Emory Global Engagement is expanding the university’s global impact here.
