Professor Walter Ricciardi
ASPHER Andrija Štampar Medallist, 2026
ASPHER is thrilled to announce the awarding of the 2026 Andrija Štampar Medal to Walter Ricciardi, Professor of Hygiene and Public Health at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome.
Over four decades, Professor Ricciardi has shaped public health science, governance, and education at national, European, and global levels, consistently promoting the principles of evidence-based policy, international cooperation, and social medicine. He has devoted his career to translating scientific evidence into effective health policy and institutional reform and is widely recognised as one of Europe’s most influential public health leaders.
In Italy, Professor Ricciardi has built and led one of Europe’s most respected academic centres at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome. He served as President of the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità) from 2014 to 2019 and has acted as advisor to several Italian Ministers of Health, contributing to major reforms in prevention, health system governance and public health strategy.
At the European level, he served two terms as President of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), strengthening its scientific output, expanding its membership, and consolidating its role as the leading voice for public health in Europe. As a long-standing advisor to European institutions he has significantly contributed to shaping the European Union’s strategic approaches to health systems performance, disease prevention, and population health.
Globally, Professor Ricciardi served as President of the World Federation of Public Health Associations (2018–2020) and as a Member of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, advancing international collaboration on health systems strengthening and global health security.
Professor Ricciardi’s scientific record is exceptional: he is the author of more than 700 peer reviewed publications and has held major editorial roles, including Section Editor of the European Journal of Public Health and Editor of the Oxford Handbook of Public Health Practice. His work has substantially advanced understanding of health system performance, disease burden, and determinants of population health across Europe.
Professor Ricciardi embodies the values championed by Andrija Štampar demonstrating a profound commitment to public health education, a lifelong dedication to strengthening health systems, and an unwavering belief in international cooperation as a cornerstone of population health. His transformative leadership within European and global public health institutions, his distinguished scientific achievements, and his enduring contribution to the development of future public health leaders make him an outstanding recipient of the Award.
The 2026 Andrija Štampar Medal will be conferred during the ASPHER 1st European Congress on Education and Training in Public Health, 15-18 July in Milan, Italy.