Meet Thierno Moustapha Diallo, Rutgers School of Public Health’s 2025 Stanley S. Bergen Medal of Excellence Awardee!
Thierno Moustapha Diallo will be receiving his Master of Public Health (MPH) in Global Public Health from the Rutgers School of Public Health.
As a member of the Class of 2025, Moustapha brought to his graduate studies a global lens and a strong foundation in clinical care, shaped by his work as a physician in Guinea. His experiences responding to complex health challenges sparked a commitment to advancing public health solutions.
His academic excellence, impactful research, and steadfast commitment to service have earned him the school’s highest student honor—the 2025 Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., MD, Medal of Excellence. He will also provide the graduate keynote address at the school’s Convocation ceremony this month.
In addition, Moustapha is the recipient of the 2025 Bernard D. Goldstein Award for Global Public Health, which recognizes exceptional academic achievement among masters-level students in their concentration.
He was also part of the inaugural cohort of 2024-2025 Wellness PHirst Ambassadors with the Office of Student Experiences and Alumni Affairs (SEAA), where he mentored peers, promoted wellness resources, and co-facilitated programs aimed at strengthening student support and engagement.
We sat down with Moustapha to hear more about his public health journey, his passions and goals, and what’s next.
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What inspired you to pursue public health, and how has your time at Rutgers School of Public Health shaped your journey?
After medical school in Casablanca, Morocco, I returned home (Guinea) to practice as a primary care physician for more than three years, contributing to the recovery efforts of my country after being the epicenter of the deadliest Ebola epidemic. While I felt privileged to contribute to healing my patients, I progressively realized that the best way to increase the readiness of my country for the next epidemic is through addressing issues at the population level. So, I applied to Fulbright to complete a Master of Public Health in the U.S. I was fortunate to be selected to complete a Global Public Health Master's at Rutgers starting Fall 2023.
At Rutgers, I have gained a deeper understanding of the public health issues I witnessed as a primary care physician. I have also acquired additional skills that would allow me to better contribute to resolving these issues. Furthermore, my time at Rutgers has strengthened my commitment to return to Africa and contribute to increasing readiness for future epidemics such as Ebola, COVID-19, and Mpox.
What has been the most rewarding or transformative experience during your time at Rutgers?
The faculty and staff at Rutgers are fantastic. All my professors have left something fertile in me, which is blossoming. Particularly, two professors through my collaborations with them have had the most impact. Prof. Stephan Schwander generously welcomed me into the team of his study in Uganda on tuberculosis and air pollution. This allowed me to witness firsthand how collaboration between US and African researchers creates productive synergies to address complex problems. My passion for this project explains why I selected it for my APE and capstone. Prof. Rafael E. Pérez-Figueroa, for whom I am acting as research assistant, has been a tremendous mentor, professionally and personally.
I have learned how impactful it is to embed community engagement in research projects. I have been humbled by Promotoras, the female Spanish-speaking community health workers with whom we work to address health inequities in New Brunswick. My experiences at Rutgers will fuel my work and life moving forward.
You’ve been recognized with the 2025 Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., MD, Medal of Excellence and the 2025 Bernard D. Goldstein Award for Global Public Health. What does receiving these awards mean to you?
I am truly humbled to receive these awards. I accept them, understanding that I must remain true to the ethos underpinning them: "To whom much is given, much is expected." These awards further empower me to impact others positively.
What advice would you give to current and future public health students?
This is a cliché. But the most profound truths are simple clichés. Strive to leave something fertile that will blossom with each person you meet. We are truly measured through our impact on others. Ultimately, that is the only thing that stays and is passed on from one person to another. I will do my best to pass on the fertile gifts I received at Rutgers, and I hope those I pass them to will pass them on to others. So on and so forth.
What’s next after graduation, and how do you hope to make an impact in public health?
I hope for a lot of rest (smile). If things go according to my plan, I will start a PhD in Molecular Epidemiology at the Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore in Fall 2025, focusing on infectious diseases. I hope this is the next chapter in my journey to acquire the required skills and resources to return home and contribute to strengthening public health in Guinea and Africa. However, plans are in human beings' minds. So, ask me again in a few weeks.
