Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine will award the Luis Cuevas Prize each year to a graduating student in memory of Professor Cuevas’ commitment to global health education and research.
The Luis Cuevas Prize has been made possible thanks to the generosity of his family, LSTM alumni, staff and friends, who kindly supported an initiative to honour the legacy of Professor Cuevas and continue his work supporting future generations of scientists and researchers.
Each year, the prize will be awarded to a graduating Master’s in Public Health student from the Global South, for achieving the highest score in their dissertation.
Professor Cuevas, who sadly passed away in 2023, is remembered by many in the LSTM community as a brilliant friend, colleague and academic. During his time at LSTM, he was involved in the training and supervision of more than 150 MSc and 30 PhD candidates, many of whom have gone on to be leaders in the field of global health themselves.
Luis’ wife, Rachel, said: "During his career, Luis had a reputation for being generous with his time, with many of his students describing him as a life-changing, inspirational and brilliant mentor. This award honours Luis’ legacy, his passion for education, and his advocacy for greater equity in global health. It is hoped that each recipient will continue Luis’ commitment to inspiring the next generation and advancing public health.”
Professor Cuevas was a great advocate of learning, education and research. He felt passionately that through education and research, you could improve the life of not just one individual but the lives of whole populations.
Known for his work in epidemiology and the diagnosis of infectious diseases in the tropics, particularly tuberculosis, Professor Cuevas conducted much of his work in low- and middle-income countries. He focused on health problems that caused the highest burden of disease and worked tirelessly to improve access to diagnosis and treatment within communities.
The first Luis Cuevas Prize was formally awarded at this year’s graduation ceremony.
The first recipient of the prize, Abdou Aziz Kane, said: “It is an honour to receive this prestigious prize in memory of such a renowned Professor. Professor Cuevas’ dedication to making substantial contributions to the lives of communities serves as an inspiration. I am truly grateful and overjoyed to become the first recipient of this distinguished award, celebrating outstanding academic achievement and dedication to excellence. I am confident that, besides igniting a new level of motivation, this recognition will, undoubtedly, propel my career forward.”
On behalf of LSTM, Professor Isabel Lucas, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education said: “Abdou is an exceptional scholar and exemplifies the qualities needed to be a leader in the field of global health. We are so pleased that his achievements have been recognised through this award. Thank you to all of the donors who have made this prize possible. We look forward to seeing what Abdou, and the future recipients of the prize, go on to achieve.”