Waukon native Dr. Michael Osterholm has been named to TIME’S 2026 TIME100 Health List of the World’s Most Influential Leaders in Health
Dr. Michael Osterholm ... Submitted photo.
TIME named Dr. Michael Osterholm, Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, to the 2026 TIME100 Health List of the World’s Most Influential Leaders in Health.
The 2026 TIME100 Health spotlights the 100 most influential leaders in health this year. As the global order has shifted, these titans, innovators, leaders, pioneers and catalysts have pushed new ideas - from gene therapies to regulatory agencies - ahead to build healthier populations around the world.
“I am honored to receive this recognition, which I share with the entire support team at the University of Minnesota and, specifically, the extraordinary scientists and researchers at CIDRAP and the Vaccine Integrity Project, who show up every day committed to evidence, transparency and public service,” said Osterholm. “Any impact attributed to me is the result of deeply collaborative efforts focused on protecting health and earning public trust. I’m grateful to share this honor - in a moment when evidence-based health policy is under assault in our country - with colleagues who believe that rigorous science, clearly communicated, can save and protect lives.”
Osterholm, a 1971 graduate of Waukon High School, is listed as one of 20 recognition recipients under the “Leaders” category in this year’s honoring with a description of “Preserving medical expertise.” His honoring is further described in the publication as follows:
“Michael Osterholm is a well-known figure in global health, heading up the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and establishing himself as an outspoken critic of recent changes in the U.S. government’s vaccination policies. Osterholm and his team launched the Vaccine Integrity Project last spring to address misinformation about vaccines that has proliferated as the Trump Administration has dismantled long-standing vaccination policies, including no longer recommending immunizations for most children against flu, RSV, rotavirus and COVID. The group aims to provide scientifically validated information on vaccine safety and effectiveness, and to track and provide quick responses to changes in vaccine policies.
Osterholm says the initiative provides evidence-based analysis for both doctors and the public.”
A distinguished public health scholar, researcher and educator, Osterholm has served as a pioneer and leader in the research, prevention and control of infectious diseases throughout the world. He is an international leader on the critical concerns regarding preparedness for an influenza pandemic and the use of biological agents as catastrophic weapons targeting civilian populations. He has been with the University of Minnesota for 52 years, served as the Minnesota State Epidemiologist for 15 years, and has been a key public health adviser to many U.S. federal agencies and in every presidential administration since Ronald Reagan.
To read the full article, pick up the Wednesday, February 25, 2026 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.
