Alumnus Vikram Krishnasamy Awarded 2020 Service to America Medal

When Anthony Fauci, M.D., was named a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America medalist earlier in October, another recipient in the select group was Vikram Krishnasamy, M.D., a 2009 graduate of Northeast Ohio Medical University, who is a medical officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Krishnasamy, 35, won the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal^®  in the Emerging Leaders category.

Among his accomplishments, Dr. Krishnasamy worked with law enforcement authorities and health authorities to create a medical command center in 2019, when 60 medical professionals in six states were arrested for the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. Through his leadership, public health officials learned in advance about the action that was going to be taken by law enforcement, allowing health departments to arrange for follow-up and services by legitimate providers for the many patients who would have been left without care.

The Service to America awards, known as the Sammies, honor federal government workers “who have made significant contributions to the health, safety and prosperity of our country,” according to a press release. From a group of 27 finalists announced in May, six medalists were named. In addition, the annual Spirit of Service Award was presented to Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft.

The awards program was begun by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service in 2002. This year’s recipients were honored at a virtual program that was livestreamed October 5.

Listen to Dr. Krishnasamy talk about his work, and read more about him.