During the Union World Conference on Lung Health 2025, Dr Jeremiah Chakaya Muhwa received The Union’s highest honour, the Union Medal. The prestigious award recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to lung health by their leadership, scientific research, and advocacy.
Dr Jeremiah Chakaya Muhwa has been a leader in tuberculosis (TB) control throughout his career, in his home country of Kenya and on the global stage. He has held several senior positions and is a passionate teacher, having taught the next generational of African public health professionals at the school of medicine, Kenyatta University.
Chakaya is a dedicated Union member and served as President from 2016 to 2019. He has also chaired the World Health Organization’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for TB.
Throughout his distinguished career, Chakaya has never forgotten about the people he serves, remaining a practicing clinician and striving to translate scientific knowledge into direct care.
Chakaya shares what it meant to receive the award, the influence The Union has had on his remarkable career, and any tips he has for the next generation.
What does it mean to receive the Union Medal?
“I was truly thrilled to receive the Union Medal at last year’s Union Conference. It came as a complete surprise. I have always thought of the things I do in my professional life as fairly ordinary work, so I was certainly not expecting to receive a medal for it. That is why being told that I was the 2025 recipient was both humbling and deeply moving.
“For me, the award meant that someone had recognised that the ordinary work I was doing was making a difference – to people affected by TB and respiratory disease, and to organisations, such as The Union, that are at the forefront of the struggle to end TB. Receiving the medal was energising. It reminded me that even ordinary work, when done with commitment and purpose, can change lives. And if that work is having an impact, then it motivates me to work even harder and do even more.”
What role has The Union played in your career?
“I did not know about The Union until I joined the Kenya Medical Research Institute as a research officer at the Centre for Respiratory Diseases Research in 1992. At that time, most of the work being done there focused on TB. As a young researcher and clinician, the more I learned about TB, the deeper my sense of urgency and anger grew about the suffering it causes. It was around that time that I also learned about The Union and the important work it was doing to fight TB.
“The ideals of The Union – its sense of purpose, determination, and passion in the fight against TB – helped shape my own professional agenda. My association with The Union helped me crystallise my sense of purpose and direction. The courses, capacity-building programmes, and the annual Union Conference not only strengthened my passion, but also equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and networks I needed to make a meaningful contribution.
“The Union has therefore played a major role in shaping my professional life. Even at this stage of my career, it continues to provide opportunities for learning, reflection, and connection with others who have also made TB and lung health their life’s work. I am glad to be a member of The Union and to continue learning and sharpening my skills, even as I pass on some of that learning to younger people. I was given to, I received, and I will give.”
What advice would you give to the next generation of lung health leaders?
“Learn, and then learn more. Give, and then give more. Fill your cup with passion for the things that matter. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way, and stay connected to people, to purpose, and to the communities you serve.”