Lumati Honored with Awards for Extensive Work in Global Oncology

June 2026

Juliet Lumati, MD, MPH, adjunct assistant professor of Surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and member of the Center for Global Oncology — a joint center between the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health — has been awarded multiple awards for her expansive research and clinical work in global oncology.  

A hepatopancreaticobiliary and gastrointestinal surgical oncologist, Lumati is actively involved in health services research within the context of global oncology, with a focus on healthcare financing in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over the last 15 years, she has been involved in these global health efforts, specifically focused on healthcare financing in Ghana and Nigeria.  

Boston Congress of Public Health’s 40 Under 40 

Lumati was selected as a 2026 Boston Congress of Public Health 40 Under 40 Public Health Catalyst Award honoree. This award recognizes leaders across North America and Africa who are transforming public health through AI innovation, maternal health, HIV equity, mental health reform, antimicrobial resistance and more, representing 14 countries and collectively reaching millions of lives. 

The BCPH Awards Gala in May celebrated the organization’s fifth anniversary, recognizing public health through the lenses of justice and equity. 

Juliet Lumati, MD, MPH, accepting her award as a 2026 Boston Congress of Public Health 40 Under 40 Public Health Catalyst Award honoree.

Gazi Zibari Global Outreach Humanitarian Award 

The Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA) Foundation selected Lumati as the 2026 Gazi Zibari Global Outreach Humanitarian Award recipient. The award recognizes an AHPBA member who has dedicated a significant amount of time to volunteer medical outreach activity and capacity building abroad.  

The AHPBA is an incorporated, nonprofit organization that was created with a vision of devoting itself to relieving the human suffering caused by HPB disorders throughout the world by improving education, training, innovation, research and patient care. 

“I am sincerely honored to be selected by the International Committee of the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association to receive this award in the name of Dr. Gazi Zibari,” Lumati said. “Over the past 15 years working in global health, I have witnessed both the profound challenges and the incredible resilience of the patients and communities we serve. His life’s work— rooted in resilience and service to the most vulnerable — continues to inspire generations of HPB surgeons.”

The awards ceremony took place in March 2026 in Miami, Florida. Since the inaugural award in 2018, Lumati is the first woman to be awarded this distinction. 

“What touched me most was his humble reminder during the ceremony to remain steadfast in our commitment to serving the underserved,” Lumati noted. “This message guides our work in the COST-FIN trial, conducted through the African Research Group in Oncology, where we are seeing the impact of financial navigation in improving access to care for cancer patients. I envision a world where addressing financial hardship can help reduce cancer deaths globally and ensure that no patient is left behind.” 

ACS-AHPBA Health Policy Scholarship  

The American College of Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons awarded Lumati with the 2026 ACS-AHPBA Health Policy Scholarship. The annual scholarship subsidizes attendance and participation in the Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts for a course in June 2026. 

“I learned so much during this course about the role we play in shaping healthcare systems, strategies for effective negotiation and the importance of intentional leadership,” Lumati said. “I leave inspired, energized and equipped with new tools to drive meaningful change. I am grateful to the faculty, mentors and fellow participants who made this such a memorable experience.” 

Lumati attended the Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts for a course in June. 

Johnson & Johnson Health Equity Career Development Award 

In May, Lumati was honored with the 2026 Johnson & Johnson Health Equity Career Development Award from the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This award supports oncology professionals at every career stage to help accelerate breakthroughs in research. Lumati will use the funding to support her study Evaluating the Impact of Financial Navigation on Financial Toxicity and Treatment Adherence for Cancer Care: A Randomized Control Trial — COST-FIN (NCT06630962), a clinical trial aimed at assessing the role of financial navigation in reducing financial distress for cancer patients in Nigeria — the first pragmatic randomized controlled trial on financial navigation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Learn about the Center for Global Oncology. 

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