Matthew Lee Girvin Award

Matthew-Lee-Girvin.jpeg This award honors the memory of Matthew Girvin, '94 MPH IH, who died in January 2001 while serving on a United Nations surveying mission.

The award is presented to a recent graduate of the Rollins School of Public Health who exemplifies Girvin's selfless dedication to the field of public health and who has made significant contributions toward improving the lives and health of others.

Dr. Megan Cohen 14M 14PH

2022-2023 Recipient

Dr. Megan Cohen

At a time when the increasingly uncertain, highly politicized context of reproductive healthcare in the U.S. has become even more precarious and challenging, Megan A. Cohen, MD, MPH, exemplifies the spirit of Matthew Lee Girvin through her unwavering courage and dedication to ensuring that access to family planning services is viewed as an essential component of public health.

Dr. Cohen received her Bachelor of Science degree from Brown University, was a recipient of the Bangla Critical Language Scholarship from the US Department of State for studies in Dhaka, Bangladesh, earned her Doctor of Medicine and MPH degrees in 2014 from the Emory School of Medicine and the Rollins School of Public Health, and served as a Resident Physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University from 2014-2018.

Renowned as a leader and vocal advocate for safe and accessible reproductive healthcare, Dr. Cohen has committed her career to advancing women’s health, improving health equity, promoting reproductive justice, and providing reproductive services in settings around the world. In August 2022, just two months after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned the constitutionally protected right to abortion, Dr. Cohen began her current position as Medical Director of Planned Parenthood Southeast. “Dr. Cohen does not just talk about her support for reproductive health and rights, she lives it each day,” expressed Kathleen Wiggs-Stayner, Interim VP of Operations, Planned Parenthood Southeast. She further emphasized, “To be clear, Dr. Cohen put her own personal safety at risk when she accepted the role of Planned Parenthood Southeast Medical Director in a part of the country where supporting and performing abortions has made doctors a target.”

Cognizant that it would be even more difficult to provide leadership and assure safe access to abortion care in this climate, Dr. Cohen not only rose to the challenges—she continues to exceed them. In addition to directing reproductive health services at six centers in three states, leading clinical teams of physicians, nurses, ultrasound techs, and support staff, and expanding access to quality reproductive care in the Southeast, Dr. Cohen is also a dedicated practitioner who provides nuanced, compassionate treatment to her patients. Likewise, Dr. Cohen holds an Assistant Professor position in the Division of Complex Family Planning, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, at the Emory University School of Medicine, where she works with residents, medical students, and complex family planning fellows at Grady Memorial Hospital and independent clinics.

As a nationally recognized expert in contraception and complex family planning, Dr. Cohen serves as a Guest Researcher with the CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health and provides technical assistance to the CDC and WHO for improving family planning guidelines. Aware that access to contraception and reproductive healthcare is secured not only by providing patients with experienced practitioners but also through legislation and policy, Dr. Cohen is a leader and vocal advocate for reproductive rights, working tirelessly on the local, national, and global arenas for safe and accessible reproductive healthcare. She has served as a speaker, organizer, panelist, and volunteer OB/GYN physician, articulating the overwhelming evidence affirming that women's health improves when reproductive services are safe and accessible, and when such access is denied, the effects on women are detrimental.

Although still relatively early in her career, there is no doubt that Dr. Cohen’s accomplishments will continue to play a pivotal role in advancing women’s healthcare and reproductive justice, and positively impact the lives of others. We are pleased to name her as our 2022-2023 Matthew Lee Girvin Award recipient.

Criteria for Selection

  1. The individual shall be a recent graduate of Rollins and will have made an outstanding contribution to public health at a community, state, national, or international level.
  2. The contribution(s) should have been made subsequent to receiving a degree from Rollins.

Nomination Procedure

Please complete our Award Nomination Form

All nominations are confidential and will be considered for three years, unless otherwise indicated by the nominee. If needed, the committee will contact the nominee to update the application.

For more information, please contact:

Michelle James
Senior Director, Alumni & Constituent Relations
Rollins School of Public Health
1518 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30322
Tel: (404) 727-4740
Fax: (404) 727-9853
Email: sphalumni@emory.edu