Twenty years of SHLI is one chapter in a longer story. In 2026, SHLI and the David Satcher Global Health Equity Institute unite as the Satcher Institute for Health Equity, extending Dr. Satcher’s legacy from national to global.
See what’s next at News & Events →“We need leaders who first care enough. We need leaders who learn enough. We need leaders who do enough. We need leaders who will persevere until the job is done.”
David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D. · Founder
2006 – 2026
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Tributes
Leaders Dr. Satcher mentored share what his guidance has meant to them. The collection grows as new tributes come in.
From the archive
A curated selection of photos and video from 2006 to 2026.
The founder
13th Director
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC · Atlanta, Georgia
Led major initiatives to increase childhood immunization rates and strengthened the nation's preparedness for emerging infectious diseases. His tenure laid the infrastructure groundwork for modern public health policy.
16th Surgeon General
U.S. Surgeon General
U.S. Public Health Service
Released landmark reports on tobacco, mental health, suicide prevention, oral health, sexual health, youth violence, and obesity. Coined “There is No Health Without Mental Health.” Prioritized eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare.
8th President
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, Tennessee
Served as president of one of the nation's oldest and most respected HBCUs dedicated to medical education, helping shape a generation of physicians committed to underserved communities.
4th President
Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia · Founded SHLI 2006
Following his tenure as U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Satcher returned to Morehouse School of Medicine and established SHLI in 2006, translating his national public health leadership into an institute focused on health equity research, policy, and leadership development.
Twenty years of impact
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