Richard J. Hatchett is an oncologist and epidemiologist who has been serving as chief executive officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in Oslo and London since 2017.
He graduated from Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and completed clinical training in internal medicine and medical oncology at Cornell and Duke.
Before taking on the CEPI leadership just after its launch in 2017, Hatchett was Acting Director of the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). He has also served under two U.S. Presidents – George W. Bush and Barack Obama – as Director of Medical Preparedness Policy on the Homeland and National Security Councils.
Through outstanding strategic and scientific leadership of CEPI, Richard Hatchett has contributed to increased global ability to handle several existing infectious diseases and increased preparedness to prevent the development of a new possible pandemic of disease X, especially to be able to respond to an outbreak of X with a vaccine within 100 days.
UiO's honorary doctoral degrees
Honorary doctoral degrees of UiO (Doctor Honoris Causa) are given to prominent academics. The degrees are awarded without a thesis defence/disputation.
UiO has been entitled to appoint honorary doctorates since 1824, and appointments usually occur every three years.
The honorary doctors are conferred at UiO's Annual Celebration on 2 September.