Behind the Pitch: Q&A with the 2025 Sommer Klag Advocacy Impact Award Winners

Harry Barbee, PhD ’20, assistant professor in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society, and Mariana Socal, MD, PhD ’17, associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, were named the winners of the 2025 Sommer Klag Advocacy Impact Awards on November 12, 2025.

The $40,000 awards are made possible through a gift from Helaine Lerner and her late husband Sid Lerner, and are administered by the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The Sommer Klag Advocacy Award honors leaders in the field of public health advocacy, Deans Emeriti Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS ’73, and Michael Klag, MD, MPH, ’87, and intends to directly support the future advocacy work of outstanding advocates and changemakers.

Barbee, Socal, and three other exceptional Bloomberg School faculty—Rebecca Critser, LLM, JD, M. Bioethics, assistant practice professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering; Katie Nelson, PhD, assistant scientist in the Department of International Health; and Rose Weeks, MPH ’11, senior research associate in the Department of International Health—pitched their plans for impactful advocacy work to a judging panel in a livestreamed “lightning pitch” competition.

The pitch competition judging panel included Bloomberg School faculty Michelle Spencer, MS, deputy director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative and Vanya Jones, PhD ’06, MPH, assistant dean for Community-Engaged Research; Bloomberg School MSPH student Jenna Roman; and Katrina Forrest, JD, executive director at CityHealth.

We reached out to this year’s winners to learn more about them, their work, and their process for developing their award-winning pitches: 

What led you to your advocacy work?

Harry:

I came to advocacy because I saw firsthand how policy influences health outcomes for LGBTQ+ people. As a researcher, it became clear that our data are powerful but underused, especially in moments when it mattered most. My work on discrimination, aging, and gender-affirming care showed me that science alone does not protect people unless it is mobilized. Advocacy is how I ensure that research becomes action.

Mariana:

As a clinician, I have seen first-hand the impact that access to prescription drugs has on patient outcomes. Prescription drugs can help manage, cure, and prevent disease, improving patient’s health and quality of life. Those benefits, however, can only be obtained if patients have access to the right prescription drug with the right regimen at the right time. When drugs are unaffordable or are in shortage, patients are at risk of treatment delays or discontinuations, use of less effective or less safe therapies, and higher costs. Among other strategies, ensuring a sustainable prescription drug supply is critical to support clinical management and better patient outcomes.

As the saying goes, “it takes a village” to make an impact. What people or organizations have played an important role in your work?

Mariana:

At Hopkins, I have found a community of scholars that are committed to improving patient lives through policy. I have developed many cross-disciplinary collaborations with various faculty both within and outside the School of Public Health. My collaborators from the Carey Business School, the School of Engineering, the Advanced Physics Laboratory, and the School of Medicine have been instrumental to the success of the supply chain mapping and the academic research that we have been developing as part of the Prescription Drug Data Dashboard and Resource Center. Outside of Hopkins, I have found support and key collaborations at the Department of Defense and the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. 

Harry:

My work is grounded in partnerships with LGBTQ+ communities that have shaped my research questions and values. Colleagues and mentors at Johns Hopkins University, Vanderbilt University, and Florida State University have challenged me to think bigger about policy translation and systems change.

What was it like preparing for your pitch presentation?

Harry:

Preparing for the pitch required me to distill years of work and lived commitments into a clear, compelling story. It pushed me to focus on both the challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities as well as the real possibilities for change. I wanted to convey urgency while staying grounded in evidence and hope. Practicing the presentation reminded me how much this work matters.

Mariana:

Preparing for the pitch presentation was a great opportunity to think carefully about the future of my project, the changes that we want to catalyze, the audiences that we want to reach, and the specific, strategic actions that we need to take to support and advocate for change.

What’s an ideal future for your public health issue?

Mariana:

In the future, we would ideally have federal agencies and legislators paying close attention to the US prescription drug supply chain. The key actions would include empowering the FDA to collect, link, and systematically publish information on drug supply, and empowering the Administration to use this information to guide make, buy, and invest strategic actions to strengthen the US pharmaceutical supply. 

Harry:

An ideal future is one where LGBTQ+ people can access care that is safe, affirming, and grounded in evidence. It is a world where policy protects dignity and joy, and where healthcare providers can practice ethically without fear. In that future, research is translated into action quickly and equitably. Community voices shapes decisions at every level. And LGBTQ+ people are able to live and age with the connection, security, and belonging they deserve.

Outside of your advocacy work, what are you passionate about?

Harry:

I am passionate about mentoring students and helping emerging scholars find their voice in public health. I also love writing, which helps me stay grounded and reflective. Outside of work, I find joy in cooking for friends, traveling, and exploring new places. Community is important to me in all its forms. These passions keep me connected to the world I’m trying to help build.

Mariana:

I am passionate about research that is policy-relevant and can help catalyze change, both in the US and at the global level. I am equally passionate about teaching and mentoring students and supporting them in their trajectories as public health scholars, practitioners, and leaders.

If you could share one piece of advice with someone who is looking to engage in advocacy work, what would it be?

Mariana:

Know your audience. Who can make the decisions that, in your opinion, are needed to improve public health? Once you know your audience, you can think about what evidence, data, or support they need to make those decisions and implement change. This takes a lot of forward thinking, but it can provide you with a sense of direction that can, in turn, help inform your research and advocacy plans.

Harry:

Start with listening. Advocacy is not about having the loudest voice, but about understanding what communities need and using your skills to help move that forward. Stay rooted in evidence, but don’t forget the human stories behind it. Be patient, persistent, and willing to collaborate. Remember that small, consistent actions can create meaningful change.

Visit the Advocacy Impact Awards landing page to watch a recording of the lightning pitch competition and learn more about the awards. Subscribe to the Lerner Center’s newsletter to stay in the loop on our opportunities.