The honoree is recognized for his work spanning more than two decades in pediatric HIV research, especially in African countries.
Tuesday, May 13 | 2025
On the morning of Tuesday, May 13, pediatrician William Christopher Buck received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the hands of the president of PUCRS, Brother Manuir Mentges. Throughout his career, Buck has contributed to the advancement of global health through his work in research on pediatric HIV. The ceremony took place in the auditorium of the Brain Institute (InsCer) and was attended by academic authorities, professors, students and guests.
In addition to the honoree and Brother Manuir Mentges, the panel also included the vice-rector, Brother Marcelo Bonhemberger, and the dean of the School of Medicine, Professor Leonardo Araujo Pinto. In his speech, the rector highlighted this significant moment for the University, which celebrates the transformation of thousands of lives.
“We are honored to gather for an occasion that transcends the limits of our Campus and connects us in a profound way to the impact of the essential human vocation: the dedication to caring for life and educating future generations. It is with great satisfaction that the PUCRS University Council grants the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to a man whose actions and choices transform the reality of countless children and their families. A pediatrician whose tireless work is a living example of humanity and compassion,” emphasized Brother Manuir.
The title is granted to a person who has distinguished himself or herself through knowledge or actions in favor of the arts, sciences, philosophy, literature or better understanding between peoples. It is the honorary distinction of greatest academic recognition of a university, granted to someone who is recognized as having many virtues.
The Dean of the School of Medicine, Professor Leonardo, introduced the honoree's career history, referring to his work, which serves as inspiration for students in the health field:
“It didn’t take long for Buck to realize that when we work together, we raise awareness among medical students, doctors, residents and colleagues, and this impact can be multiplied. Considering the need to improve medical education in Mozambique and Africa, the professor leads a global health network that includes several institutions, but notably the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), the Maputo Central Hospital, linked to Eduardo Mondlane University, and the PUCRS School of Medicine. This network has participated in assistance activities at the three institutions, encouraging mobility and training actions for students, resident doctors and professors. And what a pleasant surprise to see how much our students have become involved in global health causes.”
At the ceremony, Buck expressed his gratitude for the appointment and recalled the advances and difficulties in his trajectory of over two decades of research on pediatric HIV, especially in African countries.
“Human resources are key to an adequate response to health challenges. In the context of a country with fewer resources, we, as doctors, are somewhat limited. But today, I am very optimistic about the future. Almost two million people are receiving treatment in a country (Mozambique) with few health resources. This is incredible growth,” said the doctor.
He also emphasized the importance of internationalization for understanding different health systems, which is essential for the training of doctors.
“I would also like to highlight how the academic partnerships between UCLA, PUCRS and Mozambique are training future American, Brazilian and Mozambican leaders. I was very happy to learn that now, with the students, the internship rotation to Mozambique is competitive. I think that at first everyone wanted to go to Europe and the United States, but now we have a good demand,” said the professor.
William Christopher Buck is an associate professor of pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the leader of the DGSOM Global Health Program’s academic partnerships with Mozambique, Brazil, and the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa. Throughout his career as a pediatrician, Dr. Buck has developed extensive clinical, public health, and research expertise in pediatric HIV.
Dr. Buck holds a BS in Biology from Wake Forest University, his medical degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and his pediatric residency training at the University of California San Francisco. He holds a Master of Public Health degree from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. After residency, he joined the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative in Lilongwe, Malawi, where he worked from 2007 to 2013. He served at CDC Mozambique from 2013 to 2015 as a national pediatric consultant and has been the country focal point for the UCLA DGSOM Mozambique partnership since 2015.
