BRAC mourns the loss of Dr. Richard Cash; celebrates his monumental contributions to public health
Dr. Richard Cash was a true force for progress in global health and a long-serving partner in BRAC’s mission.
NEW YORK, NY – The global BRAC family is deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend Dr. Richard Cash. A true force for progress in global health, Dr. Cash was an emeritus Board member of BRAC USA, and a long-serving partner in BRAC’s mission. He passed away on October 22, in Boston.
“Richard’s ingenuity and steadfast commitment to global health helped to save millions of lives as a co-developer and promoter of Oral Rehydration Therapy to treat cholera and other diarrheal diseases,” says Raymond Offenheiser, Board Chair of BRAC USA. “Richard was a tireless supporter of BRAC from the start, helping to establish BRAC’s U.S. office in 2006, and serving on the BRAC USA Board for almost two decades. We are indebted to him for his incredible contributions, and send our love to his family.”
“I am devastated to learn of Richard’s passing,” says Shameran Abed, Executive Director, BRAC International. “Much will be written and said about his work, which has saved the lives of millions of children around the world. Behind this extraordinary legacy was a most unassuming man deeply committed to serving the poor, a champion of BRAC and the people of Bangladesh. Richard was my father’s closest friend for almost five decades and he became a deeply loved and cherished member of our family, someone who was with us through every important milestone in our lives. We have not only lost a giant in the field of public health, but our family, and the broader BRAC family, have lost our dearest friend.”
Dr. Cash’s work focused on combating infectious disease in low-income countries, including Bangladesh, where he worked closely with BRAC in the 1970s and 1980s. He was well known for scaling effective yet simple health programs, and for considering ethical issues in international health research. He is credited with helping to save tens of millions of lives, playing a key role in bringing oral rehydration therapy, an inexpensive but highly effective therapy to treat cholera and other diarrheal diseases, into global use. He was a joint recipient of the 2006 Prince Mahidol Award for “exemplary contributions in the field of public health,” and in 2011, he received the Fries Prize for Improving Health.
Dr. Cash was a senior lecturer in the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where he served as a faculty member for more than 40 years. He also maintained visiting faculty appointments at a number of schools of public health throughout the world, including Public Health Foundation of India in Delhi and the James P. Grant School of Public Health at BRAC University in Dhaka.
Dr. Cash’s passing is a colossal loss for the BRAC family, but his deep commitment to making health care accessible for all will live on through the millions of lives he has helped save.
Dr. Cash’s wife, Stella Dupuis, has asked that no flowers be sent, but that donations may be made to support BRAC’s Ultra Poor Graduation program in his memory. Gifts in Dr. Cash’s memory can be made here.
Notes to the editor
About BRAC
BRAC was founded in and has been working in Bangladesh for 52 years. Together with government, civil society organizations, communities and businesses, BRAC teams work with over 100 million people living with inequality and poverty to create opportunities to realize human potential. BRAC operates as a solutions ecosystem, including social development programs, social enterprises, humanitarian response, a bank, and a university. Outside of Bangladesh, BRAC works with communities in marginalized situations, hard-to-reach areas, and post-disaster settings across Asia and Africa, with a particular focus on women and children.
About BRAC USA
Based in New York City, BRAC USA is an independent 501(c)3 organization that strengthens BRAC’s impact by raising awareness and mobilizing resources to support and amplify its programs for the people we serve.
Media contacts
WASHINGTON, DC (GMT – 5)
Mica Bevington, Director of Communications
[email protected] | Phone/WhatsApp: +1-202-290-9264
SEATTLE, WA (GMT – 8)
Sarah Allen, Communications Manager
LONDON, UK (GMT)
Chris Lyne, Director of Communications and External Engagement
[email protected] | Phone/WhatsApp: +44 (0)7365 267617
DHAKA, BANGLADESH (GMT+5)
Sarah-Jane Saltmarsh, Head, Thought Leadership, BRAC
WhatsApp: +88017 389 379 85