Meet the 2025 Global Wellness Award Recipients
At last month’s Global Wellness Summit in Dubai, we proudly celebrated three extraordinary leaders whose work is shaping the future of global wellness.
Debra Simon Award for Furthering Mental Wellness
Meng-Mei Chen, PhD was honored for advancing mental wellness and redefining the role of emotional connection in hospitality. The award was introduced by Debra Simon’s daughter, Lauren Wright, president of the Debra Simon Family Foundation. Before presenting the award, Lauren paid beautiful tribute to her mother, who tragically took her own life after a battle with mental illness. Gerry Bodeker, PhD—also a past recipient of the award in 2019—presented the award on behalf of the GWS Advisory Board.
Bennett Family Award for Collaboration in the Science of Wellness
Deepak Srivastava, MD received recognition for pioneering collaboration in regenerative medicine and driving breakthrough discoveries that extend human healthspan. Bija Bennett, CEO of BijaB, introduced the award honoring the legacy of her parents, who supported scientific discovery throughout their lives. Michael Roizen, MD, first chief wellness officer at Cleveland Clinic and a 2023 recipient of the award, presented the honor on behalf of the GWS Advisory Board.
Leading Woman in Wellness Award
Mary Tabacchi, PhD, RD was celebrated as a trailblazing educator whose decades of scholarship and mentorship helped establish wellness as a respected academic field. The award was presented by Amy McDonald, founder & CEO of Under a Tree Consulting and the 2024 recipient of this award, and Tourism and Economics Specialist Hannah Messerli, PhD, on behalf of the GWS Advisory Board.