Jose Rimon II, PgDip, MA. is Senior Scientist Emeritus at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The Journal of Public Health and Emergency (JPHE) has recognized Jose “Oying” Rimon II, PgDip, MA, as one of its Outstanding Authors following the publication of his recent peer-reviewed article on The Challenge Initiative (TCI) platform. The recognition highlights articles that have generated strong interest among readers and contributed new insights to the field of public health.
Rimon is the first author of the article, “Leadership in Generating Transformational Change: A Review of The Challenge Initiative Platform,” along with Kojo Lokko and Jessica Mirano as co-authors. The article reflects on the leadership and management principles behind TCI’s approach to scaling family planning and adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) programs across multiple countries. The paper identifies eight key lessons – from transformational leadership and systems thinking to the use of near-real-time data and digital learning platforms – that have helped cities strengthen their health systems and sustain progress over time.
Rimon, Senior Scientist Emeritus at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, played a pivotal role in shaping the very model the article examines. In 2016, working closely with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he helped conceive and launch TCI as a “business unusual” platform designed to support local governments to lead and sustain family planning programs at scale. As TCI’s founding Executive Director, he guided the development of the platform’s distinctive approach – where cities opt in, co-invest resources, and implement high-impact interventions with coaching support rather than relying on externally driven projects. Under this model, TCI has supported 214 cities to strengthen their health systems and expand access to voluntary family planning services.
Until July 2024, Rimon also served as director of the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health within the Bloomberg School’s Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health. Over his career, he has been widely recognized as a visionary leader in reproductive health, health equity, and sustainable scale in global health programs.
As part of JPHE’s Outstanding Author recognition, Rimon participated in an interview reflecting on the craft of academic writing and the motivations behind publishing. When asked about the most common challenges in academic writing, he pointed to the importance of time and reflection.
“Data can be generated or made available, but time constraints are constants,” he noted. “Reflections before, during, and after are must-haves; otherwise you are just in the business of writing for writing’s sake.”
Rimon also emphasized that motivation is what ultimately makes writing possible amid competing demands. If researchers believe their work can contribute meaningfully to public health knowledge, he said, they will find the time to write and share their findings.
While he describes academic writing itself as demanding work, he believes its real value comes when complex findings are translated into clear, accessible insights that others can learn from and apply.
The recognition from JPHE underscores the continued relevance of TCI’s platform model and the leadership ideas behind it – ideas that continue to influence discussions on how global health programs can achieve lasting impact at scale.
