At the Harvard School of Public Health, the Award of Merit is considered the highest distinction given to two alumni each year. This year, the team wanted to honor these awardees by showcasing video profiles of each award recipient at the event. The goal was to produce 2-4 minute legacy films that reflected a lifetime of impact, mentorship, and service to public health.

Main Paige Media has worked with various departments across the school of public health in recent years. These video profiles were such an honor to produce. Our approach was  documentary style productions combining interviews with the awardees and the voices of those who nominated them.

Boston, MA > Madison, WI > Los Angeles, CA: How it all came together

The team at Harvard came to us with a condensed timeline and a restricted budget to make this production happen. We were asked what we could do to highlight these two out of state alumns. This required getting a little creative given the limitations. While the nominators were located in Boston, the award recipients themselves were based out of state. “Is this even doable?” the client asked. 

No problem. There are filmmakers everywhere. We can make it happen. 

Utilizing our network of trusted filmmakers across the US, we were able to secure crews on the ground in both Wisconsin and Los Angeles. I conducted the interviews remotely to ensure a consistent tone, visual style, and storytelling approach as the interviews we shot in Boston. Thanks, Zoom! 

To tie the pieces together, we incorporated archival photos and historical materials into each film, allowing the stories to reflect not just recent accomplishments, but the full arc of each honoree’s career.

See the End Result

Dr. Michael Fiore – Award of Merit

This film highlights the career of Michael Fiore, a global leader in tobacco cessation and founder of the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. Through interviews, b-roll, and archival footage, the story traces his path from early influences in Hyde Park. It also focuses on groundbreaking public health achievements, including his role in helping establish the National Quitline Network (1-800-QUIT-NOW).

The film functions as a mini-documentary. It captures both the scale of Dr. Fiore’s impact and the humility that has defined his work over decades. Meeting Dr. Fiore, even remotely, was remarkable. A truly humble, accomplished, and compassionate individual, it made perfect sense why he was selected for this award. 

Matthew Mimiaga – Award of Merit

The second film centers on Matthew Mimiaga. His career has focused on HIV prevention, LGBTQ health, and community-engaged research. From his early work at Fenway Health to founding UCLA’s Center for LGBTQ Advocacy, Research and Health, the piece emphasizes his commitment to making a lasting impact for the communities his work serves. Seeing his work unfold on camera was a reminder of how thoughtful, long-term dedication can shape lives, influence public health, and create a legacy that extends far beyond any single achievement.

As a filmmaker, there is nothing more affirming than knowing the work truly honored someone’s life and legacy. An email the Madison, WI filmmaker and I received after the award ceremony: 

“Thank you both again for producing the Harvard video of my career. I can’t tell you how much I loved it. It will live on as a way for me to share this work with others in the future.” Dr. Michael Fiore

Receiving feedback like this is a powerful reminder of why thoughtful storytelling matters and how video can create something lasting well beyond a single moment.

These projects are a reminder that video can do more than document an event. Thoughtfully produced, it becomes a lasting record of leadership, impact, and purpose. Is is also something organizations can share long after an event has passed.

If you’re exploring ways to use video to honor leadership, celebrate milestones, or tell complex stories with clarity and heart, let’s chat.