Dr. Sandra Lindsay, the Jamaican-born nurse who made history as the first person in the United States to receive a COVID-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial, has been named one of Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Great Immigrants, Great Americans for 2025.
Lindsay, now Vice President of Public Health Advocacy at Northwell Health, is one of 20 naturalized citizens honored this year for their significant contributions to American society. The philanthropic foundation’s annual initiative—celebrating its 20th anniversary—recognizes immigrants who have helped strengthen U.S. democracy, innovation, and culture.
Born and raised in Jamaica, Lindsay migrated to the U.S. in the 1980s and steadily built a distinguished career in healthcare. She rose to national prominence during the pandemic when she volunteered to take the first federally authorized COVID-19 vaccine dose in December 2020. The moment became symbolic of science, hope, and trust in public health efforts.
In recognition of her advocacy and leadership, Sandra Lindsay was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden in 2022 and has since been a powerful voice for equitable healthcare access and science-based policy. Her recently published memoir, First in Line, details her immigrant journey and frontline experiences.
“Being recognized alongside so many brilliant minds from around the world reminds me of how much immigrants have shaped this country,” Lindsay said. “I came here to pursue a dream, but I also came to serve. This honor means everything.”
The 2025 cohort of “Great Immigrants” includes trailblazers across multiple fields, from Nobel laureates and CEOs to musicians, comedians, and elected officials. Among them are:
- Moungi Bawendi (France) – 2023 Nobel Prize-winning chemist for work on quantum dots
- Simon Johnson (England) – 2024 Nobel laureate in economics
- Tope Awotona (Nigeria) – CEO of Calendly, one of the world’s leading scheduling platforms
- Shahid Khan (Pakistan) – Billionaire entrepreneur and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tania León (Cuba) – Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and conductor
- María Teresa Kumar (Colombia) – President of Voto Latino, a civic engagement organization
- Raúl Ruiz (Mexico) – U.S. Congressman representing California’s 25th district
- Yuan Yuan Tan (China) – Former prima ballerina of the San Francisco Ballet
- Maz Jobrani (Iran) – Comedian and cultural commentator
- Avi Wigderson (Israel) – Mathematician at the Institute for Advanced Study
- In total, the 2025 honorees hail from 16 different countries and reflect the diversity and talent that define the American immigrant experience.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the initiative, Carnegie Corporation has released a free digital comic book featuring illustrated stories from past and present honorees—including Lindsay—designed to inspire younger generations and reinforce the positive impact of immigration. Free lesson plans and teaching resources, developed in partnership with the National Council of Teachers of English, will be available later this year.
“The U.S. is a nation of immigrants,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation. “This initiative is a celebration of that truth—and of the individuals whose stories reflect the ideals and aspirations of our country.”
The full list of honorees will be featured in a full-page tribute in The New York Times on July 4 and celebrated across social media using the hashtag #GreatImmigrants.
