Letter from the Editor: In Memory of Ryan Murdock '25

Dear Readers,

We are heartbroken to learn the news of Ryan Murdock’s passing. Ryan was an extraordinary member of the HUHPR community, known for his kindness, advocacy, and passion for important policy issues like environmentalism and human rights.

As a Dunster House resident and a double-concentrator in Earth and Planetary Sciences and Government, Ryan left a lasting impact on everyone he met. His warm presence in our community will be deeply missed.

In honor of Ryan’s memory, we will dedicate our upcoming issue to him, celebrating his contributions and legacy at the HUHPR. Below, you’ll find tributes honoring him from members of the HUHPR community — past and present.

"Ryan was a steadfast and genial presence throughout my time at HUHPR; he was also incredibly sharp and adroit at his research, writing, and editing. He was particularly instrumental in the authoring of "Policy Interventions to Enhance Medical Care for People With Obesity in the United States—Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions,” a research group article published in the Milbank Quarterly. To my knowledge, this was his first peer-reviewed publication, and as such, our research team dedicates the article to him. We will all miss him dearly and are immensely grateful for the time we spent together." — James Jolin '24

"I worked with Ryan on a variety of health policy projects in HUHPR starting in my freshman year. I had the privilege to discuss everything from Medicare to telehealth with him; I'll miss those conversations. Ryan had a unique interest at the intersection of environmentalism and health equity. Most of all, he brought a genuine passion for healthcare reform and respect for every team member he worked with." — Evan Hsiang '26

"Ryan and I joined the HUHPR community at the same time, and he quickly became a familiar face at our events, always ready with a smile and a sharp comment. I’ll never forget our Jeopardy! bonding night last year (pictured above), where for 2 hours over pizza and trivia, his kindness and sense of humor brought our whole team closer together. His work on our research teams was impressive, but what really stood out was his dedication to the topics he cared about. He inspired all of us with his passion for healthcare reform and his kindness to everyone around him. Our community will miss him deeply." — Sophia Scott '25

"Ryan was an outstanding member of the HUHPR. In every interaction I had with him, his sheer curiosity and work ethic made him and his writing exceptional, while his kindness and profound empathy for others made him one of the friendliest and most caring members of our organization. This news is heartbreaking, and I know we all will miss him dearly." — Sarosh Nagar '24

"Over the two years Ryan and I worked together, I was consistently struck by his thoughtfulness, insight, and warmth. Readily apparent was his commitment not only to the HUHPR community but to the topics and ideas for which he was passionate. Ryan brought a genuinely unique perspective to issues of health policy, particularly those intersecting with his broader academic interests in earth and environmental science. Overseeing the publication of one of Ryan’s pieces—his analysis of sewage management in the southern United States—his skillful ability to blend these passions was clear to me. I was incredibly saddened to hear of Ryan’s passing and know that like many others, I will long miss his quick smile and kind words." — Hugh Hankenson '26

"Ryan’s presence was always warm and welcoming, sparking enjoyable and meaningful discussions. He was not only a dedicated member of our HUHPR community but also a true friend, sharing his insightful ideas and kindness with us all. He will be deeply missed, and we will always treasure the memories of our time together." — Melanie Ng '24

"Ryan was someone you were always happy to run into in the hallways and dining halls. Beyond his brilliant academic contributions to our publication, Ryan brought his lovely sense of humor and a kind, true, spirit of inclusion to our HUHPR community. All of us lucky to have known him will deeply miss Ryan." — Minsoo Kwon '24.5

"Ryan was one of our most dedicated and passionate HUHPR members. Always a reliable presence at meetings, Ryan had an incredible warmth that brought joy to everyone around him. I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside him, and I know he will be deeply missed." — Ella Wesson ‘24