As a philanthropist, millions of dollars have been donated by Dr. Poonawalla for public causes such as charitable schools, hospitals, public parks and the Pune Clean City movement. Additionally, hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of vaccines have been donated free of charge or heavily subsidized by Dr. Poonawalla in areas where they were needed most.

For these efforts, Dr. Poonawalla has received numerous accolades and prestigious awards, including:

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) “Lifetime Achievement Medal” for outstanding contribution in healthcare at the hands of Mr. Bill Gates on 17th November 2019 at New Delhi.
• ABLF (Asian Business Leadership Forum) “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the hands of H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Cabinet Member & Minister of Tolerance, UAE on 6th November 2019 in Dubai.
• Honorary Degree of “Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the University of Oxford, U.K. on 26th June, 2019.
• Honorary Degree of “Doctor of Humane Letters” by the University of Massachusetts in Boston on June 3, 2018.
• First-ever “Vaccine Hero” Award for commitment to Global Public Health presented by GAVI [Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization] in Abu Dhabi on 10th December, 2018.
• “Lifetime Achievement Award” in March 2005 by the Honorable Prime Minister of India.
• “Sabin Humanitarian Award 2005” and the “Sabin Corporate Philanthropy Award” in June 2005 in New York, USA.
• The first Indian to receive the “Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Award” in September 2010, presented by The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) for his extraordinary contribution to eliminate Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome in South America.
• “Padma Shree” in 2005 for his most outstanding contribution in the field of Health, awarded by the President of India.
• “Best Vaccine Executive of the Year” presented during the World Vaccine Congress Asia event in 2011 in Singapore.
• “Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2012” under the category of Business Transformation.
• “Business Leader of the Year Award” conferred at The Asian Awards function held in London in April 2014.
• “Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2014” in February 2015.
• “Rajat Kamal National Award” presented on 6th May 1992 at New Delhi at the hands of Shri. R. Venkataraman, President of India for the best Education/Movitational/Instructional film entitled “The Triumph” in the field of leprosy.
• “Gold Award” from the British Medical Association for the film “Snakebite” in 1987 at the hands of Sir Richard Attenborough.

He is considered as an icon in the thoroughbred horseracing and breeding world. The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA - the world Apex Body) bestowed on him the “Lifetime Achievement Award” on 5th October 2009 in Paris for his outstanding contribution in the field of horseracing and breeding.

Dr. Poonawalla graduated from Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) in 1963 and was conferred a Ph.D. from the University of Pune in 1988 for his thesis entitled “Improved Technology in the Manufacture of Specific Anti-Toxins and Its Socio-Economic Impact on the Society.” He was also conferred “Doctor of Literature” at the hands of His Excellency Governor of Maharashtra, on March 5, 2015.

Dr. Poonawalla has also authored several books and scientific papers.