After receiving their MPH degrees from the Bloomberg School in 1984, the Bangs founded the Society for Education, Action and Research on Community Health (SEARCH (www.searchforhealth.ngo)), an organization working in the remote and tribal district of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra State, India. During their careers, the Bangs have helped foster a renaissance in community-based primary health care. Thanks in part to their efforts, community-based primary health care is now entering into the mainstream of global health and is now considered essential for achieving the Millennium Development Goals for health. Over the years the Bangs have received seventy awards and honors. In 2005, Time magazine named them Global Health Heroes. In 2006 they received the MacArthur Foundation International Award for creative social work. They were the first recipient of the Johns Hopkins International Alumni Award (2013)