Managing Partner
Bridges to Development
Seattle, WA, United States
Family practice physician with training in clinical tropical medicine and applied epidemiology. Dedicated 20+ year career to increasing equity in access to health care and new interventions through innovation, targeted research, and partnership. Helped establish and build the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation priority program in Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), including new product development and introduction into national NTD programs. Through the London Declaration on NTDs in 2012, founded Uniting to Combat NTDs, an innovative partnership to support achieving the WHO 2020 targets for ten neglected diseases. Initiated B&MGF’s work on maternal immunization and represented the foundation’s infectious diseases team when the foundation first explored moving into delivery. Prior while at PATH, served as Scientific Director of Immunization Solutions and as Director of PATH’s Japanese encephalitis (JE) project. In JE, she accelerated control in endemic countries, improved vaccine and diagnostic tests for JE and facilitated countries’ integration of the JE vaccine into immunization programs, most notably India. Supported the start-up of Gavi and the Vaccine Fund as part of a small team dedicated to ensuring access to vaccines in the developing world. Worked to Introduce new vaccines through the field activities and supporting country level decision-making, including HPV, yellow fever, and rotavirus. As an Epidemic Intelligence Officer at CDC, helped inform and design natural disaster relief responses including health, sanitation, and food security.
Disclosure(s): Janssen Pharmaceutical Company of J&J: Grant/Research Support (Terminated, May 13, 2022); Merck Global Health: Grant/Research Support (Terminated, October 21, 2022)
188 - Where in the World Are We With Neglected Tropical Diseases?
Friday, October 13, 2023
3:15 PM – 4:30 PM US ET
1979 - Overview of Neglected Tropical Diseases Globally
Friday, October 13, 2023
3:15 PM – 3:40 PM US ET