Focus: Public Health
Gonzalo Moratorio
Gonzalo Moratorio is Head of the Experimental Evolution of Viruses Lab at the Institut Pasteur de Montevideo and Associate Professor at the University of the Republic, Uruguay. He has more than 15 years of experience in molecular and evolutionary virology, with postdoctoral training at the Institut Pasteur Paris. His research has resulted in seminal contributions to the fields of viral evolution and applied virology, using the mutational power of viruses against themselves. Co-author of more than 50 publications, in 2016 Gonzalo developed patents for RNA synthetic viruses as vaccines. Elected to the UNESCO International Basic Science Program Board in 2021, Gonzalo, a science enthusiast and activist, advocates for basic research…
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Babatunde Omilola
Babatunde Omilola manages the African Development Bank’s multi-billion-dollar response to the COVID-19 pandemic to save lives and livelihoods throughout Africa and to help African countries strengthen their health systems, stabilize their economies, and alleviate the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A global development leader, Babatunde served as Head of Development Planning with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in New York and led the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the monitoring and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally. He also co-chaired the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Task Force on Global Food and Nutrition Security Technical Team. Babatunde was UNDP’s Regional Practice Leader for poverty…
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Jorge Soto
Jorge Soto is the chief technology officer and co-founder of Miroculus, a biotechnology company that seeks to democratize access to complex molecular tests for treatment and prevention of diseases. Jorge founded Miroculus with the vision of reducing the entry barrier in cost, development, complexity, and increasing access to genetic sequencing, synthetic biology, and genetic editing to help advance science and improve lives. Previously, he was Deputy Director General of Civic Innovation at the Coordination of National Digital Strategy of Mexico, where he led strategies and projects that promote citizen participation and innovation in the country through the use of technology. In particular, he was part of the team that developed…
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Wanjiru Mukoma
Wanjiru Mukoma has spent most of her career working to improve health and wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in HIV prevention and care, and cross-cutting issues of human rights, sexual, and gender-based violence. She was formerly Executive Director of LVCT Health, a Kenyan NGO and one of the country’s leading implementers of HIV and gender-based violence programs. A researcher, program implementer, and advocate, she has worked in academia and the non-profit sector for the past 15 years. Wanjiru is as comfortable working at the grassroots community level as she is in policy advocacy, championing the rights of the vulnerable and marginalized, especially children, adolescents, young women, and sexual minorities. She…
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Ketevan Chkhatarashvili
Dr. Ketevan Chkhatarashvili is a public health expert, with more than 25 years’ experience of clinical, consulting, and managerial work. She also provides advise to non-profits on issues of management, policy, and program analysis. Ketevan was previously President of Curatio International Foundation (CIF). Under her leadership, with its work on healthcare policy and systems issues, CIF has emerged as a leading organization in the post-Soviet region, delivering unbiased, high-quality research outputs and consulting services. Ketevan contributed to the organization’s geographical expansion and, as a result, CIF has continued to work on healthcare policy and systems issues in as many as 28 countries. As a public health expert, she has extensive experience…
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Christopher Lockyear
Christopher Lockyear is Secretary General of MĂ©decins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), where he directs MSF's offices around the globe. Before this he was Director of Operations for Action Against Hunger, the leader of the global movement to end life-threatening hunger. Previously, he was Operations Manager at MĂ©decins Sans Frontières (MSF) where he was responsible for the strategy and implementation of MSF’s humanitarian response and staff in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South Sudan, managing around 3000 people. Chris started his humanitarian career in 2005 as a Water and Sanitation Engineer in Darfur, Sudan. Since then, he has lead operations across Africa and Asia including in Somalia, Pakistan, South Sudan, Chad,…
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Emlyn Jones
Emlyn Jones is a Family Medicine Physician at Kaiser Permanente in California. She completed a joint MD/Master of Health Science Research degree at the Yale School of Medicine in 2007. While at Yale, Emlyn participated in a clinical research fellowship with the Doris Duke Foundation investigating the economics of substance abuse treatment and also traveled to South Africa to investigate the immune response to hepatitis B vaccination in HIV positive children. She received her undergraduate degree from Emory University. During that time, she worked in Tanzania for Population Services International, as a Technical Trainer for the U.S. Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa and interned for the Carter Center's Trachoma…
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Mary-Ann Etiebet
Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet is a physician, researcher, and strong advocate for women's health, with extensive experience working with international development partners to design, manage and evaluate programs that address the needs of vulnerable and at risk populations. As the Executive Director of Merck for Mothers, Mary-Ann is responsible for successfully implementing a robust set of innovative programs across the globe, designing new high-impact partnerships, managing relationships with important external stakeholders, and serving as an internal and external ambassador of the initiative. She combines clinical expertise as a Board Certified Infectious Disease physician with global experience in healthcare strategy, health systems strengthening and performance improvement in the private, public and non-profit…
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Amit Wanchoo
Amit Wanchoo is Managing Director of Eaton Laboratories, the first pharmaceutical manufacturing unit of Kashmir actively involved in low cost healthcare. He is also the CEO of Space Communications, 1st Events, Sports and Film shoot Management Company of Jammu and Kashmir. He blends health and entertainment in healing, supporting, and providing employment to the people of Kashmir. Born and raised there, Amit has been actively engaged in social activism, entrepreneurship development, reviving art, culture, heritage, and tourism in the region. Amit was the President and Founder of the Rotary Club of Kashmir, which has contributed to various health and literacy initiatives. Amit also runs a documentary film company which has…
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Beverly Lorraine C. Ho
Beverly “Bev” Lorraine C. Ho is Chief of the Health Research Division of the Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau in the Philippine Department of Health. She works to provide the evidence needed to support health system reforms by designing innovative research grants and building institutional capacity for policy research. These efforts have significantly contributed to the passage of key legislation on sugar-sweetened beverage tax, universal health care (UHC), and the institutionalization of the health technology assessment process in the Philippines. Because of her instrumental role in the UHC Act, she was designated Special Assistant to the Secretary of Health for UHC. Prior to this, she worked with various international…
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