People in the global health news - June 2021

May / June 2021 | Volume 20 Number 3

 

Power confirmed as USAID administrator

Ambassador Samantha Power was sworn in as USAID administrator in early May. Power previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and as Senior Director for Human Rights and Multilateral Affairs on President Obama’s National Security Council. President Biden has elevated the USAID role to include a seat on the NSC.

 

Smith to helm Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy

Gayle Smith has been tapped to lead the U.S. vaccine diplomacy efforts to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are distributed equitably around the globe. Smith - who served as USAID administrator in the Obama administration - had been leading the ONE Campaign to eradicate poverty and preventable disease.

 

NINDS Director Koroshetz honored by University of Chicago

The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine has recognized Dr. Walter Koroshetz, director of NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, with its distinguished alumni award. Koroshetz joined NINDS in 2007 and became director in 2015. Previously, he pioneered acute endovascular clot removal for stroke, which is now standard treatment.

 

Cubillos to lead global mental health research at NIH

The NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health has announced Dr. Leonardo Cubillos will lead its Center for Global Mental Health Research. A psychiatrist, Cubillos earned his M.D. at Universidad Del Rosario in Colombia. Previously, he was senior health specialist at the World Bank and has also held several positions in Colombia’s health ministry.

 

South African bioengineer Douglas dies

Fogarty collaborator Dr. Tania Douglas has died of cancer. The University of Cape Town professor was editor of the first textbook on biomedical engineering in Africa, written by African authors and produced through a Fogarty grant. In 2019, Douglas received the South African Women in Science Award.

 

Fogarty grantee King receives Gairdner Award

University of Washington professor Dr. Mary-Claire King has been honored with the 2021 Canada Gairdner International Award for transforming cancer genetics and oncology with her discovery of inherited susceptibility to breast cancer due to mutation of the BRCA1 gene. King has been a Fogarty grantee and has served on the Center’s advisory board.

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