Soumya Swaminathan

Soumya Swaminathan, born on May second, nineteen fifty-nine, is a distinguished Indian pediatrician and clinical scientist renowned for her groundbreaking research in tuberculosis and HIV. Her contributions to the field of health have significantly advanced our understanding and treatment of these critical diseases.

In her role as Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research and as the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research from two thousand fifteen to two thousand seventeen, Swaminathan championed evidence-based health policies. She focused on enhancing research capacity in medical schools and fostering south-south partnerships in health sciences, which have been pivotal in addressing health challenges in developing countries.

From October two thousand seventeen to March two thousand nineteen, she served as the Deputy Director General of Programmes at the World Health Organization. Following this, she held the esteemed position of Chief Scientist at the WHO until two thousand twenty-two, working under the leadership of Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Her tenure at the WHO was marked by her commitment to scientific excellence and public health advancement.