Director, Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization

Kate O’Brien is the Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at the World Health Organization (WHO). Previously she was the Executive Director of the International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), and Professor of International Health and Epidemiology, at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr O’Brien served on the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) committee from 2012 to 2018. Prior to joining IVAC, she served as the Director of Infectious Disease in the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health. She also served as an Epidemic Intelligence Officer, in the Respiratory Diseases Branch, at the CDC, Atlanta (USA).

Dr O’Brien earned her BSc in Chemistry from the University of Toronto (Canada), her MD (Medicinæ Doctorem) from McGill University, Montreal (Canada), and her Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore (USA). She completed her paediatric and infectious disease clinical training at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore (USA).

Last updated: 12 Sep 2022

Subscribe to our newsletter