Cara Smith Gueye

Cara Smith-Gueye is a highly accomplished public health professional and researcher currently serving as the Associate Director of Delivery and Partnerships at the UCSF Malaria Elimination Initiative (MEI).12 She holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of Basel and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, as well as a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with a specialization in Health and Social Behavior from the University of California, Berkeley.

Professional Experience

At the University of California, San Francisco, Cara manages MEI's growing USAID portfolio, providing administrative and technical oversight for PMI Impact Malaria and PMI Insights for Malaria.1 She also oversees the development and uptake of MEI's Malaria Elimination Toolkit.1 Previously, she managed the Namibia malaria elimination country portfolio while based in Windhoek and supported regional elimination initiatives in the Asia Pacific and southern Africa regions.1

Academic Background

Cara's educational journey includes:

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies/English from UCLA
• Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of California, Berkeley
• PhD in Public Health from the University of Basel and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute

Prior Experience

Before joining the MEI, Cara worked with an environmental NGO in California and spent four years in Cote d'Ivoire and Madagascar as a Peace Corps Volunteer.1 She also contributed to a maternal and child health initiative during this time.1

Cara Smith-Gueye's extensive experience in public health programs, combined with her strong academic background, positions her as a valuable asset in driving impactful initiatives and advancing healthcare outcomes, particularly in the field of malaria elimination.