Kate OBrien

Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Kate O'Brien is a prominent figure in the field of global health and immunization. She currently serves as the Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at the World Health Organization (WHO).1 3 In this role, she leads the overall work and strategy of the department to reduce the health, social, and economic burden of vaccine-preventable diseases worldwide.3

Dr. O'Brien has an extensive background in medicine and public health:

She earned her BSc in Chemistry from the University of Toronto, MD from McGill University, and Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.1 2
She completed her pediatric and infectious disease clinical training at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.1

Prior to her current position at WHO, Dr. O'Brien held several notable roles:

Executive Director of the International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.1 2
Professor of International Health and Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.1 2
Director of Infectious Disease at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health.1
Epidemic Intelligence Officer at the CDC's Respiratory Diseases Branch.1

Throughout her career, Dr. O'Brien has made significant contributions to the field of vaccinology:

She was one of the first investigators to quantify the global burden of pneumococcal disease and its serotypes.4
Her work has been instrumental in advancing the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines globally.4
She has played a crucial role in shaping COVID-19 vaccine global strategy and advocating for equitable vaccine access.4

Dr. O'Brien's expertise and leadership have been recognized internationally. She served on the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) committee from 2012 to 20181 2 and has been a board member of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.2

In 2022, Dr. O'Brien was awarded the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award for her outstanding contributions to improving global public health, particularly her efforts in advancing vaccine equity during the COVID-19 pandemic.4