Swaminathan WMA Bio 6 9 2021

DR SOUMYA SWAMINATHAN
Dr Soumya Swaminathan is Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO). She was
most recently WHO’s Deputy Director-General for Programmes. A paediatrician from India and
a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV, she brings with her 30 years of
experience in clinical care and research and has worked throughout her career to translate
research into impactful programmes. Dr Swaminathan was Secretary to the Government of
India for Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research from
2015 to 2017. In that position, she focused on bringing science and evidence into health policy
making, building research capacity in Indian medical schools and forging south-south
partnerships in health sciences. From 2009 to 2011, she also served as Coordinator of the
UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical
Diseases in Geneva. She received her academic training in India, the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, and has published more than
350 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.