20 Influential Medicine Leaders Globally to Know

Medicine is led through systems, not one job title. It reaches from public health and research to vaccines, diagnostics, emergency response and the organisations that help evidence become care.

This is a practical recognition directory of 20 people with current leadership roles across that landscape. It is not a ranking. The point is to notice the different kinds of work that keep medicine moving across borders and institutions.

1. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Director-General, World Health Organization

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is Director-General, World Health Organization.

This role gives readers a useful window into global health coordination and international health policy. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

2. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu

Executive Director, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu is Executive Director, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization.

This role gives readers a useful window into preparedness and response to outbreaks and health emergencies. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

3. Dr Sylvie Briand

Chief Scientist, World Health Organization

Dr Sylvie Briand is Chief Scientist, World Health Organization.

This role gives readers a useful window into science, innovation and turning evidence into health policy. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

4. Dr Jeremy Farrar

Assistant Director-General, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care, World Health Organization

Dr Jeremy Farrar is Assistant Director-General, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care, World Health Organization.

This role gives readers a useful window into communicable and noncommunicable disease, health promotion and care. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

5. Dr Yukiko Nakatani

Assistant Director-General, Health Systems, World Health Organization

Dr Yukiko Nakatani is Assistant Director-General, Health Systems, World Health Organization.

This role gives readers a useful window into health systems, medicines, health products and antimicrobial resistance. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

6. Dr Razia Pendse

Chef de Cabinet, World Health Organization

Dr Razia Pendse is Chef de Cabinet, World Health Organization.

This role gives readers a useful window into governance, resource mobilisation and leadership alignment. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

7. Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge

Regional Director for Europe, World Health Organization

Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge is Regional Director for Europe, World Health Organization.

This role gives readers a useful window into public health, resilient health systems and regional health policy. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

8. Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala

Regional Director for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization

Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala is Regional Director for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization.

This role gives readers a useful window into Pacific health, universal health coverage and disaster preparedness. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

9. Saima Wazed

Regional Director for South-East Asia, World Health Organization, currently on leave

Saima Wazed is Regional Director for South-East Asia, World Health Organization, currently on leave. WHO's current South-East Asia page also notes that Dr Catharina Boehme is serving as Officer-in-Charge while Ms Wazed is on leave.

This role gives readers a useful window into mental health, disability inclusion and health systems across South-East Asia. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

10. Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi

Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization

Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi is Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization.

This role gives readers a useful window into clinical medicine, health systems and public health across Africa. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

11. Dr Sania Nishtar

Chief Executive Officer, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Dr Sania Nishtar is Chief Executive Officer, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

This role gives readers a useful window into vaccine access, immunisation and global health architecture. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

12. Peter Sands

Executive Director, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Peter Sands is Executive Director, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

This role gives readers a useful window into global financing and operational leadership for major infectious diseases. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

13. Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya, MD, PhD

Director, National Institutes of Health

Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya, MD, PhD is Director, National Institutes of Health.

This role gives readers a useful window into medical research, population health and the US national research agency. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

14. John-Arne Røttingen

Chief Executive Officer, Wellcome

John-Arne Røttingen is Chief Executive Officer, Wellcome.

This role gives readers a useful window into research funding and science aimed at urgent health challenges. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

15. Dr Jimmy Volmink

Executive Director, Equity, Wellcome

Dr Jimmy Volmink is Executive Director, Equity, Wellcome.

This role gives readers a useful window into health equity, research and leadership for a healthier future. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

16. Dr M Javid Abdelmoneim

International President, Médecins Sans Frontières

Dr M Javid Abdelmoneim is International President, Médecins Sans Frontières.

This role gives readers a useful window into emergency medicine and medical humanitarian leadership. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

17. Dr Jutta Reinhard-Rupp

Interim Chief Executive Officer, FIND

Dr Jutta Reinhard-Rupp is Interim Chief Executive Officer, FIND.

This role gives readers a useful window into diagnostics, laboratory strengthening and equitable access to testing. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

18. Rachel McKendry

Executive Director, Discovery, Wellcome

Rachel McKendry is Executive Director, Discovery, Wellcome.

This role gives readers a useful window into biomedical discovery, clinical research and population health investment. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

19. Charlotte Watts

Executive Director, Solutions, Wellcome

Charlotte Watts is Executive Director, Solutions, Wellcome.

This role gives readers a useful window into research, public engagement and policy across major health challenges. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

20. Maggy Chan

Chief Operating Officer, Wellcome

Maggy Chan is Chief Operating Officer, Wellcome.

This role gives readers a useful window into operations, digital technology, risk and organisational delivery in a global health foundation. It shows how medicine depends on people who connect evidence, institutions, delivery and public trust, often across more than one country or discipline.

A useful way to use this list

Choose one leader whose role is different from yours. Notice how their work joins people, evidence and systems, then ask what one small leadership choice could make your own team clearer or more useful this week.

For more practical leadership resources, explore the Working Genius FAQ, the strategy leadership consultant guide or the team offsite enquiry page.

Jonno White is an Australian leadership consultant, keynote speaker and author. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at. For practical leadership work, email jonno@consultclarity.org.