Veteran Global Health Leader, Dr. Rebecca Martin, Named President of Global Immunization at Sabin
Martin most recently served as Vice President for Global Health at Emory University, and as the Director of the Emory Global Health Institute, following a 24-year career with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Global Health at Emory. She brings decades of successful partnering with global, regional and country-level health leaders in infectious disease prevention, as well as in-country experience leading low- and middle-income country (LMIC) health and immunization initiatives.
Her extensive CDC career includes ten years working in Kenya, Tanzania, and Denmark, seconded to the World Health Organization African and European regions. In her four years in Nairobi, Kenya, she provided technical expertise to eight East African countries focused on vaccine-preventable disease surveillance, prevention and elimination strategies and policies, and new vaccine introductions. For several years in Dar as Salaam, Tanzania, she led surveillance and workforce development for CDC as part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and supervised staff in surveillance, health management information systems (HMIS), monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and human capacity development for CDC HIV/AIDS programs.
Currently, she serves as the Vice-Chair for WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) Emergency Preparedness & Response Technical Advisory Group (EPR-TAG), an independent advisory group providing strategic guidance on all matters pertaining to public health emergency preparedness and response in Africa.
'With her global, country and local-level experience, Rebecca has the first-hand expertise needed to address today's challenging immunization landscape, and more importantly, to co-create new solutions with public and private partners to boost lagging immunization rates and prevent human suffering,' says Sabin CEO Amy Finan. 'She is an outstanding addition to Sabin's executive team and will lead Sabin's global immunization work as we continue to respond to the needs of individual countries and help shape new global strategies with partners to increase access and uptake of vaccines.'
Martin calls her new role a 'full circle' moment.
'I am honored and excited to join the Sabin Vaccine Institute as President of Global Immunization, bringing my experience, knowledge, and commitment to Sabin's critical mission in making vaccines available to everyone, everywhere,' she says.
'I am thrilled to work with the dedicated colleagues at Sabin who are passionate about tackling vaccine-preventable diseases through collaboration with stakeholders from multiple sectors in addition to health,' she adds. 'There is no moment more urgent than now to innovate and double down on our efforts to prevent illness and save lives through immunization.'
Sabin's Global Immunization team works with local and national governments and academic, global, and philanthropic partners to put communities at the heart of solutions that tackle urgent vaccination challenges, with a renewed focus to bolster the falling coverage in childhood routine immunization and support life-course immunization. In 2023, almost 14.5 million children received no vaccinations, according to WHO, an increase of 2.7 million more children compared to 2019.
The Sabin team brings expertise across the immunization spectrum, including building global communities of practice, identifying barriers and creating solutions to improve vaccine access and delivery of current and new vaccines, and conducting epidemiological research to support immunization. Sabin's skills are applied to multiple infectious diseases, including HPV, typhoid, cholera, rotavirus, COVID-19 and malaria. Additional work includes efforts to immunize zero-dose children and transition to hexavalent vaccines in national immunization programs.
During her tenure at Emory, Martin built and aligned multidisciplinary global health infrastructure, fostered global collaborations across health organizations, led interdisciplinary global health research and worked to build the next generation of global health leaders. She was also a member of Emory's Woodruff Health Sciences Center leadership team.
Martin's most recent role with the CDC was Director of the Center for Global Health, then the largest operating unit at the CDC. Her achievements include leading the CDC's global efforts across disease initiatives and through the start of the global health security agenda, including polio eradication and disease control acceleration and elimination for vaccine-preventable diseases, malaria elimination, ending HV epidemics, and strengthening health systems to detect and respond to disease threats and emergencies.
Martin received her Doctor of Philosophy from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in international health with a focus on infectious disease epidemiology. She has co-authored manuscripts and developed strategic plans, normative guidance and guidelines on immunization strategies, vaccine-preventable diseases and surveillance methods for both immunization and HIV, and for global health security.
About the Sabin Vaccine Institute
The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a leading advocate for expanding vaccine access and uptake globally, advancing vaccine research and development, and amplifying vaccine knowledge and innovation. Unlocking the potential of vaccines through partnership, Sabin has built a robust ecosystem of funders, innovators, implementers, practitioners, policy makers and public stakeholders to advance its vision of a future free from preventable diseases. As a nonprofit with three decades of experience, Sabin is committed to finding solutions that last and extending the full benefits of vaccines to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live. At Sabin, we believe in the power of vaccines to change the world. For more information, visit
www.sabin.org
and follow us on X @SabinVaccine.
Media Contact:
Monika Guttman
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Sabin Vaccine Institute
+1 (202) 621-1691
press@sabin.org
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/05fb30d1-3f58-4240-aafe-91d33dab3398
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
23 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Novel synthetic drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl responsible for Riverside overdose
A synthetic drug considered 100 times more potent than fentanyl was determined to have caused the death of a Riverside man, marking the latest in an increase in overdoses involving the synthetic drug, public health officials said. Carfentanil is a schedule II synthetic drug with a similar chemical as fentanyl and is used in Wildnil, an anesthetic for elephants, according to the National Library of Medicine. A Riverside man in his forties fatally overdosed on the substance in March but the cause was not officially determined until this month, the Riverside University Health System said in a news release. Illegally manufactured fentanyl drugs such as carfentanil entered illicit markets in the northeast U.S. as a substitute for white-powder heroin in 2013, the CDC said in a report. Carfentanil, which is 10,000 times more potent than morphine, can be lethal at a fraction of the two milligram range for fentanyl, health officials said. 'Every life lost from opioids is one too many,' Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky said in the release. Cases of carfentanil overdoses are rare, but on the rise, the release said. U.S. deaths involving carfentanil increased from 29 in the first half of 2023 to 238 during the same period last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carfentanil is defined as a unique illegally manufactured fentanyl, an opioid produced without the regulations of pharmaceutical-grade fentanyl. That means it can go undetected by some fentanyl test strips, which can lead to an increase in accidental overdoses, health officials added. While overall opioid overdoses have decreased both nationally and in Riverside County, according to the release, the CDC said that the reemergence of carfentanil 'may threaten this progress.' 'Together, we can continue to raise awareness about the risks associated with drug use and work as a community to support safety, reduce harm and care for one another,' Chevinsky said. The Riverside University Health System recommended that individuals carry naloxone to treat someone overdosing on fentanyl and avoid using carfentanil even in small doses due to the unpredictability and potency of the substance.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Northwestern study finds California life expectancy yet to recover since COVID-19
A new study from Northwestern University found that life expectancy in California has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, data that could indicate similar national trends. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that overdoses and cardiovascular diseases were the leading causes of life expectancy loss in California. COVID-19 also remained a contributing factor. Hannes Schwandt, Northwestern professor and lead researcher of the study, and his team analyzed California data because it is comprehensive and typically published ahead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's national data. The researchers used California's Comprehensive Death Files and obtained population counts for calculating mortality rates from the American Community Survey. "California is the biggest state [by population], so it gives us an idea of trends," he said. Life expectancy is the estimated lifespan of a human based on prevailing age specific mortality rates, according to Northwestern University. "2020 was bad, 2021 was even worse, and then we didn't see a rebound, or even overshooting in life expectancy the next year. We saw continued deficit in life expectancy compared to 2019," Schwandt said. Schwandt compared it to the 1918 influenza pandemic, in which multiple studies show that life expectancy in the United States rebounded after one to two years, unlike COVID-19, which continues to impact life expectancy over five years later. The study found that Californians' life expectancy dropped nearly a year from 81.4 to 80.5 by 2024. While the life expectancy gap between income groups returned to pre-pandemic levels by 2024 after widening during 2020–2023, disparities between racial groups grew even larger. In 2024, Black people lived on average six and a half years less than white people in California. Black Californians experienced a slower but more prolonged decline in life expectancy: losing four years by 2021 due to COVID deaths, but the gap further widened due to fentanyl overdoses. Hispanic Californians had the most severe single-year life expectancy drop of five years in 2021 due to COVID-19. Still, overdoses and cardiovascular disease continue to reduce their life expectancy by more than a year. Overdoses impacted poor communities the hardest, while cardiovascular disease was the primary cause for the drop in life expectancy for wealthier and white people. "The fentanyl crisis particularly took off in 2020 and continues to be a problem," Schwandt said. Other research studies show a strong correlation between the COVID-19 pandemic and the fentanyl epidemic. A study published in the National Library of Medicine calls the pandemic an "important epoch in the opioid epidemic timeline." Societal disruptions, economic stress, and limited access to treatment increased the risk of overdoses, according to the study. Schwandt also said that overprescribing opioids is a part of the larger problem. In 2024, 87% of opioid overdose deaths in Cook County involved fentanyl. African Americans make up 53% of those total overdose deaths. A Penn State study found that by the start of the pandemic, a Black person over the age of 55 in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota was 5 times more likely to die of a drug overdose than a white person of the same age. "The good news is that in 2024, overdose deaths did decline for the first time," Scwandt said. "But because they increase so dramatically over the years, we are still in a territory that is unacceptable." Provisional data from the CDC found a nearly 24% decline in US drug overdose deaths. Schwandt said that increased deaths from cardiovascular disease could be potentially linked to obesity and Long COVID. "I think that's a really interesting hypothesis that we should explore more," he said. "Maybe in richer areas, people have more access to COVID treatment and survive, have a higher burden of Long COVID, which then could lead to higher cardiovascular mortality," Schwandt said. Long COVID is an all-encompassing name for the long-term symptoms and health effects a person can experience after contracting COVID-19, regardless of the severity of the case. Long COVID is a disorder that can impact almost all parts of the body, including the heart, brain, immune system, and gastrointestinal system. A 2024 study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that "undeniably, the Long COVID syndrome has a multifaceted interplay with the cardiovascular system." The researchers looked at 78 different studies to compile different cardiovascular manifestations of Long COVID and found that cardiac symptoms are the third most common clinical manifestation of the disease. Schwandt examines trends in life expectancy and compares the data in the U.S. to that of other developed countries to see how the U.S. can increase its life expectancy. "Countries like Spain, that have lower incomes, and less technology, and they're healthier and live longer [than the US]," he said. He looks at different causes, areas, and incomes throughout the U.S. and other developed countries to determine who is living the longest and why. Schwandt wants to expand the study once the U.S. numbers are available to researchers. "I'd like to analyze the data in rich and poor populations in other developed countries and compare them to the U.S. experience," he said. "How is the world recovering, and is there anything we can learn from that?"
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
2 children in Tennessee recovering from rare La Crosse virus spread by mosquitoes
KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE / WJW) — Two children in Tennessee are now recovering at home after being hospitalized for La Crosse virus, a rare mosquito-borne virus that can, in severe cases, lead to inflammation of the brain. The Knox County Health Department said the two children were hospitalized earlier this month. They mark the first cases of the virus this year in the county, according to health officials. Meanwhile in Ohio, a 66-year-old man was recently confirmed to have contracted La Crosse virus, Nexstar's WJW reports. What is La Crosse virus? La Crosse virus is a mosquito-borne infection. Most people who get it don't have symptoms, but those who do can have a fever, a headache, nausea, and vomiting, Knox County health officials said. In rare cases, it can become severe and lead to inflammation of the brain, or encephalitis. 'Severe disease occurs most often in children under 16 years old,' said a KCHD spokesperson. 'Most severe cases require hospitalization but will recover with supportive care. However, up to 15 percent of cases can have major neurologic complications.' According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 30 and 90 La Crosse cases are reported annually. But this number is thought to be a 'substantial under-diagnosis' due to the 'under-reporting of less severe cases.' Cases are primarily found during the late spring through early fall while mosquitoes are most active. How is La Crosse virus spread? It comes from the bite of an infected Aedes triseriatus, or eastern treehole mosquito. The Aedes mosquitoes primarily bite people in wooded areas during dawn and dusk. 'They are a little bit more of a shy mosquito, they don't aggressively come out and bite people,' Caroline Terakedis, director of environmental health services for the Tuscarawas County Health Department, told WJW. 'It's difficult to treat standing water for them because they prefer to breed in small tiny areas like tree holes, but they really like scrap tires.' 5 million above-ground pools recalled after deaths reported in 6 states Humans do not spread the virus, the CDC says. Symptoms can occur within five to 15 days of a bite. Where have cases been reported? CDC data shows that between 2003 and 2024, more than 1,500 cases of La Crosse virus were reported, with 15 confirmed deaths over the same time period. Nearly two dozen states saw at least one case of La Crosse virus during that time. North Carolina and Ohio each saw over 300 cases, while Tennessee and West Virginia had over 200 each. Other states that recorded at least one case include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. 'Quiet cracking' is the newest term for a workplace problem — and it's 'pretty pervasive,' expert says The vast majority of human cases reported to the CDC were among those under the age of 18. How to avoid getting La Crosse virus Similar to advice for preventing West Nile virus, health experts recommend using insect repellants (such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus), treating your clothes with repellents like permethrin, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants while near wooded areas, and covering strollers with mosquito netting. Knox County health officials also recommended reducing standing water on your property to control the mosquito population. This includes turning over items that hold water, like flowerpot saucers, once a week. Health officials have advised parents and guardians to seek emergency care if they see neurological issues in their children. This would include seizures, mental changes, and drowsiness or trouble staying awake. The Tuscarawas County Health Department says there is no vaccine against the virus, and there are no medications to specifically treat La Crosse encephalitis.
