Tom Frieden
About Tom Frieden
Tom Frieden is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Resolve To Save Lives and a Senior Fellow for Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations. He has extensive experience in public health, having previously served as the Director of the CDC and the Commissioner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Current Role at Resolve to Save Lives
Tom Frieden serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Resolve to Save Lives, a position he has held since 2017. Under his leadership, the organization has focused on global health initiatives, particularly in cardiovascular health and epidemic preparedness. Frieden's work spans over 40 countries, emphasizing the importance of public health systems and policies.
Previous Experience at the CDC
Frieden previously served as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2009 to 2017. In this role, he played a significant part in the global response to the 2014 West Africa Ebola epidemic. His tenure at the CDC also included work as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer from 1990 to 1992, where he gained valuable experience in public health emergencies.
Education and Medical Training
Frieden has an extensive educational background in public health and medicine. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Oberlin College, followed by a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and studied Infectious Diseases as a Fellow at Yale University.
Career in Public Health
Frieden's public health career began with addressing the largest outbreak of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in the United States. He served as Commissioner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene from 2002 to 2009, where he contributed to increasing life expectancy in New York City through various public health initiatives. His experience includes working as a Technical Advisor at The World Bank and as Director of Global Health at Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Global Health Initiatives and Impact
Frieden has been actively involved in global health initiatives, focusing on tuberculosis diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring programs, particularly in India. His work has included projects related to hypertension control and salt reduction, contributing to public health policy and system improvements on a global scale.