Sabin Vaccine Institute Names Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health as New President of Global Immunization

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin), a non-profit dedicated to making life-improving vaccines more accessible, enabling innovation and expanding immunization across the globe, today announced the appointment of Dr. Bruce Gellin as President, Global Immunization. Dr. Gellin, a 15-year U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) veteran, has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Director of the National Vaccine Program Office since 2002. Among his roles, Dr. Gellin led discussions on behalf of the United States at high-level global and domestic policy advisory groups and was responsible for developing the National Vaccine Plan, our country's blueprint for all aspects of vaccines and immunization.

"Dr. Gellin's breadth of vaccine experience and commitment to improving global health through immunization brings great benefit to Sabin, to our stakeholders, and ultimately to the people and communities we serve around the world," said Chief Executive Officer Amy Finan, Sabin Vaccine Institute. "We are fortunate to have Bruce join Sabin's executive team as we focus our priorities to meet today's global immunization challenges, and I look forward to having his expertise and unique perspective as we work to extend the value of vaccines to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live."

In his new role, which will begin on March 1, 2017, Dr. Gellin will lead Sabin's global immunization efforts to champion sustainable, evidence-based solutions that prevent disease through vaccination and drive partnerships in the global health community. As an executive leader, he will also work with Finan, President Dr. Peter Hotez, Chief Operating Officer Brian Davis and the Sabin Board of Trustees to implement new organizational approaches to drive measurable outcomes.

"I am honored to join the Sabin Vaccine Institute, an organization that is known for developing innovative solutions to expand immunization in partnership with countries," said Gellin. "My career has spanned the global and domestic vaccine and immunization realm. I am eager to lead our work to achieve the full value of vaccines for individuals and communities and strive for the goal of a future free from preventable disease."

Prior to joining HHS, Dr. Gellin founded and served as executive director of the National Network for Immunization Information, worked as a medical officer at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, served as Epidemic Intelligence Service officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and was a Luce Scholar in the Philippines. Dr. Gellin's global health leadership includes consulting for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, chairing the World Health Organization's Global Action Plan for Influenza Vaccines Advisory Group, working with the Children's Vaccine Initiative, and serving as a Warren Weaver fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation. He is one of the nation's principal spokespersons on vaccines and immunizations and has served on the faculty at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Vanderbilt University Medical School. He recently was appointed to Georgetown University Medical Center's Department of Medicine as an adjunct professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases.

In 1991, Dr. Gellin earned an M.P.H. in epidemiology from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. He is a graduate of Weill Cornell Medical College and was a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and later was a preventive medicine resident at Cornell and at the CDC's Arctic Investigations Program in Anchorage, Alaska. Dr. Gellin achieved board certification in internal medicine and infectious diseases, is an active member of numerous professional organizations, and serves as a peer reviewer for over a dozen medical journals. 

In 2016, the Infectious Diseases Society of America awarded Dr. Gellin with the Society Citation in recognition of his work in the field of infectious diseases, and in 2015, he was bestowed the honor of the American Medical Association's Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service for his leadership and vision while overseeing our nation's vaccine and immunization initiatives. 

To read a Q&A with Dr. Gellin regarding his appointment, click here.

About Sabin Vaccine Institute
Sabin is a leading advocate for expanding vaccine access and uptake globally, advancing vaccine research and development, and amplifying vaccine knowledge and innovation. As a non-profit, we believe the best way to unlock vaccine potential is through the power of partnerships and have built a robust ecosystem of funders, innovators, implementers, practitioners, policy makers and public stakeholders to advance our vision of a future free from preventable disease. We are committed to finding solutions that last and extending the full benefits of life-improving vaccines to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live. Our methods are based on data, driven by rigor and measured in results. At Sabin, we believe changing lives through the promise of vaccines changes the world. For more information visit: www.sabin.org

SOURCE Sabin Vaccine Institute

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