Wafaa El-Sadr is the founder and director of ICAP at Columbia University, University Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and Mathilde Krim-amfAR Professor of Global Health at Columbia University. Through ICAP, the Center she founded and directs, she was instrumental in support of establishment of large-scale programs in sub Saharan Africa and Asia that integrate research, education, training and practice. ICAP’s work in more than 30 countries is focused on confronting major public health challenges including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases among others. ICAP aims to bridge the divide between knowledge and action, taking discoveries to implementation in the real world. In addition, ICAP supports the education, training and mentorship of diverse workforce engaged in health. ICAP works closely with ministries of health, international organizations, academic institutions, private sector, community-based organizations and civil society groups in the pursuit of responsive, inclusive, sustainable and innovative approaches to achieving public health impact. Prior to her work at ICAP, she spent more than two decades at Harlem Hospital in New York City during the height of the HIV epidemic. She led the establishment of a novel program to respond to the epidemic that was centered on meeting the needs of affected individuals and families. Dr. El-Sadr is also a prolific researcher with close to 400 publications. Her research interests are diverse and include research on the prevention and treatment of HIV, tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases, maternal-child health among others. She was born in Egypt, received her medical degree from Cairo University, a masters in public health from Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health and a masters in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. She was named as McArthur “genius” fellow in 2008 and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine.
