Leading Through Crisis at the WHO | Soumya Swaminathan, MD

May 23, 2023

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When COVID-19 rapidly emerged, the World Health Organization (WHO) was thrust into an unprecedented challenge. The global pandemic response was in disarray; health care resources were limited and inequitably distributed; and misinformation burgeoned. At the center of this maelstrom was Soumya Swaminathan, MD, who served as the WHO’s first Chief Scientist, from 2019 until 2022. Dr. Swaminathan not only spearheaded efforts to disseminate the latest scientific findings about the coronavirus and vaccine development, but also became one of the major public faces of the WHO. In this episode, we discuss Dr. Swaminathan's formative years becoming a pediatrician in India, specializing in treating children with tuberculosis and HIV, as well as the challenges she faced as a leader at the WHO in a time of eroding public trust.

In this episode, you will hear about:

Dr. Swaminathan’s experiences training to become a doctor in India - 2:05
How Dr. Swaminathan discovered the balance between her interests in clinical medicine and research - 6:00
Dr. Swaminathan’s reflections on the challenges of caring for children with tuberculosis and HIV - 9:38
A discussion of global research funding disparity - 14:08
How Dr. Swaminathan joined the WHO and eventually came to fill such a critical leadership role there - 19:04
Dr. Swaminathan’s recollections of the arrival of COVID-19 from her perspective as the WHO’s first Chief Scientist - 21:28
Lessons learned in health communication from the pandemic - 27:46
The experience of being a lightning rod for online harassment and misinformation - 35:07
Dr. Swaminathan’s advice to new clinicians who are considering pursuing a career in global health - 39:25

You can follow Dr. Swaminathan on Twitter @DoctorSoumya.

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