50 Most Influential Physician Executives – 2017

Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann is a physician, scientist and philanthropist who has devoted her career to improving the human condition. In her current and previous roles, she's driven major developments toward the eradication of disease, poverty and inequity. Today, as CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Desmond-Hellmann leads the organization's vision for a world where every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. Drawing on her diverse experience in both the public and private sectors, she has worked to create an environment for talented and committed individuals to help more children and young people survive and thrive and combat infectious diseases that hit the poorest the hardest and empower people to make changes to improve their quality of life.