GHTC urges policymakers to take urgent action to accelerate health research

WASHINGTON, DC (January 22, 2024)—Today, the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) announced the appointment of Dr. Kristie Mikus as the organization’s new executive director, effective February 26, 2024. Dr. Mikus will lead the coalition’s advocacy efforts to accelerate the creation of new technologies to drive global health progress. Dr. Mikus comes to GHTC from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she most recently served as senior policy advisor for the Global Health Center. She brings extensive experience in public policy, partnership building and program management in the global health sector from her two decades spent serving the U.S. government in various capacities, both in Washington, D.C., and abroad. Prior to her current role, Dr. Mikus served as the CDC deputy country director in Zambia and the Zambia country coordinator for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She has also held positions in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Foreign Assistance, where she led foreign assistance reform efforts, and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, first as a PEPFAR congressional liaison and later as PEPFAR country lead for South Africa, Tanzania, Haiti, Guyana, Mozambique and Zambia. Dr. Mikus first started her career in government at the U.S. Department of Commerce helping to negotiate free trade agreements for pharmaceuticals and biotechnology as a Presidential Management Fellow. “We are thrilled to welcome Kristie to GHTC. She’s a skilled and passionate leader with a comprehensive understanding of policy dynamics from her governmental roles, coupled with her firsthand experiences in countries that partner with the U.S. in global health initiatives,” stated Heather Ignatius, chief of external affairs at PATH, where the GHTC secretariat is based, and leader of the executive search team. “Kristie’s unique background, which includes actively working alongside these nations, positions her perfectly for cultivating collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders, both within and outside of government. Her depth of experience and dedication to advancing innovation for global health makes her an outstanding choice to lead the coalition into its next chapter.” “I’ve had the opportunity get to know the GHTC community from my time within government, and I have seen firsthand how this coalition is a trusted source of expertise for U.S. and global policymakers and a powerful voice for the role of technology in advancing global health. I am honored and excited to take the helm of such a well-respected and dynamic organization and look forward to working with the coalition’s members and partners to continue to accelerate innovation to save lives worldwide,” said Dr. Mikus. Dr. Mikus will succeed former Executive Director Jamie Bay Nishi, who stepped down in December after leading the coalition through a period of significant growth and evolution over the past seven years. Under Dr. Mikus’ leadership, GHTC will continue to work to advance policies and funding to accelerate the development of vaccines, drugs and other technologies that improve global health. ### About GHTC The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) works to save and improve lives by encouraging the research and development of essential health technologies. We bring together more than 45 nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and aligned businesses to advance policies to accelerate the creation of new drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and other tools that bring healthy lives within reach for all people.