“It has been an absolute honor and one of my greatest joys to serve in this role,” said Dr. Ross. “The Task Force solves large-scale problems through the combined efforts of many people.  The approach that our founder Dr. Bill Foege used to rapidly increase vaccination levels in low-income countries inspired me and my colleagues to build the coalitions needed to eliminate diseases, bring vaccines to everyone in the world, and support stronger health systems. It has been a privilege to work with my colleagues and our partners across the global health sector to advance this important mission. As I head into retirement, I look forward to ensuring a smooth transition for my successor and to continuing to champion The Task Force’s work.”

Dr. Ross chose to announce his retirement now, in the middle of The Task Force’s fiscal year which runs through August, to allow sufficient time for a new CEO to be selected and take the helm. 

Dr. Ross is the third CEO in The Task Force’s nearly 40-year history. Under his leadership, The Task Force doubled in revenue, with a FY22 budget of $106 million (excluding in-kind donations), doubled the number of employees (currently 190), and grew from 10 programs to 17. The Task Force now works with partners in more than 150 countries.

“Dave has that rare combination of public health and scientific expertise, humility and compassion, and a gift for developing and maintaining strong relationships that has helped build The Task Force into the world-class organization that it is with the impact that it has,” said Teri McClure, chair of The Task Force Board of Directors. “He has been an extraordinary CEO whose style of leadership has fostered a unique, collaborative culture and positioned The Task Force for continued growth and significant future contributions. All of us who’ve had the pleasure of working with Dave are thankful for his many accomplishments and wish him grand adventures ahead as he embarks on his well-deserved retirement.”

A recognized leader in global health and one of the pioneers in public health informatics, Dr. Ross has led collaborative programs to strengthen information capacity of public health systems in the United States and other countries for nearly five decades. Dr. Ross launched PHII in 2002 and spearheaded its growth to become internationally known in the field of public health informatics, a discipline that focuses on using information to improve health outcomes. Before joining The Task Force, Dr. Ross held leadership, administrative and corporate consultant roles with the U.S. Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a private hospital system in Maryland, and Cerner, one of the largest health information technology firms.  

About The Task Force for Global Health

The Task Force for Global Health, founded nearly 40 years ago to advance health equity, works with partners in more than 150 countries to eliminate diseases, ensure access to vaccines and essential medicines, and strengthen health systems to protect populations. Expertise includes neglected tropical diseases and other infectious diseases; vaccine safety, distribution and access; and health systems strengthening, including supply chains for essential medicines, public health informatics for data to inform programs and policies, and training and support for epidemiologists and laboratorians to prevent and respond to outbreaks.  COVID-19 activities have included helping more than 30 low- and middle-income countries roll out vaccines; informing vaccine safety guidelines; training epidemiologists in more than 100 countries on disease surveillance and response; distributing essential protection and treatment to hard-hit communities; advising on digital contact tracing; using existing health programs to ensure protection for vulnerable groups, such as those afflicted with other diseases; and leveraging our existing supply chains for ongoing response. For more information, visit www.taskforce.org.

Media contact: 

Gabriella Corrigan

gcorrigan@taskforce.org

(678) 820-7035