The COVID-19 pandemic has cost over 4 million deaths and trillions of dollars in lost economic productivity, and has also highlighted and worsened global inequities. This session will reflect on lessons learned and focus on the future of the COVID-19 pandemic. Are we stuck in cycles of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths for years, driven by inequities in access to vaccines and other life-saving interventions? What will a “post-pandemic” world look like? And how might we ensure that we’re better prepared for future pandemics and other health challenges? Moderated by DGHI's Krishna Udayakumar. 

Speakers

Krishna Udayakumar - Dr. Krishna Udayakumar is the founding Director of the Duke Global Health Innovation Center, focused on generating deeper evidence and support for the study, scaling, and adaptation of health innovations and policy reforms globally.  He is also Executive Director of Innovations in Healthcare, a non-profit co-founded by Duke, McKinsey & Company, and the World Economic Forum, leading the organization’s work to curate and scale the impact of transformative health solutions globally. At Duke University, Dr. Udayakumar holds the rank of Associate Professor of the Practice of Global Health and Associate Professor of Medicine, and is a core faculty member of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. He is also Associate Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore. His work has been published in leading academic journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Health Affairs, and Academic Medicine.

Ayoade Alakija - Dr. Ayoade "Yodi" Olatunbosun-Alakija is a visionary and innovative leader and influencer in global health and humanitarian development. She is Co-Chair of the African Union, African Vaccine Delivery Alliance and Founder of the Emergency Coordination Centre, Nigeria (ECC).  Ayoade is passionate about achieving equitable outcomes for women and girls in all aspects of life and especially health and education. She is a Global Advisory Board member for Women LiftHealth, has worked to address girls education in Nigeria and provided advisory services on country level health policy for the Presidency, and Ministries of Health, Gender and Education in Rwanda.   

Ann Lindstrand - Ann Lindstrand is the World Health Organization's Unit Head for the Essential Program on Immunization of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals.

Alberto Valenzuela - Alberto Valenzuela is currently the Executive Director of the Pan American and Parapan American Games Legacy Project, a government entity that shifted to become a logistics operator of Peruvian Ministry of Health for COVID-19 temporary hospitals, oxygen and vaccination mega-centers. After more than 20 years leading and developing private companies in healthcare sector, he was part of the organization of the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games, as General Director of the Games and Director of Operations. Previously, he held the position of Director and General Manager of Jockey Salud; Advisor to the office of the Ministry of Health; Advisor to the Executive Presidency of EsSalud – Health Social Insurance and Consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) for Public-Private Health Partnerships.