Wendy Prudhomme O’Meara, Ph.D., an associate professor of medicine and global health, has been named deputy director of the Duke Global Health Institute, DGHI director Chris Beyrer, M.D., announced today. She will begin her role on Jan. 1, 2023.
O’Meara, who has served as DGHI’s associate director for research since 2019, has led a malaria research program for more than a decade in collaboration with Moi University, where she is a visiting professor. She also previously served as co-field director of research for AMPATH.
“I’ve been so impressed with Wendy’s thoughtfulness, deep knowledge of DGHI, excellence as a researcher and educator, and her remarkably effective service as our associate director for research. She will be invaluable in this role,” Beyrer says.
The deputy director oversees several key aspects of the institute’s missions, including faculty appointments and development, strategic planning, and support of DGHI’s global partnerships. O’Meara will succeed Shenglan Tang, M.D., who served in the role since July 2019.
Tang, the Mary D.B.T. and James Semans Professor of population health science, helped guide DGHI through the COVID-19 pandemic, the transition to a new director, and implementation of its most recent strategic plan. He plans to devote more time to his research on healthy systems in Southeast Asia and will continue to serve as co-director of global health at Duke Kunshan University in China.
“All of us at DGHI know how effective, skillful and energetic Shenglan has been in his tenure as Deputy Director of DGHI,” says Beyrer. “I’d like to personally thank him for his warm welcome and invaluable mentorship as I’ve transitioned into the Directorship. Happily, he will remain an active member of the DGHI family, with enhanced activities at our partners Duke NUS and Duke Kunshan, and with our strong collaborations in Sri Lanka and Vietnam.”
