Dr. Saad Omer

Dr. Saad B. Omer is the founding Dean of Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern in Dallas. He was previously the inaugural Director of Yale Institute for Global Health. Dr. Omer has conducted studies in the United States, Guatemala, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Australia. Dr Omer’s research portfolio includes epidemiology of respiratory viruses such as influenza, RSV, and SARS-Cov-2; clinical trials to estimate efficacy of maternal and/or infant influenza, pertussis, polio, measles and pneumococcal vaccines; and trials to evaluate drug regimens to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Moreover, he has conducted several studies on interventions to increase immunization coverage. His work has also included public health preparedness strategies to effectively respond to large emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks. Dr Omer’s work has been cited in global and country-specific policy recommendations and has informed clinical practice and health legislation in several countries. Dr. Omer has published widely in peer reviewed journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Lancet, Cell, Science, and Nature. Moreover, he has written op-eds for publications such as the New York Times, Politico, and the Washington Post. Dr Omer was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and has received multiple awards – including the Maurice Hilleman Award by the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases for his work on the impact of maternal influenza immunization on respiratory illness in infants younger than 6 months- for whom there is no vaccine. He has served on the boards of trustees of Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and Sabin Vaccine Institute and advisory panels including the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Vaccines, U.S. National Vaccine Advisory Committee, the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria-Vaccine Innovation Working Group, and multiple National Academy of Medicine panels. Moreover, he served as an academic affiliate of the Office of Evaluation Sciences –formerly known as the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team.