Dr. Ali Mokdad is a distinguished leader in global health metrics and epidemiology, currently serving as Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and Chief Strategy Officer for Population Health at the University of Washington. With a career spanning over three decades in public health research, he previously held significant positions at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where he began his work in 1990 and ultimately became Chief of the Behavioral Surveillance Branch and Director of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. He earned his BS in Biostatistics from the American University of Beirut and completed his PhD in Quantitative Epidemiology at Emory University, establishing the foundation for his groundbreaking work in health metrics. As Director of Middle Eastern Initiatives for IHME, Dr. Mokdad has significantly expanded the institute's research footprint and collaborative partnerships across the region. His leadership extends to the University of Washington's Population Health Initiative, launched by President Ana Mari Cauce to create a shared vision for improving health and well-being of populations worldwide.
Dr. Mokdad has published over 450 articles and numerous reports that have fundamentally transformed how health systems measure and understand disease burden across diverse populations. His pioneering work on local-level disease trends and risk factor analysis has provided critical evidence for health policy decisions at state, national, and international levels, with his research on obesity ranking among the most highly cited in public health literature. As principal investigator for major initiatives including the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative, Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative, and diarrhea burden forecasting projects, he has developed innovative methodologies for evaluating health interventions and projecting disease trajectories. His groundbreaking research on health disparities in the United States has illuminated critical gaps in healthcare access and outcomes that inform targeted public health strategies. Dr. Mokdad's work has established new standards for measuring population health that have been adopted by governments, international organizations, and research institutions worldwide.
Through his leadership in the Population Health Initiative, Dr. Mokdad continues to catalyze interdisciplinary collaborations that address complex health challenges through innovative research and evidence-based solutions. He has received numerous prestigious awards including the Global Health Achievement Award for his post-tsunami work in Banda Aceh, the Department of Health and Human Services Honor Award for flu monitoring, and the Shepard Award for his contributions to public health. His current research focuses on forecasting disease burden, evaluating cost-effectiveness of interventions, and strengthening health systems across the Middle East and Latin America. Dr. Mokdad serves as a trusted advisor to regional leaders in population health, bridging the gap between research evidence and practical implementation. His vision continues to shape the global health landscape as he leads efforts to translate complex health metrics into actionable strategies that improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations worldwide.
