Simon I. Hay is a distinguished leader in global health metrics and geospatial science with a profound impact on infectious disease epidemiology. He currently serves as Professor in the Department of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington School of of Medicine and holds the position of Director of Research Strategy at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Professor Hay obtained his doctorates from the University of Oxford where he maintains a continued affiliation as a member of congregation and former Professor of Epidemiology at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics. His distinguished career includes serving as the 52nd President of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from 2013 to 2015, demonstrating his longstanding commitment to advancing global health research and policy.
Professor Hay's pioneering research focuses on the spatial and temporal dimensions of infectious disease epidemiology, developing sophisticated mapping techniques that enable more rational implementation of disease control strategies worldwide. His work has resulted in over 500 peer-reviewed publications with an impressive h-index exceeding 140, reflecting substantial scholarly impact across multiple disciplines. With more than 475,000 citations according to Google Scholar, his methodological innovations in geospatial analysis have transformed how public health organizations understand and respond to disease burdens. His contributions have been instrumental in creating high-resolution disease maps that inform critical resource allocation decisions for malaria and other tropical diseases across endemic regions, with colleagues Peter Hotez and Jeremy Farrar acknowledging his geospatial vision for presenting complex data in accessible ways that drive policy changes globally.
Professor Hay's influence extends through numerous prestigious recognitions including election to the fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. He has received distinguished honors such as the Back Award of the Royal Geographical Society (2012), the Bailey K. Ashford Medal of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2013), and the Chalmers Medal of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2015). As Director of Research Strategy at IHME, he leads strategic planning for research across the Institute, developing integrated portfolios that present continued innovation in global public goods. Professor Hay continues to advance his ambitious goal of creating high spatial resolution maps for all diseases, risks, and injuries covered by the Global Burden of Disease study, with the potential to revolutionize public health decision-making worldwide within the next decade through technological advancements.
