Richard Besser is president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Previously, he was acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and chief health and medical editor at ABC News. An advocate for healthy communities and economic inclusion, Besser emphasizes the importance of accountable public health systems and racial justice. He played a significant role in prioritizing health equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besser is a National Academy of Medicine member and serves on multiple boards, including Howard University's board of trustees. He volunteered as a pediatrician for over 30 years in community clinics across the country and has been recognized with the Surgeon General's Medallion for his public health contributions.
Previously
Structural racism, reflected in uneven access to care, inequitable community conditions, and the wealth gap, drives persisting racial disparities in health. Unconscionable dif...
Improved housing offers a tremendous opportunity to boost health. Some of the links between substandard housing and poor health are obvious, if alarming – pests and mold promo...
Racial segregation and uneven access to opportunity are powerful obstacles to upward mobility in the US, contributing significantly to health inequities, as well as to gaps in...
Richard Besser recently assumed the role of president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and...
Seth Berkley, the CEO of GAVI, talks about the importance of vaccines in addressing global health challenges, the role of public-private partnerships in tackling inequities, a...
Recent scientific research has shown that the human brain develops almost from conception to perform basic biological and cognitive functions, process emotions and memories, t...