hepVoice Vol 34 March 2019 | Page 6

WHA announces new CEO and President-elect Cary James has been selected as WHA’s new CEO and will begin in April. Dr. Su Wang, who previously served as Executive Board Member for the PAHO region, has been appointed President-Elect. and successful campaigns and collaborated with numerous civil society organisations during his time as a member of the leadership team at the UK’s Terrence Higgins Trust. He has been a member of international advisory panels and expert groups on diagnostics, digital communications, health equality, HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis and sexual health. Cary brings decades of experience in public health programmes and health policy at the national and international levels. He is a recognised leader in putting patients and communities at the centre of policy and programmes. “Cary has a proven record of working closely with governmental and non-governmental organisations to tailor programmes to unique populations as well as high-level engagement with the WHO and UN, which are important skills in the work of the Alliance,” said Michael Ninburg, president of WHA. “I am excited for this opportunity to use my skills and experience to champion our members and people affected by viral hepatitis to make viral hepatitis elimination a reality,” Cary said. Cary has worked extensively in hepatitis and HIV response, having developed innovative “I am delighted to be passing on the torch to Cary who will be a great fit to the organisation and an exciting appointment to drive the Alliance forward,” added Raquel Peck, senior advisor and former CEO of World Hepatitis Alliance. New WHA CEO Cary James (left) with WHA President, Michael Ninburg, and new President-elect, Dr. Su Wang 6 hep Voice MARCH 2019 Dr. Su Wang has been appointed WHA President- Elect, having served on the executive board of the WHA since 2014 as a regional representative for the PAHO region. Su is an internal medicine physician who discovered she had hepatitis B after donating blood in college WHA President, Michael Ninburg, with new President-elect Dr. Su Wang and has used her own personal experience to advocate for the elimination of hepatitis. She worked for many years in New York City leading outreach and care programmes for hepatitis B patients, and now directs a number of hepatitis B and C programmes in her current role as Medical Director for the Center for Asian Health at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey. “Su has a long history of championing hepatitis B care in underserved populations and has been a strong advocate of expanding hepatitis B and C services to frontline providers. She is a well-respected leader in the field and has also been an integral part of developing our NOhep Medical Visionaries programme. She is also a good friend.” said Michael Ninburg. Dr. Wang added, “I am honoured to have this opportunity to serve as President and continue the great work of the Alliance in moving us towards elimination by 2030.” As President-Elect, she will shadow current President Michael Ninburg until January 2020, when she will take up the role of President. “I am thrilled with this next generation of leadership at the Alliance. We are well positioned for the next chapter in the race to eliminate viral hepatitis” said WHA President Michael Ninburg. Click here to find out more about WHA’s new CEO and President-Elect, and to watch Michael, Cary and Su discuss the new appointments. hep Voice MARCH 2019 7