Deborah Birx, M.D.
Woman of Interest
Deborah Birx, MD, Ambassador -at-Large*
Deborah L. Birx, M.D. is board certified in internal medicine, allergy and immunology, and diagnostic and clinical laboratory immunology. She received her medical degree from the Hershey School of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, and trained in internal medicine and basic and clinical immunology at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health. She serves as the U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy. For three-decades she has focused on HIV/AIDS immunology, vaccine research, and global health. She has aligned the U.S. Government’s diplomacy with foreign assistance programs that address global health challenges and accelerate progress towards infectious disease threats.
Dr. Birx’s career began with the Department of Defense (DoD) as a military-trained clinician in immunology. She focused on HIV/AIDS vaccine research. Dr. Birx’s served as an Assistant Chief of the Hospital Immunology Service at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, served as the Director of the U.S. Military HIV Research Program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and helped lead one of the most influential HIV vaccine trials in history. She rose to the rank of Colonel, bringing together the Navy, Army, and Air Force to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. Military’s HIV/AIDS efforts through inter- and intra-agency collaboration. During Dr. Birk’s tenure at DOD She was awarded two prestigious U.S. Meritorious Service Medals and the Legion of Merit Award for her groundbreaking research, leadership, and management skills.
Dr. Birx became the Director of CDC’s Division of Global HIV/AIDS, which is part of the agency’s Center for Global Health. She successfully led the implementation of CDC’s PEPFAR programs around the world and managed an annual budget of more than $1.5 billion. She was recognized for her distinguished and dedicated commitment to building local capacity and strengthening quality laboratory health services and systems in Africa. CDC honored her leadership in advancing the agency’s HIV/AIDS response with the highly prestigious William C. Watson, Jr. Medal of Excellence.
Ambassador Birx has been published in journals and scientific publications, as well as developed and patented vaccines. She is serving as the coronavirus response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
Info for this blog was from US Department of State
An ambassador-at-large is a diplomat of the highest rank or a minister who is accredited to represent his country internationally. Unlike an ambassador-in-residence who is usually limited to a country or embassy, the ambassador-at-large is entrusted to operate in several usually neighboring countries, a region or sometimes hold a seat in an international organization like the United Nations and the European Union. In some cases an ambassador-at-large may even be specifically assigned a role to advise and assist the state or a government in particular issues. Historically, presidents or prime ministers have designated special diplomatic envoys for specific assignments, primarily overseas but sometimes also within the country as an ambassador-at-large. Definitions.net