We have some very exciting news to share with our readers! We are pleased to announce that Dr. Neeraj Mistry has accepted the opportunity of serving as the Managing Director of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases. Dr. Mistry will focus his talents on advocacy and resource mobilization efforts, creatively bringing likeminded groups and individuals together for the common purpose of controlling and eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

A South African national and public health physician, Dr. Mistry is experienced in global health policy and programming having worked in both developing and developed countries, the public and private sectors in clinical practice, health policy and social development. In the past year, he provided consulting services to international organizations including WHO, DFID and The Global Fund, prior to which he was a senior vice president in APCO Worldwide’s Washington DC office.

From 2001 to 2008, Dr. Mistry worked at the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (GBC) as a founding employee and vice president of knowledge, evaluation and performance where he led technical assistance to companies. In addition to technical assistance, Dr. Mistry provided substantive and strategic input to GBC’s regional offices and departments. He developed the Business AIDS Methodology (BAM™) and Best Practice AIDS Standard (BPAS™) and conceptualized and led GBC’s work on co-investment and public/private partnerships with PEPFAR and The Global Fund, where he also supports the technical review panel. Following the completion of his medical training at the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr. Mistry focused on HIV/AIDS, occupational health, family practice and sexual and reproductive health. Dr. Mistry also worked at the National Health Service (NHS) in London and in Merck & Co. Inc.’s public affairs for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

He also holds a Master’s degree in health policy and economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is currently reading for a Masters in Liberal Arts at Johns Hopkins.

We are looking forward to working with Dr. Mistry, and excited to see how his broad experience and background will strengthen the Global Network. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Mistry as he brings his energy and skills to the task of carrying out the Global Network’s important mission.