Sara Hersey is an infectious disease epidemiologist who has served in global public health leadership roles over the past two decades with the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Bank, and Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL).  Her professional experience spans more than 60 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean where she has led efforts in outbreak preparedness and response, infectious disease prevention and treatment, strategic planning, policy, financing and program management.

Sara joined the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) in 2023 on the leadership team that established the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin.   In this capacity she established flagship WHO Collaborative Surveillance initiatives including the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) and led external partnerships and networks.   In 2026, Sara joined the WHE Executive Director’s office in Geneva where she leads strategic partnerships, planning and financing for health emergency preparedness and response.

Previously, Sara was a senior advisor on health security and COVID-19 at the World Bank, seconded by RTSL.  Sara was the first US CDC Country Director in Sierra Leone, leading their Ebola response and establishing the Global Health Security Agenda program for the US Government.  She was also the US CDC Country Director in South Sudan through the 2013-14 civil war.   Sara has worked as an epidemiologist with the US CDC in Malawi and South Africa, with UNHCR responding to complex emergencies, and with FHI 360 in the Asia Pacific region.   Sara started her international career with the US Peace Corps in Malawi and her public health career with Planned Parenthood.