Maria Van Kerkhove
WHO Technical Lead | Global Health Security & Pandemic Response
About
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove is the COVID-19 Technical Lead at the World Health Organization.
She has over 15 years of experience in emerging infectious disease epidemiology, including leading WHO's Ebola response in West Africa. Van Kerkhove holds a PhD in Infectious Disease Epidemiology from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.
Her expertise in global health security and pandemic preparedness has made her a trusted advisor to world leaders and a sought-after keynote speaker. Audiences gain critical insights from Van Kerkhove on navigating complex health crises and building more resilient global systems.
Talks1
How to end the pandemic -- and prepare for the next
We will get out of this pandemic, says Maria Van Kerkhove, the COVID-19 Technical Lead of the World Health Organization (WHO). The question is how fast -- and if we'll take what we've learned from the past two years and apply it to the next emerging pathogen. In conversation with TED current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers, Van Kerkhove provides insights on the Omicron variant, details a pandemic preparedness protocol under development at WHO and shares what we all can do to bring the pandemic to a speedy end. "Remain vigilant," Van Kerkhove says. "Everything you do ... will either get us closer to ending this pandemic -- or it will prolong it." (This conversation was recorded on December 3, 2021.)
At a Glance
Is this you?
Claim this profile to edit your bio, add talks, and get verified.
Know a talk we're missing?
Get in Touch
Save for Later
Frequently Appeared With
Speakers who have appeared at the same events
Aarathi Krishnan
Digital Ethics Advocate | Ethical Framework Development for Humanitarian Technology
1 shared event · TEDWomen
Agnes Binagwaho
Vice Provost, University of Global Health Equity | Transforming Healthcare in Rwanda
1 shared event · TEDWomen
Angie Murimirwa
CAMFED Executive | Empowering Girls' Education in Africa
1 shared event · TEDWomen
Angélique Parisot-Potter
TEDx Speaker | Health Futurist & Biotech Entrepreneur
1 shared event · TEDWomen
Anna Malaika Tubbs
Author and advocate | Champion for mothers and maternal equity
1 shared event · TEDWomen
Candace Parker
Three-time WNBA Champion and first overall draft pick | Sports broadcaster and advocate
1 shared event · TEDWomen
Caroline Casey
Inclusion Pioneer | TED Speaker Transforming Global Business Diversity
1 shared event · TEDWomen
Cecilia Aragon
Aerobatic Pilot | Inspiring Stories of Overcoming Adversity
1 shared event · TEDWomen
Similar Speakers
Speakers with related expertise
Soka Moses
| Ebola survivor and crisis advocate
Fredros Okumu
Malaria Researcher | Protecting Global Health Through Innovation
Kathy Mendias
Global Health Innovator | Designing Accessible Solutions
Dr. Sudip Bose
Emergency medicine physician | CNN Hero and Iraq War veteran pioneering trauma care