Omer named Cushing Professor of Medicine
Dr. Saad Omer, whose research focuses on the epidemiology of respiratory viruses, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and, more recently, COVID-19, was recently appointed the Harvey and Kate Cushing Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Yale School of Medicine.
Dr. Omer received his medical degree from Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan, and a Ph.D. in global disease epidemiology and control in 2007 from Johns Hopkins University, where he also earned an M.P.H. He subsequently began his academic career at Emory University and, in 2016, was appointed the William H. Foege Chair in Global Health. In 2019, he was recruited to Yale to serve as the inaugural director of the Yale Institute for Global Health and as a professor of medicine and of epidemiology. He is also associate dean of global health research at Yale School of Medicine and professor of epidemiology of microbial diseases at Yale School of Public Health.
In addition to leading clinical trials on vaccine efficacy for respiratory conditions, Omer has evaluated drug regimens to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV and conducted studies on interventions to increase immunization coverage and acceptance. His work spans the globe and has been cited in national and international policy recommendations, informing clinical practice and health legislation in several countries. He has received numerous honors and served on high-level advisory panels, including the U.S. National Vaccine Advisory Committee. In 2009, Omer was awarded the Maurice Hilleman Award by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Omer has also directly mentored more than 100 junior faculty, clinical and research post-doctoral fellows, and Ph.D. and other graduate students. He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Lancet, BMJ, Science, and Nature and has written op-eds for such publications as the New York Times, Politico, and the Washington Post.
