John W. Ward MD

Dr. John W. Ward is a Senior Scientist at the US CDC assigned to The Task Force for Global Health where he is guiding development of the Program for Viral Hepatitis Elimination. Over a 13-year tenure as Director, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Dr. Ward was responsible for viral hepatitis surveillance, prevention, and research. At the national level, Dr. Ward led the development of recommendations for hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing and linkage to care. Dr. Ward authored the first national action plan for viral hepatitis prevention in the US and initiated development of the National Academies strategy for hepatitis B and hepatitis C elimination and the first hepatitis C elimination programs. Globally, Dr. Ward serves as an expert consultant to the World Health Organization advising Western Pacific Regional Office strategies for reducing the prevalence of hepatitis B to less than 1% among children. Dr. Ward has authored over 150 publications of scientific work in viral hepatitis and HIV, served as Editor of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and also as Editor of Silent Victories, a history of public health in the 20th Century published in 2007 by Oxford University Press. Dr. Ward is a Professor in the Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta.