Dr John W. Ward

Dr Ward directs the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination providing a community of practice for partners in over 90 countries to share lessons learned, participate in operational research and advocate for hepatitis prevention and care services. Globally, Dr Ward advises hepatitis elimination planning of Africa CDC, PAHO, WHO Geneva, WHO Western Pacific and other regional offices. 

For more than 40 countries, Dr Ward provides timely reports on the progress toward hepatitis B and hepatitis C elimination. Dr Ward launched the Center for Operational Research on hepatitis B (COR-HEPB) to develop feasible models of HBV care for low-middle income countries. At the United Nations, Dr Ward serves as the Secretariat for a coalition of more than 60 Member States promoting hepatitis elimination.

Over a 13-year tenure, as director of the the CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis, a WHO collaborating center, Dr Ward revised policies for hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination, hepatitis B and hepatitis C screening. Dr Ward led investigations of the national HCV epidemic related to increases in injection drug use. He authored the first national action plan for viral hepatitis.

Earlier, Dr Ward conducted epidemiologic studies of HIV/AIDS and directed national HIV/AIDS surveillance. Dr Ward has authored over 200 scientific publications of viral hepatitis and HIV. For 6 years, Dr Ward served as Editor of the CDC MMWR. Dr Ward received his MD and Internal Medicine training (board certified) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and training in public health as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, CDC.