KEYNOTE ADDRESS: What We've Learned About the Pandemic

Dr. Messonnier has first-hand insight from the most important chapter in the history of US public health. She led efforts including distribution, administration, education and partner engagement, safety and effectiveness evaluation and access for hard-to-reach populations with the goal of ensuring that a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine would be available to every American who wanted one.  She is now Executive Director for Pandemic Prevention and Health Systems at the Skoll Foundation.  She will discuss the current health care landscape, immunization hesitancy, and the future of public health.

Nancy Messonnier, M.D.
Former Director of the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases & Executive Director for Pandemic Prevention and Health Systems, the Skoll Foundation 

About Dr. Messonnier

Nancy Messonnier, M.D. is a world-class public health leader with deep expertise in tackling and preventing infectious disease by working through government alongside business and civil society. She is currently executive director for Pandemic Prevention and Health Systems at the Skoll Foundation. Dr. Messonnier is the former director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). She was the chief architect of the COVID-19 vaccine implementation program as well as CDC's Vaccinate with Confidence initiative which works with national organizations to strengthen public trust in vaccines and prevent vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.

In 2019, Dr. Messonnier directed NCIRD to activate a center-based response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was the chief architect of the COVID-19 vaccine implementation program, leading efforts including distribution, administration, education, and partner engagement, safety, and effectiveness evaluation and access for hard-to-reach populations with the goal of ensuring that a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine would be available to every American who wanted one.

In her current role as the executive Director for Pandemic Prevention and Health Systems at the Skoll Foundation she plans to continue effectively addressing the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, and focus on helping build out the global system needed to prevent another COVID-like pandemic in the future.

As a former Director of NCIRD, Nancy Messonnier has been a champion for the prevention of disease, disability, and death through immunization and control of vaccine-preventable diseases. Dr. Messonnier spearheaded CDC's Vaccinate with Confidence initiative which includes activities aimed at reaching communities with low flu vaccination rates or high likelihood of COVID complications such as African American and Hispanic communities.

Dr. Messonnier played a pivotal role in the successful public-private partnership to develop and implement a low cost vaccine to prevent epidemic meningococcal meningitis in Africa. More than 150 million people in the African Meningitis Belt have been vaccinated with MenAfriVac since 2010, with remarkable impact. Dr. Messonnier also has been a leader in CDC's preparedness and response to anthrax, including during the 2001 intentional anthrax release and in evaluating simplified schedules for use of licensed anthrax vaccine.

Her public health career began in 1995 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer and has held a number of leadership posts across CDC. She served as acting director for the Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR), deputy director for NCIRD, acting director of the Division of Global Health Protection in the Center for Global Health and Chief of the Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch in NCIRD.

Dr. Messonnier has written more than 140 articles and chapters and has received numerous awards. She received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania and MD from the University of Chicago School of Medicine and completed internal medicine residency training at the University of Pennsylvania.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Presenting Go from A to THE^®: Stop Being a Leader. Start Being THE Leader.

Ryan Avery is one of the most profound keynote speakers on strategic communication and leadership, and will bring RISE National attendees motivation and inspiration to be THE product, solution, & leader to follow. In the competitive, innovative, and fast-paced world we live in, it is no longer acceptable to offer A product, A solution, or even be A leader. The Emmy-award winning journalist, two-time best selling author, and world record holder will bring insights into how to become THE product, THE solution, and THE leader to follow.

Ryan Avery
Emmy-award winning journalist, two-time bestselling author and world record holder

About Ryan Avery

Ryan Avery is one of the most profound keynote speakers on strategic communications and leadership. At age 25, Ryan became the youngest World Champion of Public Speaking in history, competing against more than 30,000 contestants from 116 countries to claim the 2012 World Championship for Toastmasters International.

As an Emmy-award winning journalist, two-time best selling author and world record holder, Ryan has delivered more than 500+ keynotes in 33 countries around the globe. Ryan currently lives in the United States with his family and is on the mission to show leaders how to Go From A to THE^® in their industry! Learn more at www.RyanAvery.com.