PROVIDENCE (September 2, 2026) — Mukesh Chawla, Ph.D., a leading global authority on health systems, health financing, and pandemic preparedness, is now a Senior Adviser to the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health, announced Jennifer Nuzzo, DrPH, the Director of the Pandemic Center.
“Dr. Chawla’s unparalleled experience over more than three decades advising governments and international partners makes him a significant asset to the Pandemic Center’s goal of strengthening global health resilience,” said Dr. Nuzzo. “His proven leadership in sustainable health financing and pandemic preparedness will be invaluable as we work to build stronger systems against future threats to global public health.”
Dr. Chawla said, “Building sustainable financing and resilient health systems is essential to confronting global biological threats.I am thrilled to join the Pandemic Center team to advance our shared commitment to strengthening global preparedness and protecting public health.”
Dr. Chawla worked for more than two decades at the World Bank, where he led major global initiatives on health systems and pandemic preparedness. Following his tenure at the Bank, he has continued to advise governments and international organizations on health security, including close collaboration with the governments of Indonesia and Thailand through the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) to enhance surveillance, response, and risk communication across Southeast Asia. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the United Nations Foundation and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Chawla played a leading role in supporting low- and middle-income countries in their response efforts. Working alongside the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Gavi, and multilateral development banks, Dr. Chawla helped facilitate COVID-19 vaccine deployment and expand access to essential personal protective equipment and critical care supplies.
Additionally, Dr. Chawla has been instrumental in advancing the global financing agenda for pandemic preparedness. He co-founded several international task forces to address the chronic underfinancing of preparedness, helped establish the Global Health Security Agenda’s Action Package on Sustainable Financing for Preparedness, and played a key role in developing the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility within the World Bank — the first mechanism designed to mobilize private capital for outbreak response.
As Senior Adviser to the Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health, Dr. Chawla’s expertise in global health economics will bolster the Center’s efforts to strengthen sustainable financing solutions and mitigate the impact of future health crises worldwide. He will advise on the Center’s ongoing work on pandemic financing and country-level preparedness, the economic impact of health security investments, and the use of AI to inform public health actions. Within the School of Public Health, Dr. Chawla will mentor students interested in health economics and global health security and deliver guest lectures in classes led by Pandemic Center faculty.