Did serendipity play a part in your career path?

Yes. I had no experience with international companies when I started at Merck as a company historian and archivist. It was a leap in the dark but also the opportunity to learn. From my initial role I was able to move into working with science policy. If I had pursued a master's degree in public health right after college, I'm not sure I would have been able to have as much impact.

What is the biggest challenge you face at the Global Health Council?

There are relatively few questions in global health for which we don't already have answers. We know how to prevent HIV transmission from mother to infant and what the appropriate treatments are for malaria. The real challenge is making sure that the people who know the answers are brought together with those who can implement them. Our goal is to organize the diverse expertise from all corners of the global-health communities.

What career accomplishment are you most proud of?

The role I had in helping millions of people get access to essential medicines. At Merck, we developed a programme that enabled hundreds of thousands of people in Africa and other parts of the developing world to obtain access to life-saving HIV medicines. We also had a programme to help 100 million people each year get free treatment to prevent river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.

What is the secret to your success?

I listen to people. It's no more complicated than that. If you want to solve a given problem, seek out experts and community members, listen carefully to what motivates them and what resources they need. Then find ways to establish common ground and bring together complementary skills. You don't have to agree on everything with your partners, but you can work towards a common goal if it is mutually beneficial.

Where do you find inspiration?

By getting out in the field and seeing health-care providers on the front lines of global health. It is amazing to watch people providing health care in refugee camps in the middle of nowhere with just basic materials, a shoestring budget and a lot of heart. The commitment and passion of these front-line workers — and the hope they bring — is deeply inspiring.

Have current global-health efforts made an impact?

Yes. The attention and resources flowing from global-health communities are creating tremendous excitement. We hope that the prevention of maternal–fetal HIV transmission will soon increase from 33% to 80% once the necessary resources are put in place.