Jay K. Varma, MD, is the Senior Advisor to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jay develops strategy and supports implementation of Africa CDC’s programs in surveillance, emergency preparedness and response, information systems, laboratory systems, and workforce development.

From 2011-2017, Jay served as the Deputy Commissioner for Disease Control at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. He directed the public health laboratory and all infectious disease control programs for New York City, including HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, vaccine-preventable diseases, and general communicable diseases. His Division was one of the largest in the Department, employing more than 1,100 staff, managing more than $350 million, and operating 17 clinical facilities. He led New York City to achieve record lows in HIV and TB incidence and record highs in childhood immunization coverage, built new programs for hepatitis C, STDs, HIV, Legionnaires’ Disease, advanced molecular diagnosis, and data management, and served as incident commander for nine city-wide emergencies.

After graduating magna cum laude with highest honors from Harvard, Jay completed medical school, internal medicine residency, and chief residency at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. In 2001, he joined CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, working on foodborne diseases. From 2003-2008, he served in Bangkok, Thailand, directing CDC’s TB programs and research in Southeast Asia. From 2008-2011, he served in Beijing, China, directing CDC’s International Emerging Infections Program which assisted the Chinese government on infectious diseases.

He has authored over 120 scientific manuscripts, six essays, and one book. A captain in the United States Public Health Service, he has been recognized as the United States Public Health Service Physician Researcher of the Year in 2010 and Physician Leader of the Year in  2017. He has received the two highest awards in the U.S. Public Health Service the Distinguished Service Medal in 2011 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 2018.