Alex Azar

Alex Azar is the former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. He was the architect of Operation Warp Speed, which delivered COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics in record time.

Azar now serves as an advisor to Foresite Capital; as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami Herbert Business School; and as a trustee of the Aspen Institute, the American Task Force On Lebanon’s Policy Advisory Board, the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Future of Health Care Advisory Group, the advisory board of the National Institute for Healthcare Management Foundation, and the Healthcare Leadership Council.

A graduate of Dartmouth College and Yale University, Azar's academic focus on economics and government laid the foundation for his career in both the public and private sectors. His early years in the Department of Health and Human Services, serving as General Counsel and then as Deputy Secretary from 2001 to 2007, marked the beginnings of his significant contributions to healthcare.

In his role as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Azar played a key role in various initiatives aimed at enhancing department operations, improving emergency preparedness and response capabilities, and successfully rolling out the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. These experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of the complexities of healthcare systems, and the potential challenges and opportunities that lie within them.

After leaving the public sector, Azar embarked on a career at Eli Lilly and Co, where he served as senior vice president for corporate affairs and communications, and later as president of Lilly USA LLC. His time in the private sector further broadened his perspectives and expertise in healthcare, providing him with invaluable insights into the intersection of healthcare and business.