Dr. Syra Madad

Syra Madad, DHSC, MSc, MCP, CHEP is an epidemiologist and a well-recognized leader in public health, specializing in infectious diseases and special pathogens preparedness and response. She currently serves as the Senior Director of the System-wide Special Pathogens Program at New York City Health + Hospitals, where she oversees special pathogen preparedness and response efforts across 11 acute care hospitals, as well as post-acute/long-term care facilities and ambulatory care sites. Additionally, she is the Chief Biopreparedness Officer at the same institution and a Principal Investigator at NYC Health + Hospitals Center for Global Healthcare Preparedness to Special Pathogens.

Madad is actively involved in several national health security and preparedness programs. She serves as Core Faculty at the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC), funded by the CDC and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). She is also an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Biotechnology/Biodefense Program at the University of Maryland, and a Fellow at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Center for Health Security’s Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Program. Her affiliations include serving as a Senior Fellow in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Informatics & Technological Enterprise Studies Program.

Her work and insights have been widely recognized and featured in the media. Madad has been featured in leading documentaries, including the Emmy-nominated 2020 Netflix docuseries "Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak" and the 2021 Discovery documentary "The Vaccine: Conquering COVID." In addition to these media appearances, she has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and frequently shares her expertise on major media outlets. Her notable awards include the J.V. Irons Award for Scientific Excellence by the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Ebola Response Team Appreciation Award by the Commissioner, and a 2022 Citation by NY State Nassau County Executives for her significant contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Madad continues to play a crucial role in enhancing national and global health security and preparedness against infectious disease threats.