{{Short description|American epidemiologist}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Kayla Laserson | image = Kayla Laserson 2023.jpg | caption = Laserson in 2023 | fields = Infectious disease epidemiology | workplaces = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<br>Kenya Medical Research Institute<br>Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | alma_mater = Harvard University | module = {{Infobox military person |embed = yes |embed_title = Uniformed service |allegiance = United States |branch = PHS Commissioned Corps |service_years = until 2007 |rank = Commander |unit = |battles = |mawards = }} }}
'''Kayla F. Laserson''' is an American epidemiologist who served as the director of the Global Health Center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from July 2023 to April 2025. She was previously the deputy director for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Delivery, India Office of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Laserson served as a commander in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps until 2007.
== Life == Laserson earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard College and a Doctor of Science in infectious disease epidemiology from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-03 |title=Global Health Center (GHC) |url=https://www.cdc.gov/about/leadership/leaders/ghc.html |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |language=en-us}}{{PD-notice}}</ref> Her 1997 dissertation was titled, ''The dynamics of malaria infection and disease among the Venezuelan Yanomami Amerindians''.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Laserson |first=Kayla F. |title=The dynamics of malaria infection and disease among the Venezuelan Yanomami Amerindians |date=1997 |degree=Sc.D. |publisher=Harvard University |oclc=83156703}}</ref>
Laserson worked in the CDC's Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE), where she started her career as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer in DTBE's International Research and Program Branch in 1997 and later became the branch's deputy branch chief.<ref name=":0" /> She worked in Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Latvia, and Vietnam.<ref name=":0" /> Laserson served as a commander in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps until 2007.<ref name=":0" /> She was the director of the Kenya Medical Research Institute/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration in Kisumu from 2006 to 2013.<ref name=":0" /> As director, she managed a research platform in HIV, malaria, TB, emerging infectious diseases, demographic surveillance, and programmatic service delivery of HIV care, treatment, and prevention programs.<ref name=":0" />
Laserson was the CDC India Country Director and the CDC India Division of Global Health Protection program director for six years, based in Delhi.<ref name=":0" /> In these roles, she oversaw CDC's platform in India, provided technical assistance to support India's developing role in global health security, oversaw partnerships and collaborations with the government of India, and directed CDC's scientific strategy in India.<ref name=":0" /> She also served as the CDC resident advisor and helped build the India Epidemic Intelligence Service Program.<ref name=":0" />
Laserson served as the deputy director for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Delivery, India Office of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) where she focused on programmatic support to the government of India and partners on TB, neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and vaccine delivery.<ref name=":0" /> She also led the BMGF's COVID-19 response in India from 2020 to 2022.<ref name=":0" />
In July 2023, Laserson became director for the CDC Global Health Center (GHC) where she coordinated the agency's global efforts to protect and improve health through science, policy, partnership, and evidence-based public health action. Her tenure ended on April 1, 2025. <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2023 |title=People in global health news |url=https://www.fic.nih.gov:443/News/GlobalHealthMatters/march-april-2023/Pages/people-in-global-health-news.aspx |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=Fogarty International Center |language=en-US}}</ref>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Laserson, Kayla}} Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Harvard College alumni Category:Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health alumni Category:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention people Category:United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers Category:Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation people Category:21st-century American women scientists Category:American women epidemiologists Category:American epidemiologists