Ashish Kumar Jha graduated from Boonton High School in Boonton, New Jersey and received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1997. He then trained as a resident in internal medicine at the University of California.
New Delhi: Dr Ashish Jha is a practising physician and has been serving as the Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health since 2020. Now, he will be the White House's next Covid-19 Response Coordinator. Jha replaces Jeffrey D Zients, who will leave the administration next month.
"As we enter a new moment in the pandemic — executing on my National Covid-19 Preparedness Plan and managing the ongoing risks from Covid — Dr Jha is the perfect person for the job," President Biden's statement on Jha's appointment read.
The statement added, "I appreciate both Jeff and Dr Jha for working closely to ensure a smooth transition, and I look forward to continued progress in the months ahead."
According to a statement released by Brown University, Dr Jha is "a globally recognized expert on pandemic preparedness and response as well as on health policy research and practice".
Ashish Kumar Jha was born in Pursaulia, Madhubani, Bihar, on December 31, 1970. His family moved to Toronto, Canada, in 1979 and the United States in 1983.
Jha graduated from Boonton High School in Boonton, New Jersey and received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1997. He then trained as a resident in internal medicine at the University of California.
"I am honoured to accept President Biden's invitation and do so confident that the School of Public Health will advance around critical issues including pandemic preparedness and key initiatives we have launched to improve understanding and policy in key public health issues," Dr Jha said in a statement.
