Judd Walson (Johns Hopkins University)

Targeting vulnerability; differentiating mortality risk to improve child survival

Despite remarkable reductions in child mortality globally, more than 5 million children continue to die annually. Most of these deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Current global recommendations targeting the care of ill children frequently target children based on the type of illness that they present with and do not adequately differentiate children according to their underlying level of mortality risk. Children at highest risk of mortality are often not recognized as such, and opportunities to reduce mortality risks are overlooked. Children at low risk of mortality are often provided with more intensive care than needed, further straining already overburdened health systems. Novel methods to risk differentiate children and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of management are needed to further impact child mortality in LMIC settings.

Speaker: Judd Walson

Dr. Walson is the Robert E. Black Chair, of the Department of International Health and a Professor of International Health and Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Walson has extensive experience conducting research to define approaches to improve childhood survival, growth, and development. In addition, he has experience with public health programming, policy development, product development and clinical practice. Dr. Walson has significant experience in strategic planning and analysis, having worked with many large organizations, industry partners and private foundations to inform evidence-based decisions and programming and he has served as a strategic and clinical consultant for industry and non-profit organizations. Dr. Walson also has managed and completed multiple large multi-country clinical trials and observational studies in collaboration with governments, industry, nongovernmental organizations and academic partners in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, including in Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, India, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Uganda. Dr. Walson is an inspirational leader who has effectively supervised large teams of professionals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.