Kayla Laserson

Today we’re marching for change with Kayla F. Laserson, a mother, daughter, sister, and global health leader whose work has helped shape how the world understands, tracks, and responds to disease.

Kayla is currently a Principal Officer of Surveillance and Epidemiology at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she leads efforts to design forward-looking, integrated surveillance systems across global health—building the infrastructure needed to better detect, respond to, and ultimately prevent disease at scale.

With more than 25 years of leadership across institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kayla has worked across the U.S., India, Kenya, and beyond—guiding global strategies in infectious disease control, immunization, and pandemic preparedness. She has overseen complex, multi-country initiatives, supported governments in strengthening health systems, and helped translate scientific evidence into policy and action.

Her work sits at the intersection of science, systems, and collaboration—bringing together data, partnerships, and real-world implementation to improve health outcomes globally.

Listen to Kayla’s inspiring story.