BERNHARD H. LIESE
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
CHAIR, International Health Department, School of Nursing & Health Studies, 08/03 TO PRESENT
Built to scale the undergraduate international health program. Started the east European
Scholars program. Created a department which provides a home for solid behavioral
research inter alia on HIV/AIDS. Focused the perspective of the department on health
and development. Became active on a variety of University wide related committees,
including the GU Globalization Steering Group. Helped in establishing the O’Neill
Institute for national and global health law.
DIRECTOR, International Health Department, School of Nursing & Health Studies, Professorial
Lecturer, 05/02 to 07/03.
Took over the newly established undergraduate international health program, the first in
the USA, and created a solid scientific foundation of course work for it , including
epidemiology , the research based international internship.
WORLD BANK
SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISOR, AFRICA REGION,
Communicable and Tropical Parasitic Diseases, HIV/AIDS, Malaria Booster Program
(Consultant), 05/02 to present.
SENIOR ADVISOR, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, AFRICA REGION,
Concomitant Senior Policy Advisor, Health, HIV and Development Programme,
for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 02/00 to 04/02.
Provided policy and operational advice on health issues in the Africa Region (WB).
Development, setting in motion of an innovative programs (UNDP) i.e. program to
involve African Mayors in the fight against HIV/AIDS (The Alliance of Mayors and
Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa). Continued overseeing UNDP/WB/WHO
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) and the two
Riverblindness programs (OCP and APOC). Manage Trust Fund for The Bill & Melinda
Gates Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program.
DIRECTOR, JOINT HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT WORLD BANK,
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF), 07/90-02/00.
Managed department serving about 14,000 staff. Transformed department to one at the
cutting edge of corporate Health Services. Introduced occupational health research
program, communication program, and integrated medical records/billing system.
Oversight and policy responsibility for medical insurance portfolio. Developed costcontainment strategy including new insurance options (PPO) and global health indemnity
insurance plan for country offices. Developed state-of-the-art corporate fitness program
with 4,300 members (the largest in the USA).
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Chaired Work Family Task Force, introduced Compressed Work Schedule, Family
Leave, and benefits for Domestic Partners. Analyzed institutional culture, introduced
stress program as part of the Bank’s Renewal Program and human resource reform.
Provided technical Bank oversight for the West African Onchocerciasis Control Program
(OCP), which virtually eliminated Riverblindness throughout much of West Africa. Also
facilitated the development and launching of the Central, East, and Southern African
Program (African Program for Onchocerciasis Control – APOC) in 1995. This program
currently supports 64 projects in 14 countries, treating 32 million people per annum.
Continued to represent the Bank in constituent bodies (UNDP/WB/WHO Special
Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR). Co-organized
ministerial meeting in Paris on “Sustainable Land Settlement in the OCP Areas of West
Africa.”
Represented the Bank at the Ministerial Conference on Malaria in Amsterdam in 1992
and prepared key background paper on new “epidemiological patterns of malaria.”
OPERATIONS ADVISOR AND PRINCIPAL TROPICAL-DISEASE SPECIALIST, 1985-1990.
Responsible for developing the Bank’s policies and operational programs in tropical and
water-related diseases. Managed international comparative study on Organization and
Management of Tropical Diseases. Represented the Bank on constituent bodies of
several WHO-executed multi-donor programs, UNDP/WB/WHO Special Programme for
Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), Onchocerciasis Control Program
(OCP), and Control of Diarrhea and Respiratory Infections (CDR). Maintained
continuing collaborative professional relationships with the executing agency WHO and
with the various multilateral and bilateral donors.
DEPUTY CHIEF, DEPARTMENT FOR POPULATION, HEALTH AND NUTRITION
PROJECTS, 1980-1984.
Responsible for the Bank’s Population, Health and Nutrition lending operations and
analytic work in East Asia, West Africa, and Latin America.
ASSISTANT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS
POLICY, 1976-1979.
Oversaw the evolution of Bank activities in the sector from small components in
urban/rural development-type operations to freestanding Health operations with broad
coverage of policy and institutional issues.
Developed and communicated initial sector approaches and lending policies for proposed
activities in public-health investment, including coordination of Bank-financed activities
with those of bilateral donors and nongovernmental organizations.
Represented the Bank at seminal Alma Ata Conference on Primary Health Care.
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FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH/YOUTH AND FAMILY AFFAIRS, FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF HEALTH POLICY, 1975-76.
Organized the newly established Bureau of Health Policy. Work directed to economic
analysis of health sector, with emphasis on possibilities for implementing regulatory
measures to help contain the rapidly increasing expenditures in the sector. Continuing
involvement with legislation governing the health sector and public relations with
organized medicine and with political parties.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH, CAMEROON
DIRECTOR, NURSING AND MIDWIFERY SCHOOL, BAMENDA, 1971-1975.
Managed Nursing and Midwifery School, offering training to paramedical and auxiliary
personnel (250 students), and providing both clinical and field training. Carried out
administrative and financial reorganization of the school and introduced new teaching
programs. Developed joint field training program for medical and paramedical students
with the University of Yaoundé, “Centre universitaire de sciences de santé (CUSS).” In
the capacity of Deputy Provincial Medical Officer, frequently acted for the Provincial
Medical Officer (Province: population of 1.3 million).
MARIEN-HOSPITAL, REGIONAL TRAUMA CENTER, EUSKIRCHEN, FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
RESIDENT IN SURGERY, 1969-1971
Responsible for male trauma section. Special Duties: Responsible for equipment
procurement for the new hospital and for the oversight of the nursing school.
EDUCATION
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M.P.H. (Health Services Mgt.), Harvard School of Public Health, 1976
D.Sc., Institute for Medical Parasitology, University of Bonn, Thesis in Malariology, 1971
M.D., University of Bonn, 1969
Abitur, Beethoven Gymnasium Bonn, 1961
FELLOWSHIPS, CONTINUING EDUCATION
Fellowship, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Public Health, 1976.
Management Training, Divisional Management Training Program, DMTP, World Bank,
1985/86.
Executive Development Program, World Bank.1996
ACADEMIC COMMITTEES
Georgetown University:
Member, Georgetown University Globalization Steering Group
Member, Presidential Initiative on China
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Member, Presidential Initiative on HIV
Member, Presidential Initiative on Global Health
Member, Presidential Initiative on Reflective Engagement/Public Scholarship
Member, International Committee
Member, Executive Vice President Medical Center Search Committee
Member, International Development Task Force, SFS
Member, PhD Global Infectious Diseases Advisory Board, Dept. of Microbiology &
Immunology
Member, Curriculum & Program Committee, NHS
Georgetown University Convocation, Faculty Speaker, 2003
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEES AND BOARDS
TDR Standing Committee
Chair, alternating 1984-2002
TDR Donors’ Conference
Chair 2001
OCP Donors’ Conference
Chair 1998-2000
CDR Meeting of Interested Parties
Chair 1988
OCP Committee of Sponsoring Agencies since 1980
Chairman 1983-86
APOC Committee of Sponsoring Agencies
since 1995
Gates LF Grant Review Committee (GGRC)
since 2001
Global Alliance for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GAELF) 2001 Santiago de
Compostella/Spain , Vice Chair
GAELF Board, Bank Representative
German Development Agency (GTZ) Special Advisory Board 2002- 2004
Bethel St. Elizabeth Foundation of America (Foundation for the Mentally Retarded)
Board Member
International Eye Foundation
Board Member
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Deutsche Tropenmedizinische Gesellschaft
American Society for Tropical Medicine
American College of Occupational Health
GUEST LECTURER
James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
Duke University, Business School, Durham, NC
Harvard School of Public Health, MA
GTZ, Summer Seminar, Eschborn, Germany
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
German, English, French, Portuguese.