Richard Besser

President & CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Former Chief Health & Medical Editor for ABC News

Travels From Travels From:
New York, NY, USA
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Richard Besser Biography

Richard Besser is President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the largest private foundation in the country devoted solely to improving health. An advocate for healthy communities and economic inclusion, Dr. Besser emphasizes the importance of accountable public health systems and racial justice. He played a significant role in prioritizing health equity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before joining RWJF in April 2017, he was Chief Health and Medical Editor for ABC News, where he provided medical analysis and commentary for all ABC News broadcasts and platforms, including "World News Tonight with David Muir," "Good Morning America" and "Nightline." He also reported on the Zika outbreak in Brazil and Ebola in Liberia. In 2011, Dr. Besser led ABC's global health coverage, "Be the Change: Save a Life," reporting on health issues from seven different countries.

Dr. Besser came to ABC News from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he served as Acting Director from January to June 2009, during which time he led the CDC's response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic. He also served as Director of the Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response. In that role, he was responsible for all of the CDC's public health emergency preparedness and emergency response activities.

Dr. Besser began his career at the CDC in 1991 in the Epidemic Intelligence Service working on the epidemiology of food-borne diseases. Following this, beginning in 1993, he served for five years on the faculty of the University of California, San Diego as the pediatric residency director. While in San Diego, he worked for the county health department on the control of pediatric tuberculosis. He returned to the CDC in 1998, where he served in various capacities, including as epidemiology section chief in the Respiratory Diseases Branch; acting chief of the Meningitis and Special Pathogens Branch in the National Center for Infectious Disease; and as medical director of "Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work," the CDC's national campaign to promote appropriate antibiotic use in the community.

Dr. Besser is a National Academy of Medicine member and serves on multiple boards, including Howard University's board of trustees. He volunteered as a pediatrician for over 30 years in community clinics across the country and and was honored with the Surgeon General's Medallion for his significant contributions to public health. In 2011, he received the Dean's Medal from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in recognition of his impactful work in the field.

Dr. Besser received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Williams College and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a residency and chief residency in pediatrics at John Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/28/2024.

Richard Besser Speaking Topics

  • Children's Health & Wellness

  • Pandemics, Preparedness & Public Health

  • Promoting Health: A View from Both Sides of the Camera

Richard Besser Videos

  • Dr. Richard Besser - ABC News
    Llinsey Davis speaks with the former CDC acting director Dr. Richard Besser on the CDC’s updated mask guidelines for vaccinated people indoors as...
  • Richard Besser, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation CEO | Dean's ...
    Richard Besser, MD, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, spoke with Stanford Medicine Dean Lloyd Minor about the ...
  • Richard Besser* / Washington Ideas 2017 - YouTube
    Richard Besser, President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation With Martha Raddatz, Chief Global Affairs Correspondent, ABC News Produced by...

Richard Besser Books

  • Tell Me the Truth, Doctor: Easy-to-Understand Answers to Your Most Confusing and Critical Health Questions
    Tell Me the Truth, Doctor: Easy-to-Understand Answers to Your Most Confusing and Critical Health Questions

FAQs on booking Richard Besser

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    Speaking fees for Richard Besser, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Richard Besser are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Richard Besser, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Richard Besser speak about?

    Richard Besser is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Broadcasting, Creativity, Government, Health, Healthcare, Innovation, Journalism, Medicine, News & Media, Public Health, Technology, World Affairs.
  • Where does Richard Besser travel from?

    Richard Besser generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Richard Besser for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Richard Besser for your next private or corporate function.
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Richard Besser is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Children's Health & Wellness, Pandemics, Preparedness & Public Health and Promoting Health: A View from Both Sides of the Camera. The estimated speaking fee range to book Richard Besser for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Richard Besser generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are David Agus, Dr. Joel Selanikio, Toby Cosgrove, Dr. Francis Collins and Daniel Kraft, M.D.. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Richard Besser for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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