RJ Simonds, MD

Vice President, Program Innovation and Policy

Dr. RJ Simonds oversees EGPAF’s work in global technical policy, knowledge management, dissemination of innovations, technical leadership, and exchange of best practices. Prior to joining EGPAF, he spent 20 years as a medical epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its domestic and global AIDS programs, with a special focus on HIV prevention, care, and treatment of children. Most recently, Dr. Simonds served as deputy director for CDC's Global AIDS Program and as a deputy principal for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); he also assisted with the early development of the Global Health Initiative in 2009. Dr. Simonds received a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of California at Berkeley, earned a medical degree from the University of Hawaii, completed a pediatrics residency at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and trained in CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. In 2010 he was honored as a finalist for a Service to America Medal, an award celebrating federal employees for public service.