Ritu Sadana, MS ‘87

Dr. Ritu Sadana is a global leader in public health who has shaped the World Health Organization’s (WHO) strategies on ageing, equity and the life course. She currently leads WHO’s efforts to align services and systems to optimize health and well-being at every stage of life.  She is lead author of the WHO Framework to Implement a Life Course Approach in Practice – a forward looking initiative that bridges child, adolescent, adult and older people’s health to improve health trajectories and reduce inequalities. As Head of Ageing and Health at WHO, Dr. Sadana spearheaded the first WHO Global Strategy on Ageing and Health, conceived the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030—endorsed by the UN General Assembly—and led development of the Decade of Healthy Ageing: Baseline Report, documenting strategies to accelerate country-level progress.  

She led the Secretariat for WHO’s Council on the Economics of Health for All and coordinated a WHA resolution on aligning economies with health and well-being.  Earlier in her career, Dr. Sadana led a multi-disciplinary research team in Cambodia and contributed to the foundational Global Burden of Disease Study, led WHO’s research on the social determinants of health and advanced equity-focused research policy. Her 30-year career reflects a deep, sustained commitment to science-driven policy and health for all. 

Dr. Sadana is a double Bruin with a BA in History and an MS in Public Health from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and a Doctor of Science from Harvard University with training in economics and epidemiology, she brings analytical depth to strategic global work.