Victor Dzau, M.D.
Background
Victor Dzau served as president of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) from July 2014 through June 2026. In July 2026, Dr. Dzau returned to Duke University as James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Chancellor Emeritus for Health Affairs, and Director of the Mandel Center.
He previously served as Chancellor for Health Affairs at Duke University, President and CEO of the Duke University Health System, and Chairman of Medicine at Harvard and Stanford Universities. He is recognized globally for a highly decorated career as a physician-scientist and leader. His research laid the foundation for lifesaving drugs known as ACE inhibitors. He pioneered gene therapy for vascular disease and is now studying cardiac regeneration.
As a visionary healthcare leader, Dr. Dzau has set an inspiring example, developing initiatives to transform and improve healthcare locally and globally. Under Dr. Dzau’s leadership, the NAM advanced important initiatives such as the Commission on a Global Health Risk Framework, the International Human Gene Editing Initiative, Vital Directions for Health and Health Care, the Grand Challenge in Climate Change and Human Health, and the Action Collaborative on Translating Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health and Medicine.
An international leader, Dr. Dzau serves as Co-Chair of the G20 High-Level Independent Panel on Financing Pandemic Preparedness and Response, the Regional Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative, and the G7-initiated International Pandemic Preparedness Science and Technology Expert Panel, among other activities. He serves on WHO and World Bank’s Global Preparedness Monitoring Board and was Co-Chair of the G20 Scientific Panel on Global Health Security.
Dr. Dzau has deep governance experience with publicly traded companies, having previously served on the boards of directors of Alnylam, Genzyme, Medtronic, and PepsiCo.
Dr. Dzau has a B.S. in Biology and an M.D. from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.