Healthcare Disparities and Social Determinants

Yvonne "Bonnie" Maldonado, daughter of Mexican immigrants and first in her family to attend college, has established herself as a preeminent leader in pediatric infectious diseases and global health at Stanford University School of Medicine. After completing her medical education at Stanford and training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, followed by service in the CDC's Epidemiology Intelligence Service where she earned the Alexander D. Langmuir Prize, she has built an extraordinary career spanning research, clinical care, and academic leadership. As the Taube Professor in Global Health and Infectious Diseases and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Diversity, she currently serves as Interim Chair of Stanford's Department of Medicine. Her groundbreaking research encompasses viral vaccine development, particularly focusing on improving oral polio vaccine effectiveness in developing nations, and preventing perinatal HIV transmission. Her work has been extensively funded by organizations including NIH, CDC, USAID, Gates Foundation, and WHO, while her academic contributions include over 250 peer-reviewed articles and co-editing the authoritative "Red Book" for pediatric infectious diseases. Recently elected to the National Academy of Medicine, her contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic included leading epidemiologic studies on household transmission and serving as lead investigator for Pfizer's pediatric vaccine trials. Her dedication to advancing health equity is evident through her work on precision medicine tools for underserved populations and her leadership in Stanford's diversity initiatives, making her a transformative figure in global health and infectious disease research.