This year, ASTMH launched a Mid-Career Leaders Program, a one-year cohort dedicated to professional and leadership development for mid-career members. The pilot cohort includes 15 members from around the globe who are leading advancements in the field. They are receiving leadership support through professional growth opportunities such as career exchange, peer network expansion, leadership workshops and mini-mentorship. The program is chaired by Koya C. Allen, PhD, MS, MSPH, FASTMH, a past ASTMH Board member.
Insaf Bel Hadj Ali, PhD
I am a molecular biologist focused on developing molecular diagnostics to improve infectious diseases detection. I mentor young scientists and supervise students, with a strong commitment to building local research capacity. My goal is to advance public health while empowering the next generation of skilled researchers.
What does being a leader mean to you?
For me, being a leader is a mindset rather than a title or position. It means being a team-oriented person who leads with transparency, honesty, humility and strong communication. True leadership is about inspiring trust and creating a space where everyone feels valued and empowered.
Gabe Hamer, PhD
I am a professor in the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, and my research broadly investigates the ecology of infectious diseases of humans, wild animals and domestic animals, with particular attention to those transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks and kissing bugs. I also develop and evaluate vector control approaches aimed at reducing human and animal disease. I am a Subject Editor for the
Journal of Medical Entomology and past Chair of an ASTMH subgroup, the American Committee of Medical Entomology (ACME).
What does being a leader mean to you?
To me, being a leader means to foster a positive and productive environment that creates more strength in a collective team than anything possible as an individual. Leadership needs to cater to each individual of a team and evolve with changing objectives and challenges.
Rafael Elias Marques, MSc, PhD
I'm a researcher working on fundamental questions about arthropod-borne viruses, especially those affecting populations in Latin American countries. I'm a Senior Leading Researcher at CNPEM, in Brazil, where I contribute not only to research in high biological containment but also the implementation of Project Orion — a laboratory complex that will house the first BSL4 Laboratory in South America. My background is in Virology and Immunology, and I'm particularly inclined to take an interdisciplinary research approach to address unmet medical needs.
What does being a leader mean to you?
Being a leader means motivating people, promoting their professional growth and building a cohesive team. A leader establishes a mission and goals and provides the foundations and tools for the team to work and succeed. A leader must allow and tune individual independence, collaborative efforts and creativity in a team. Effective leadership becomes evident when the team appreciates working together, understands the value of their collective work and recognizes their progress.
Eric Ndombi, B.ED(Sc), MSc, PhD
I’m an educator and infectious disease professional committed to tackling the public health challenges disproportionately affecting populations in developing countries. My research focuses on drug resistance, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and associated co-morbidities. Equally passionate about capacity building, I mentor emerging scientists and work to bridge critical skills gaps in medical research and clinical practice across resource-limited settings.
What does being a leader mean to you?
Being a leader, to me, means providing an enabling environment for team members to thrive and be productive. It is about fostering empathy, collaboration and motivation to attain shared goals and creating impact for both individuals and the organization.
Lemonge Norbert, MD, MSc, MBA, DTMH, PMDPro
I’m a global health professional working at the intersection of data, strategy, digitization and implementation, with a focus on malaria surveillance and community health systems. I currently serve as a technical advisor with CHAI, supporting governments to strengthen evidence-based decision-making. My background is in clinical medicine, public health policy and field epidemiology, and I’m passionate about designing solutions that are as practical as they are impactful.
What does being a leader mean to you?
To me, being a leader means enabling others to succeed by creating clarity, fostering trust and removing barriers. It’s about staying grounded in purpose while adapting to change and complexity. Leadership is less about being at the front and more about ensuring the team moves forward, together, deliberately, and with impact.
Matt Robinson, PhD
I lead the Molecular Bacteriology team and theme lead for Rickettsial Infections at the Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU) in Vientiane, Laos, specializing in diagnostics, zoonotic infections and One Health. Whilst my background was originally marine biology, I developed interests in parasitology, eventually moving into the field of molecular microbiology and infectious diseases. I have been working in Laos for the last nine years, focusing on infectious disease research with particular impact on low-resource settings and LMICs.
What does being a leader mean to you?
For me, being a leader in academia is as much about supporting and allowing members of my lab team to develop as it is about managing and running a research group and projects. In some cases, individuals in my team may not have had the same opportunities that I have had whilst developing my career, so I see it as my responsibility to make sure they can reach their potential and get the academic and international attention they deserve. With them succeeding as individuals, the team succeeds, and we can lead in impactful and ethical research.
Simone Sandiford, PhD
I am a vector-borne diseases researcher with a background in molecular entomology and pharmacology. My research is focused on understanding and controlling medically important vectors, particularly mosquitoes. Currently, I am a lecturer at The University of the West Indies in Jamaica and I am passionate about reviving entomology-focused research here.
What does being a leader mean to you?
To me, being a leader means having the confidence to guide others and the humility to listen and learn from those around you. It also means making decisions and owning them regardless of the outcome while never losing sight of the big picture.
Laura Steinhardt, PhD, MPH
I’m an epidemiologist working in global public health, with a focus on evaluating new and existing interventions for malaria control, especially chemoprevention and case management approaches. I currently work at the Malaria Branch in the U.S. CDC. My background is in health systems, and I am passionate about child health and how we can improve access to primary care and life-saving interventions for the most vulnerable populations.
What does being a leader mean to you?
For me, being a leader means striving to lead by example, even during uncertain times, and not being afraid to speak up for others who might not be in a position to do so. It means building thoughtful, inclusive communities that help set others up for success toward achieving a clearly articulated common goal.