November 25, 2025
The One Health Trust (OHT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Susan Fitzpatrick, a distinguished professor and philanthropic leader, as the One Health Trust’s Board Chair. Dr. Fitzpatrick recently retired as President of the James S. McDonnell Foundation in St. Louis, Missouri and has had a long career as the executive director of multiple health foundations and as an adjunct associate professor of Neuroscience and Occupational Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Fitzpatrick is succeeding Professor Anil Deolalikar, who has provided outstanding leadership as Chair of the OHT Board for the past eight years.
OHT’s Founder and President, Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan, said, “We are grateful to Dr. Deolalikar for his able steering of the board since 2018. During his tenure, the organization has grown and sprouted branches in India and Africa. We look forward to Dr. Fitzpatrick’s leadership to take this organization to new horizons.”
Dr. Deolalikar commented, “Over the past eight years as Chair of the Board of the One Health Trust, I have witnessed a remarkable transformation to a broader and more integrated vision. During this time, the board itself has undergone a near-complete renewal, bringing in a dynamic group of new members. One of the most striking developments has been the near completion of OHT’s new campus at Nimai Valley — an ambitious milestone none of us could have imagined when I began this journey.
Most significantly, OHT has evolved from a fledgling initiative into a globally recognized, professionally managed think tank at the forefront of public health. Its impact was especially evident during the COVID-19 crisis, when OHT swiftly launched the OxygenForIndia initiative in 2021 to address the devastating oxygen shortage in hospitals and health centers across the country.
It has been deeply rewarding to contribute to OHT’s growth and maturation during my tenure. I’m especially pleased that Dr. Susan Fitzpatrick will be stepping in as the next Chair. With her distinguished background in philanthropic leadership across science and medicine, she is exceptionally well-positioned to guide OHT into its next chapter of global impact.”
Building on the remarkable progress achieved under Dr. Deolalikar’s leadership, the One Health Trust team is energized by the promise of this next chapter and looks forward to the vision and guidance Dr. Fitzpatrick will bring.
Dr. Fitzpatrick said, “I am so grateful to the One Health Trust for granting me the opportunity to serve as the next chair of the board. It is humbling to accept the torch from the extraordinarily capable hands of Dr. Anil Deolalikar, whose nimble leadership and inspired vision successfully steered OHT through a challenging decade. Together with OHT President Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan, Anil has positioned OHT for a future of unprecedented opportunity to continue its contributions to global health challenges. With the opening of the new campus in India, Nimai Valley, OHT will have a unique facility for advancing much needed research and fostering the necessary collaborations. I look forward to working with my fellow board members to help OHT secure the resources it needs to achieve its goals.”
Learn more about OHT’s Board of Directors here.
