Dr. Sachiko Ozawa is an internationally recognized global health economist and Associate Professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Her research focuses on evaluating the economic impact of vaccines and medication access, with a mission to improve health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries through equitable, evidence-based strategies. At UNC, she leads the Global Health Economics for Pharmacy (GHEP) lab, where she works at the intersection of pharmacy, public health, and policy.

Prior to UNC, Dr. Ozawa held research positions at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she earned her Ph.D. and MHS in International Health. Her work has supported decision-making at leading global health organizations such as the World Health Organization, Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance), UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dr. Ozawa has published extensively on topics including vaccine hesitancy, economic returns on immunization programs, and health system financing. She is a core member of Gavi’s Vaccine Economics Expert Group and the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Risk Communication and Community Engagement. Her work continues to influence how international organizations invest in and evaluate immunization and medicine delivery programs.

MAI Foundation is uplifted through her strategic insights in medication access, public health investment, and health systems strengthening. Her commitment to health equity, evidence-based reform, and policy translation makes her an invaluable asset in MAI Foundation’s global work to expand access to quality healthcare.