Leslie D. Mancuso, who has dedicated her career to improving health outcomes for underserved populations and who in more than two decades as president and CEO of Jhpiego has overseen a period of tremendous growth and impact, has decided to retire from her role at the Johns Hopkins University-affiliated global health nonprofit effective July 1, university leaders announced today.
Image caption: Leslie Mancuso
Since her arrival in 2002, Mancuso has helped transform Jhpiego from a niche reproductive health organization into one of the world's most respected global health entities. Today, Jhpiego reaches more than one billion people in 50 countries through 150 programs spanning maternal, newborn, and child health; family planning; infectious diseases; strengthening health systems; primary health care; global health security; humanitarian assistance; and women's cancers.
"Leslie's tenure at Jhpiego has been marked by an ability to mobilize people around a shared vision of equitable, accessible health care," JHU President Ron Daniels and Provost Ray Jayawardhana wrote in a message to the Hopkins community today.
"Her commitment to dignified, high-quality care has helped hundreds of millions of women, children, and families thrive—ensuring safe deliveries; protection from diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria; and better-equipped health systems."
As a nurse specializing in neonatal and pediatric intensive care and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Mancuso recognized the vital role frontline and community health workers play in delivering quality care. At Jhpiego, she helped elevate local voices in health care decision-making, transitioning Jhpiego's U.S.-based model to one centered in the countries it serves. Jhpiego's workforce has grown twenty-fold during Mancuso's tenure, with most staff now from and based in the countries they serve, fostering greater cultural understanding and relevance while empowering local leaders and health professionals to drive sustainable change.
Under her leadership, Jhpiego has:
- Implemented global programs supporting nursing and midwifery organizations, advocating for their inclusion in health system decision-making.
- Championed the creation of Afghanistan's first midwifery association and expanded training programs, introducing innovative tools that have left a lasting impact on the global health workforce.
- Forged partnerships that produced lifesaving resources, including the Managing Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth guide, now translated into more than 100 languages.
- Championed impactful solutions like self-injectable contraceptives, HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening, and digital health technology to ensure continuous HIV care.
- Spearheaded the use of uterotonics—drugs that prevent postpartum hemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal deaths.
- Spearheaded the development of toolkits and training programs addressing gender disparities in global health leadership, gender norms, and sexual harassment.
"It has been the honor of my lifetime to lead Jhpiego, working alongside some of the world's most passionate and dedicated experts to save lives and create lasting change," Mancuso wrote in a message to the Jhpiego community. "Together, we've made childbirth safer, empowered communities to thrive in the face of HIV, malaria, and other devastating diseases, and led the charge against women's cancers. Our global efforts have strengthened health systems in ways that will benefit generations to come. I believe the best is still ahead for Jhpiego, and I am eager to watch this incredible organization continue to improve health and change lives around the world."
Information on a search for Mancuso's successor will be shared in the coming weeks, Daniels and Jayawardhana wrote.
"Leslie has built a legacy rooted in her dedication to expanding access to lifesaving care and innovation in global health," they wrote. "Leslie has led Jhpiego with integrity, innovation, and compassion, leaving behind a more resilient organization and laying a strong foundation for the next chapter of Jhpiego's critical work across the global health landscape."
