Gary Cohen is a social entrepreneur and intrapreneur who founded and led global impact initiatives and enterprises in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. As a result of his leadership influence and collaborative engagement, global immunization programs are safer for children, health workers are better protected from life-threatening occupational injuries, health systems capacity is stronger in low-resource countries, national governments are working to stop sexual violence against children, diverse stakeholders are mobilizing to combat antimicrobial resistance, and innovation is advancing to reduce the burden of maternal and newborn mortality.
Gary presently serves as co-founder and CEO of Maternal Newborn Health Innovations (MNHI), a Public Benefit Corporation focused on innovating to reducing maternal and newborn mortality. In 2023, MNHI will commercialize its first medical device, Odon Assist™, designed to assist delivery of newborns in circumstances of prolonged, troublesome labor during the second stage of childbirth. Approximately 25% of newborn mortality, 50% of stillbirths, and 15% of maternal mortality occur during childbirth.
Gary also serves as chair of the Corporate/CDC Roundtable on Global Health Threats, board chair and founder of Together for Girls, board co-chair of GBCHealth, and board director of UNICEF USA and the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children. He is also the founder of the Rutgers Institute for Corporate Social Innovation and the Antimicrobial Resistance Fighter Coalition, and serves as a strategic adviser to AeroFarms.
Gary previously served as Executive Vice President, Global Health and President of the BD Foundation at BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), and prior to this served as EVP of International Operations and EVP and President of the Medical Device Segment of BD, where he had responsibility for approximately half of the company’s global operations. He also previously served as a UN Commissioner on Life Saving Commodities for Women and Children, as board chair and director of the CDC Foundation, as a member of the UN Secretary General’s Network of Engaged Men Leaders, as board director of the Accordia Global Health Foundation, and on the Scientific Advisory Board of Grand Challenges Canada.
Gary is a recognized expert in applying business sector skills in collaboration with the public and nonprofit sectors to advance progress on challenging global health and social problems. He has served as an expert speaker and advocate in venues including the United Nations, Vatican, World Bank, World Health Assembly, U.S. Department of State and World Economic Forum-Davos. He holds B.A. and an M.B.A. degrees from Rutgers University and previously served on the University’s board of trustees. In 2016, he was named a Rutgers 250 Fellow in association with the university’s 250th anniversary. Gary and the organizations he founded have received awards and honors from numerous organizations.