James C. Setzer is an epidemiologist/health systems planner and manager with more than 25 years of experience successfully developing, leading and implementing projects promoting the availability and use of data and information to improve health services delivery, management and evaluation. He has led and managed projects to develop health information and surveillance systems in Namibia, Djibouti, DRC/Zaire, Niger, Ghana, Republic of Georgia, Kenya, Zambia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam.
He has extensive experience in the use of health data to improve program design, implementation and evaluation and has played a role in promoting the use of data analysis and interpretation for policy review and reform. Has also has extensive experience in the use of survey and analytic methods in the design, management and evaluation of primary health service delivery programs.
He has worked and collaborated extensively with multi- and bilateral donors, PEPFAR, PVOs and NGOs, governments and private foundations. He has managed multi-million dollar contracts and supervised staff in a variety of project team settings. He is a strong and articulate advocate for public health programs and services and their ability to act as tools to achieve social equity and justice objectives.
He has more than 10 years of capacity building and teaching experience at the graduate school level where he was recognized by both faculty peers and students. He was selected as the Professor of the Year in 2002 by students at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University and awarded the Thomas Sellers Faculty Award for Exemplifying the Ideals of Public Health at Emory University by his faculty peers in 1997.
From 2017-2018, he was the director of the Umatilla County Health Department in Umatilla County, Oregon, where was responsible for management and administration of the county’s $3.4 million per year health department budget and activities. As director, he was responsible for the delivery of 10 state-mandated programs and the county’s efforts with respect to public health modernization and accreditation.
Mr. Setzer currently serves as board member for the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation and Rural Equity Allies. He is also a member of GAVI’s Independent Review Committee.
Mr. Setzer has a BA from Haverford College and an MPH in epidemiology from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He is fluent in English and French and conversant in Lingala and Tshiluba.
