Joan Sara Thomas is the Interim Deputy Country Director of the Vital Strategies Asia-Pacific Regional Office in Singapore, where she provides leadership and management oversight to Singapore-based staff implementing global programs across the region.
Joan is a versatile public health professional with 10 years of experience in the field of global health management and development in North and Central America, the Middle East and Asia. With a mandate focused on establishing the office in Singapore, Joan brings to this role a mix of management and program expertise. Her accomplishments include setting up Vital’s first Asia-Pacific Regional Office, strengthening and streamlining operational functions and efficiencies and building partnerships with national governments for public health improvement.
Before joining Vital Strategies, Joan worked with the School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore and served in various research and technical positions in the nonprofit and academic sectors around the world. Joan earned her Master of Public Health from Emory University and a bachelor’s degree from McGill University.