Barbara Ann DeBuono, M.D., M.P.H. Appointed President and CEO of ORBIS International

ORBIS International is pleased to announce the appointment of Barbara DeBuono, M.D., M.P.H., as its new President and CEO. ORBIS International is a global health organisation that prevents and treats blindness by providing quality eye care that transforms the lives of millions of families throughout the developing world.

ORBIS works with local partners in developing countries to build their capacity through an integrated programme approach. Since its first programme in 1982, ORBIS has carried out more than 1,000 programmes in 88 countries, enhanced the skills of more than 288,000 eye health care personnel and helped establish services that have provided quality eye care treatment to more than 15 million people. ORBIS operates the world’s only Flying Eye Hospital, a state-of-the-art surgical and training facility housed inside of a DC-10 aircraft. The ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital has become an international icon and focal point for ORBIS’s education and advocacy programmes.

“On behalf of the Board and staff of ORBIS International, we are delighted with Dr. Barbara DeBuono’s appointment. With Barbara’s global leadership, ORBIS is well positioned to significantly expand our programmes and outreach in preventing and treating avoidable blindness in the developing world”, said Mr. Robert F. Walters, chairman of the ORBIS International Board of Directors. 

Dr. DeBuono is a renowned expert in public health innovation, health policy, education and research. In her new role as President and CEO of ORBIS International, Dr. DeBuono will develop the organisation’s future vision and strategy and provide leadership of ORBIS’s programmes, aircraft operations, fundraising, communications and marketing.

“Barbara’s leadership and unique skill set make her an ideal leader for the organisation as ORBIS enters its fourth decade of treating avoidable blindness. The entire organisation joins me in welcoming Barbara and is excited to work with her to further our programmatic initiatives and operational goals”, said Jack McHale, interim President and CEO of ORBIS for the past twenty-two months.

Dr. DeBuono comes to ORBIS from Porter Novelli, where she served as Chief Medical Officer and Global Director of Public Health and Social Marketing. She spent over eight years as the Executive Director, Public Health and Government at Pfizer Inc. Previously, she served as Chief Executive, New York Presbyterian Healthcare Network and Executive Vice President of the New York Presbyterian Healthcare System.

Barbara was the Commissioner of Health for the State of New York in the first term of Governor Pataki, having previously served as Director of Health in Rhode Island in the cabinet of Governor Bruce Sundlun. She was a senior consultant to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In May 2005, the CDC Foundation honoured Dr. DeBuono as one of five Public Health Heroes nationwide as they celebrated their 10th anniversary. Dr. DeBuono is a board- certified internist and Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Dr. DeBuono received her B.A. from the University of Rochester and her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. She received her Masters in Public Health from the Harvard University School of Public Health.

Please contact Krishani Ranaweera, PR and Communications Manager, ORBIS EMEA for more information; kranaweera@orbis.org.uk or 020 7608 7273