Rich Besser

As a pediatrician, Rich Besser's passion for improving children's health formed the foundation of a career committed to public health. A strong believer in the power of communication to inform health and health decisions, Rich spent eight years as ABC News' chief health and medical editor, where he reported on important local and global health stories for families across the nation. Prior to ABC News, Rich held a number of positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he notably led the agency's response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic as its acting director in 2009. Rich became President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in April. He is committed to building a comprehensive Culture of Health that provides everyone in America with the opportunity to live the healthiest life possible.