November 13, 2024

CONTACT:
Heena Patel, Director of Strategic Communications, O’Neill Institute
hp498@georgetown.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. — November 13, 2024 — The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, a leading health policy think tank in the world, today announced that Katie Gottschalk will step down as executive director of the O’Neill Institute in Spring 2025, after leading the organization through a transformative period of growth and innovation. 

“It has been an honor to lead the O’Neill Institute and work alongside such a talented and passionate group of people who are committed to championing effective health policies and improving lives around the world.” – Katie Gottschalk

“It has been an honor to lead the O’Neill Institute and work alongside such a talented and passionate group of people who are committed to championing effective health policies and improving lives around the world,” said Gottschalk. “Together, we’ve built an organization that I’ve been immensely proud to call my home—a community that embodies the power of shared values and commitment. I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished and look forward to seeing the O’Neill Institute’s continued impact in the years ahead.”

“Katie has successfully guided the O’Neill Institute through critical milestones, always keeping our mission and values at the forefront,” – Professor Michele Bratcher Goodwin

“Katie has successfully guided the O’Neill Institute through critical milestones, always keeping our mission and values at the forefront,” said Professor Michele Bratcher Goodwin, Georgetown University O’Neill Professor of Constitutional Law and Global Health Policy and co-faculty director of the O’Neill Institute. “As the O’Neill Institute embarks on its next great chapter, we are deeply grateful for her vision and leadership and wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”

Since joining the O’Neill Institute in 2016, Gottschalk’s resourceful and entrepreneurial leadership has established the O’Neill Institute as a top health policy think tank. Under her direction, the O’Neill Institute has expanded its influence and impact, including:

  • Financial Growth and Sustainability: Shepherded the O’Neill Institute’s financial health into a thriving $20 million organization, developing a diverse portfolio of nearly 55 projects with support from more than 30 funders
  • Endowment for Future Impact: Helping to secure a $10 million endowment to support vital initiatives, and launching the Center for Transformational Health Law in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Fostering a Collaborative Culture: Established a supportive, respectful, and excellence-driven organizational culture; expanding the staff to more than 70, including lawyers, public health experts, academics, and administrative specialists from 15 countries across five continents
  • Expansion of Priority Areas & Leadership in Flagship Projects: Identified and developed six new priority areas, recruiting globally respected leaders for eachProvided visionary leadership for major initiatives, including the Lancet-O’Neill Commission on Global Health Law, the O’Neill-Lancet Commission on Racism, Structural Discrimination, and Global Health Law, the forthcoming Nature Medicine Commission on Quality Health Information for All, and the O’Neill Institute’s role as a World Health Organization Collaborating Center

“Katie was instrumental in creating a nimble, agile, and thriving organization that is deeply rooted in a collaborative, rights-based approach to health and well-being for all.” – Professor Lawrence O. Gostin

“Katie was instrumental in creating a nimble, agile, and thriving organization that is deeply rooted in a collaborative, rights-based approach to health and well-being for all,” added Professor Lawrence O. Gostin, Georgetown University Distinguished University Professor and faculty director of the O’Neill Institute. “She leaves a legacy of growth and innovative initiatives that will continue to advance at the O’Neill Institute.”

The O’Neill Institute will soon launch a national search for a new executive director.

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About the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law
The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law housed at Georgetown University Law Center is a leading health policy think tank dedicated to using law to address pressing health challenges and shape a healthier, more just world. Established in 2007, the O’Neill Institute partners with governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and academic institutions to end pandemics, ensure human rights, and build the right to health around the world. For more information, visit us at oneillinstitute.org or follow at @oneillinstitute.