Global Health Catalyst appoints Adriana Sanford to lead partnerships and experiential learning

Global Health Catalyst has named Adriana Sanford, J.D., Dual LL.M., as executive director for global strategic partnerships, corporate engagement and experiential learning for a three-year term. The appointment comes after the 2026 GHC Summit at Harvard and MIT and is aimed at expanding corporate, academic and philanthropic ties in global health.

Why it matters: - Global Health Catalyst is adding a senior leader focused on partnerships, philanthropy and student-facing global health experiences. - The role is designed to help GHC broaden its reach across academia, business and donor networks. - Sanford’s background in law, compliance and international education fits GHC’s emphasis on global collaboration and responsible innovation.

What happened: - Global Health Catalyst appointed Adriana Sanford, J.D., Dual LL.M., as Executive Director, Global Strategic Partnerships, Corporate Engagement & Experiential Learning. - The appointment is for a three-year term. - The new role follows the 2026 GHC Summit at Harvard and MIT. - Sanford will work to strengthen GHC’s corporate, academic and philanthropic partnerships. - Sanford will also expand experiential learning opportunities in global health.

The details: - GHC says its mission is to advance international collaboration in cancer care, advocacy, research and education. - GHC’s summits began at Harvard in 2015 under Prof. Wilfred Ngwa. - The summits have expanded to MIT, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh. - The work has been supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. - GHC reports $180 million catalyzed for collaborative cancer research since 2015. - GHC says more than 10,000 trainees have gone through Global Oncology University. - GHC’s initiatives include the AI-powered Comprehensive Cancer/CARE Center in the Cloud, or C4. - Sanford teaches at the College of Business at The University of Texas at Arlington and serves on the faculty at the University of San Diego School of Law. - Sanford’s professional background includes roles as Latin America Regional Counsel and U.S. Commercial Counsel for General Electric and as a senior analyst for CNN en Español. - Sanford serves in leadership roles within the American Bar Association’s International Law Section. - Sanford previously served as Acting Director of Executive Education at the University of Oklahoma’s Gene Rainbolt Graduate School of Business. - Sanford has also held academic appointments at Arizona State University, Georgetown Law, the Universidad de Talca in Chile and Claremont Graduate University. - Sanford holds a J.D. from Notre Dame Law School and a dual LL.M. from Georgetown Law. - Sanford is fluent in four languages and has taught more than 8,500 students across three continents.

Between the lines: - GHC is pairing health-sector convening with a leader who has deep experience in compliance, governance and cross-border education. - The appointment suggests GHC wants more structured ties between research, philanthropy and private-sector engagement. - Sanford’s track record with international student programs points to a larger push around experiential learning, not just fundraising. - The organization is also positioning global health work alongside AI governance and responsible innovation, not as separate tracks.

What's next: - Sanford will help guide GHC’s next phase of partnerships after the 2026 summit cycle. - The GHC–Inspire2Live Collegiate Fellows program will continue building on Sanford’s model of mentorship, service and international engagement. - The Fellows program includes participation in the GHC Summit. - Sanford also chairs the GHC-Inspire2Live Global Golf Fundraising Initiative. - The initiative brings together philanthropic and business leaders around global health, AI governance and responsible innovation. - GHC acknowledged IBA and Flavocure Biotech for supporting the 2026 GHC Summit.

The bottom line: - GHC is betting that Sanford can turn convening power into deeper partnerships, more philanthropy and more real-world training for the next generation of global health leaders.