Dean Charles B. Holmes
Dr. Charles B. Holmes is dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health and professor of Epidemiology. A physician-scientist and global health leader, he has more than two decades of experience spanning academia, government and international development.
Holmes’ work focuses on infectious diseases, health policy, implementation science and strengthening equitable health systems. He leads a multi-institutional research group that partners with governments to strengthen health systems and use innovation to increase public health impact. As principal investigator on numerous large-scale studies and trials, he has helped advance new products and systems innovations across Africa, connecting scientific evidence with national policy and practice.
His leadership approach emphasizes collaboration, humility and trust, with a focus on translating rigorous science into practical, equitable public health solutions. As dean, Holmes aims to build on Michigan Public Health’s culture of interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen connections between research and real-world impact, and prepare students to lead in a rapidly changing field.
Holmes also serves as senior advisor to the CEO of the Gates Medical Research Institute, where he guides strategies to accelerate equitable access to new medicines and vaccines.
Before joining Michigan, Holmes was professor of Medicine and director of the Center for Innovation in Global Health at Georgetown University. He previously served as CEO of the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), where he led a staff of approximately 1,000 and helped guide the organization’s transition to a locally governed institution. During his tenure, the organization secured more than $150 million in new funding, expanded its research and health services across Zambia, and strengthened opportunities to train future health leaders.
Earlier in his career, Holmes served as chief medical officer and deputy US global AIDS coordinator for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—the largest global health initiative devoted to a single disease. In that role, he helped lead program strategy, established the Office of Research and Science, and launched a $100 million implementation science fund to accelerate the translation of evidence into policy and practice across more than 40 countries.
He also served on the Biden-Harris Transition Agency Review Team for International Development, supporting the presidential transition for several federal agencies, including the US Agency for International Development and Peace Corps.
Holmes is a Michigan Public Health alumnus, where he earned an MPH in Epidemiology and International Health. He earned his MD with distinction in biomedical research from Wayne State University and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Kalamazoo College. He completed his training in internal medicine and infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.