Helene Gayle

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT HELENE GAYLE

Helene D. Gayle is CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, the region\'s community foundation, connecting the generosity of donors with community needs to improve metropolitan Chicago. Prior to The Chicago Community Trust, Dr. Gayle was CEO at McKinsey Social Initiative, a nonprofit organization that implements programs that bring together varied stakeholders to address complex global social challenges. Previously, she was president and CEO of CARE USA, a leading international humanitarian organization. An expert on global development, humanitarian, and health issues, she spent 20 years with the Centers for Disease Control, working primarily on HIV/AIDS. Dr. Gayle then worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, directing programs on HIV/AIDS and other global health issues. Dr. Gayle serves on public company and non-profit boards including: The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the New America Foundation, the ONE Campaign, and the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she serves on the President\'s Commission on White House Fellowships. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Public Health Association, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.Named one of Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women,” she has authored numerous articles on global and domestic public health issues, poverty alleviation, gender equality, and social justice.Dr. Gayle was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. She earned a B.A. in psychology at Barnard College, an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University. She has received 13 honorary degrees and holds faculty appointments at the University of Washington and Emory University.