Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
1 week ago
United States Dr. Marty Makary is a distinguished surgeon, professor, and author known for his impactful contributions to healthcare reform, surgical safety, and public health policy.
Makary founded the Johns Hopkins Center for Surgical Trials and Outcomes Research and co-developed a surgical safety checklist used in medical procedures, including pioneering advanced laparoscopic procedures like the first laparoscopic Whipple and Frey's procedures at Johns Hopkins.
Dr. Makary partnered with Nava Benefits on its benefits offering aimed at small-to-midsize companies, with a focus on driving increased value and transparency in healthcare.
Makary worked with the World Health Organization to develop the official World Health Organization Surgical Checklist, a program implemented to enhance surgical safety globally.
Makary was named Editor-in-Chief of MedPage Today in 2020, an online medical news service serving healthcare professionals.
Makary received a grant to study obesity treatment and another grant to implement safety programs at 100 U.S. hospitals. He collaborated on this project with Peter Pronovost and the American College of Surgeons.
Makary served as Executive Director of Improving Wisely, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project aimed at lowering healthcare costs.
Martin Adel Makary was born in Liverpool, England, and later moved to the United States as a child. He received a B.A. from Bucknell University in 1993, an M.P.H. from Harvard University in 1998, and an M.D. from Thomas Jefferson University in 1998. He completed his surgical residency at Georgetown University, followed by sub-specialty training in surgical oncology and gastrointestinal surgery at Johns Hopkins. After training, he joined John Cameron’s faculty practice at Johns Hopkins, focusing on preventing surgical complications and improving safety.
At Johns Hopkins, Makary took on several leadership roles, including Mark Ravitch Chair in Gastrointestinal Surgery, Director of Quality and Safety for Surgery, and chief of Islet Transplant Surgery. He pioneered advanced laparoscopic procedures, performing the first laparoscopic Whipple and Frey’s procedures at Johns Hopkins. Collaborating with the World Health Organization, he co-developed “The Surgery Checklist,” which significantly improved surgical safety. His advocacy for transparent pricing and reform in drug pricing stemmed from his research on healthcare costs and medical practices. In 2018, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, recognizing his extensive contributions to medical science and public health.
Makary’s career progressed to significant national influence when he was nominated by President-Elect Donald Trump in November 2024 to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as its commissioner. He was confirmed by the United States Senate in March 2025, becoming the 27th Commissioner of Food and Drugs. In this role, he has prioritized modernizing regulatory processes, including launching AI-assisted review tools and integrating anecdotal evidence into food safety decisions, aiming to streamline and re-evaluate medical practices and policies.
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