Americares Names Gabriela Salvador SVP of Global Operations
Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization, is pleased to announce the promotion of Gabriela Salvador, MD, MPH, to senior vice president of global operations. In this elevated role, Dr. Salvador directs the administrative operations of Americares field teams, overseeing all policies and procedures to ensure efficient, compliant and effective global operations. Her responsibilities also include oversight of global safety and security, facilities management and compliance.
“Dr. Salvador is a talented leader who brings unparalleled experience to her new role as senior vice president of global operations,” said Americares President and CEO Christine Squires. “She has played a pivotal role in the rapid growth and success of our Latin America and Caribbean programs and we are excited for the contributions she will continue to make to take Americares to the next level.”
Dr. Salvador, a physician, brings to Americares nearly 25 years of experience working in the public and private health sector including senior management positions within the global health and development field. She joined Americares in 2018 as director of Latin America and Caribbean programs, where she was responsible for designing, implementing and directing innovative health programs that increase access to medicine, medical supplies and health services for low-income populations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Americares provided $134 million in aid to the region last year, including 2.8 million prescriptions and 8 million medical supplies, and continued to expand health programs at the Americares Family Clinic in El Salvador—Americares largest health facility providing nearly 80,000 patient consultations annually.
Prior to joining Americares, Dr. Salvador served as the senior director of health at the Grameen Foundation, where she provided leadership in the design and implementation of a global health strategy to connect women in poverty to essential financial and health services, while building empowering ecosystems. Prior to that, she served as the senior director of microfinance and health protection at Freedom from Hunger, where she led the development, implementation and evaluation of the microfinance and health protection program strategy for the organization. Dr. Salvador also served as the chief health and human development officer for Pro Mujer, where she led the operation of 100 health clinics throughout five countries in Latin America. Prior to joining Pro Mujer, Dr. Salvador was in private and public practice as a pediatric ophthalmologist in Mexico and Argentina.
“I am very grateful and excited for the opportunity to contribute to the growth of an organization as committed to serve those in most need and as impactful as Americares,” said Salvador.
Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster so they can reach their full potential. Americares helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; increase access to critical medicine and medical supplies; improve and expand clinical services; and prevent disease and promote good health. Americares carries out health programs in over 20 countries and has offices in Colombia, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Liberia, Malawi, the Philippines, Tanzania and the United States, including Puerto Rico.
Originally from Salta, Argentina, Dr. Salvador studied medicine at the National University of Córdoba and completed a surgical fellowship at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and the University of California, Irvine. She also earned a master’s degree in public health with a focus on health policy and management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Salvador currently serves on the Board of Advisors for Care 2 Communities (C2C) and Linked Foundation. She lives in Lexington, Mass., with her husband and youngest son.