Dr. Nikki Romanik is a Distinguished Senior Fellow in Global Health Security at Brown University School of Public Health. She most recently served as the Special Assistant to the President, Deputy Director, and Chief of Staff for the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OPPR) at the White House. In this role, she led the recruitment and establishment of the inaugural office, driving key initiatives to enhance national preparedness and response to outbreaks, pandemics, and other biological threats.
With over 15 years of experience at the forefront of national and international public health initiatives, Dr. Romanik has consistently delivered impactful results. Her career has been dedicated to mitigating biological threats, strengthening pandemic preparedness, and ensuring global resilience in the face of public health crises. While serving at the White House, she was instrumental in spearheading the U.S. government’s response to multiple biological threats, including both clade Ia and clade IIb mpox outbreaks, the Marburg Virus Disease outbreak, and the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. As a senior policy architect, she designed and implemented strategies that contributed to a 99% reduction in mpox cases and mobilized resources to ensure equitable vaccine distribution and accessibility for at-risk communities.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Romanik established the CDC’s Partnership Team within the COVID-19 Incident Management System and activated the CDC Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. As a trusted senior advisor, she served as the CDC Liaison to the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and later provided critical counsel as the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the U.S. Government’s COVID-19 Test-to-Treat Program. Her comprehensive expertise spans early detection and response, vaccine distribution, health equity, and stakeholder engagement. One of Dr. Romanik’s defining strengths is her ability to translate scientific knowledge into actionable policy.
A seasoned policy and partnership strategist, Dr. Romanik has a proven track record of cultivating robust collaborations with the private sector and key stakeholders. During her tenure at CDC’s Office of the Director, she was pivotal in establishing and strengthening public–private partnerships, emphasizing the importance of engaging all of society including community based organizations, associations, non-profit organizations, state and local public health, government leadership and civil society organizations when navigating complex crises in challenging political and social environments.
Dr. Romanik’s unique blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and dedicated leadership continues to drive significant advancements in public health, underscoring her commitment to safeguarding communities and improving health outcomes worldwide. Dr. Nikki Romanik remains at the cutting edge of pandemic preparedness and biosecurity, driving forward-thinking strategies that bridge science, policy, and public health. Her leadership continues to influence the future of global health security, ensuring that nations, organizations, and communities are better equipped to respond to the challenges of tomorrow.
