Kathy Talkington

Director, Health Programs, The Pew Charitable Trusts

Kathy Talkington oversees teams of policy experts, scientists, and advocates for Pew’s work on public health issues, including the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the need for new antibiotics and safe drugs, health care products, and food. She also oversees the Health Impact Project, a partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and represents Pew as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.

Before joining Pew, Talkington managed immunization and infectious disease programs for the Association of State and Territorial Health Offices, where she developed policies on hospital-acquired infections, antimicrobial resistance, and issues related to immunization. Previously, she led strategic initiatives and programs on a wide range of health care issues for numerous nonprofit advocacy organizations and state and federal policymakers.

She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Texas, Austin.