Jim Litch, MD, DTMH

Dr. James A. Litch (jim.litch@gapps.org) is executive director and chief research officer of the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS). Dr. Litch’s work in global health began 30 years ago and he has lived and worked in both rural and urban settings in Africa and Asia in frontline positions that ranged from medical officer in remote district hospitals, to NGO program director, to senior advisor for the Ministry of Health. He has held scientific and technical positions with GAPPS, PATH, CDC, JHPIEGO, and faculty appointments at the University of Washington Department of Global Health, and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. At GAPPS, Dr. Litch is principle investigator for implementation science activities in Africa and Asia, the GAPPS international network of pregnancy, birth and infant data and bio-specimen repositories, the BMGF Preventing Preterm Birth (PPB) program, and the USAID Every Preemie – SCALE project. At PATH, Dr. Litch was the Senior Newborn, Child and Maternal Health Specialist, where he directed a broad portfolio of innovative implementation research, maternal/newborn/child health and technology projects, and was PATH's lead on the USAID BASICS child survival program. At JHPIEGO, he was senior advisor to the global flagship USAID Maternal Newborn Health Program and the USAID Training in Reproductive Health Program. He has been a consultant and a reviewer for the WHO, the USAID Maternal Child Survival Program, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other global health organizations. Dr. Litch leads the PTB/LBW Global Technical Working Group, frequently provides consultation to the WHO, and serves on several international task forces, committees, advisory councils, and journal editorial boards.