Dr. Rose Blackburne is an experienced healthcare and global life science executive, she currently serves as Vice President, Global Head of Population Science Strategies and Women’s Health at Thermo Fisher Scientific. She is passionate about Women’s Health, Health Equity and developing platforms to improve access to quality care and optimal health outcomes and is a leading voice and expert in Health Equity, Women’s Health Policy and Increasing Diverse Representation in Clinical Trials. She is a globally recognized leader in medical product development and has been instrumental in numerous approvals for pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical devices and diagnostic tests. She has three decades of clinical leadership expertise in large health care systems and global clinical development in biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Dr. Blackburne is board certified physician with over 25 years of experience in Health Care. She was a practicing physician and Principal Investigator for clinical trials prior to her career in the Contract Research Organization (CRO) industry. Dr. Blackburne has over 20 years of Clinical Research & Development experience and has held numerous Global leadership positions in across therapeutic areas in Ph I-IV programs. She has broad therapeutic expertise and has been instrumental in the approvals of several pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical devices, and diagnostic tests. She leverages her medical, scientific and regulatory strategic insights to drive approvals for small, midsize and large biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Blackburne has been widely recognized for her medical and scientific expertise and contributions to advancing health equity, thought leadership, and organizational excellence: The 2025 United States Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award (signed by President Joseph Biden) in recognition of volunteerism and over 8000 lifetime hours of community service and advocacy; NAACP W. Montague Cobb National Award for Excellence and Leadership in Health Equity – Acknowledging her impactful initiatives in reducing health disparities, fostering inclusivity in clinical trials, and championing equitable healthcare practices; Thermo Fisher Scientific Lifetime Achievement Award – celebrating her extraordinary commitment to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s mission and values through leadership, advocacy, and service, particularly in advancing Global Business Resource Groups (BRG) and amplifying diversity and inclusion; Top Blacks in Healthcare by BlackDoctors.org – Highlighting her standing as a global thought leader in health equity and Women’s Health; Morehouse School of Medicine National Alumni Association, Recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award- awarded for fulfillment to the Morehouse School of Medicine’s mission through leadership, community service and clinical excellence Dr. Blackburne received her medical degree at the Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, and completed an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Columbia University/Harlem Hospital Center in New York, is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia, studied Health Policy and Health Care Delivery at Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, and her B.A. at University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Blackburne resides in the metro Washington, DC area with her husband, Michael A. Covington.