Rose Blackburne, MD, MBA

Dr. Rose Blackburne is an experienced healthcare and global life science executive, she currently serves as Vice President, Head of Population Science Strategy & Women’s Health at Thermo Fisher Scientific. She is a leading voice in Women’s Health, and inclusive clinical research strategies, harnessing the power of AI, digital innovation, and data-driven insights to reimagine clinical trial design and improve patient outcomes. Through pioneering initiatives that expand diverse representation, enhance patient access, and optimize care delivery, Dr. Blackburne is advancing a more equitable and effective healthcare ecosystem. 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. Dr. Blackburne has three decades of clinical leadership expertise in large health care systems and global clinical development in biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. She is board certified in obstetrics & gynecology and 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 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; NAACP W. Montague Cobb National Award for Excellence and Leadership in Health Equity; Thermo Fisher Scientific Lifetime Achievement Award; Top Blacks in Healthcare by BlackDoctors.org ; Morehouse School of Medicine National Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Blackburne received her Doctor of Medicine 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.