Health Scholar Showcase 2022

Dr. Paula Olsiewski, Contributing Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

Dr. Paula Olsiewski is a Contributing Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. She is a pioneering leader in policy and scientific research programs in the microbiology and chemistry of indoor environments.

During her two decades at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, she led innovative and multidisciplinary programs that inspired, accelerated, and produced lasting impact. Her expertise in partnering with academic, governmental, and for-profit stakeholders fostered innovation and built research capacity through the creation of diverse stakeholder networks. Her accomplishments include the creation and direction of the microbiology of the built environment, chemistry of indoor environments, and biosecurity programs.

Dr. Olsiewski is recognized as a leading expert in biosecurity and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is Chair of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Homeland Security Research Subcommittee and is a member of the EPA Board of Scientific Counselors Executive Committee. She is also a member of the NTI|bio Working Group for Biosecurity Innovation and Risk Reduction Initiative and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in chemistry.

Dr. Olsiewski’s acumen in board governance, recruitment and development, and fundraising has helped both scientific and philanthropic organizations improve their operational efficacy and programmatic outcomes. Early in her career, Dr. Olsiewski was Vice President of Product Development at Enzo Biochem and President of Neo/Tech Corp. She is an active board member of the Critical Path Institute, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the drug development and regulatory process. She is also Vice Chair of the Spondylitis Association of America and was board chair of Asphalt Green—a not-for-profit organization in New York that encourages a lifetime of participation in sports and fitness.

Dr. Olsiewski received a PhD in biological chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). As an alumna, she was a member of the MIT Corporation and President of the MIT Alumni Association, earning her the association’s top honor: the Bronze Beaver award. Dr. Olsiewski was a member of MIT’s Initiative for Faculty Race and Diversity Advisory Committee and is an advocate for diversity and ongoing supporter of MIT's Women in Chemistry. She also received a BS in chemistry, cum laude, from Yale.

Victoria Ford, President & CEO of The Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute (THBI)

Victoria Ford has over 29 years of Texas public policy and administration experience.  In her most recent role as Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Ford managed over 2,200 employees across five divisions which were responsible for regulating health care facilities, streamlining business processes and programs, enhancing data and analytics, and more. During her tenure at the agency, she also held the Acting Chief Operating Officer role twice, providing operational support to more than 38,000 employees.

She spent nearly 12 years as a Government Affairs advisor for K&L Gates a worldwide law firm helping fortune 500 corporations in the health care and other economic sectors, small businesses and non-profit organizations in navigating the executive and legislative branches in Texas.  

In addition, Victoria served in other key roles in the health and human services policy arena world.  During her tenure in the office of Governor Rick Perry, Ford held various roles related to health and human services policy including Senior Advisor.  She also worked on other policy areas as Deputy Legislative director including tax policy and economic development issues.  Ford also worked as Legislative Director for members in both the Texas House of Representatives and Texas State Senate.

Ford holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from UT San Antonio and a Master of Public Administration. She has held several leadership and advisory roles at esteemed organizations such as the Child Advocacy Centers Association of Texas and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.