Dr. Sylvia Trent-Adams

Dr. Sylvia Trent-Adams, President and CEO, Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), is a lifelong public servant who served for over 30 years in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS). Prior to joining IHI, Dr. Trent-Adams was president of The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, where she was previously executive vice president and chief strategy officer. Dr. Trent-Adams’ previous roles also included Deputy US Surgeon General, Acting US Surgeon General, and US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health. Prior to these roles, she was deputy associate administrator for the HIV/AIDS Bureau at the US Health Resources and Services Administration.

In these various leadership roles, Dr. Trent-Adams was responsible for health planning, directing health programs, policy and program development, and setting legislative and program priorities. At the HIV/AIDS Bureau, she managed the $2.3 billion Ryan White program, which funds medical care, treatment, referrals, and support services for uninsured and underserved people living with HIV. Dr. Trent-Adams was instrumental in the US response to a variety of health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid epidemic, an Indian Health Service public health emergency, the Flint, Michigan water crisis, the Zika virus response, and responses to hurricanes Irma, Harvey, and Maria.

Dr. Trent-Adams has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the International Red Cross Florence Nightingale Medal, a Distinguished Service Medal, and a Meritorious Service Medal for her role as Commanding Officer for the US response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2015. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hampton University, a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

• President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Before IHI, she was president of The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, and earlier its executive vice president and chief strategy officer.
• Served as Acting US Surgeon General and Deputy US Surgeon General. She was also Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health at the US Department of Health and Human Services, after more than 30 years in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
• Managed the $2.3 billion Ryan White program. As deputy associate administrator for the HIV/AIDS Bureau at the Health Resources and Services Administration, she oversaw funding for medical care, treatment, referrals, and support services for uninsured and underserved people living with HIV.
• Led the US response to major health crises. Her work included COVID-19, the opioid epidemic, an Indian Health Service public health emergency, the Flint water crisis, Zika, and hurricanes Irma, Harvey, and Maria. She was Commanding Officer for the US response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2015.
• Honored for nursing and public service. Awards include the International Red Cross Florence Nightingale Medal, a Distinguished Service Medal, and a Meritorious Service Medal. She earned a B.S.N. from Hampton University, an M.S. in nursing and health policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.