Kelly Saldaña Appointed to Lead ISPOR Institute
Lawrenceville, NJ, USA—January 13, 2026—ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research announced today that Kelly Saldaña has been appointed as executive director for the ISPOR Institute for Healthcare Transformation. The newly launched ISPOR Institute is an organic extension of ISPOR that bridges the gap between health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) and real-world application to further elevate the relevance, use, and impact of HEOR.
Ms Saldaña joins ISPOR with more than 2 decades of leadership experience in shaping health systems and public health policy across international development, government, and private sectors. Most recently she was vice president of global health at Abt Global, a mission-driven consulting and research firm working to improve the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. Previously she had a 19-year career at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), most recently as director of USAID’s Office of Health Systems, managing a global $1 billion portfolio dedicated to advancing primary care, equity, and health system resilience.
“We are very excited to have Kelly on board to lead the ISPOR Institute for Healthcare Transformation,” stated ISPOR CEO, Rob Abbott. “Her strong experience and expertise will help establish and grow the Institute and its impact toward ISPOR’s vision of a world where healthcare is accessible, effective, efficient, and affordable for all.”
“I am honored to lead the ISPOR Institute for Healthcare Transformation at such a critical time for global healthcare,” stated Ms Saldaña. “ISPOR’s worldwide community brings together deep experience across science, policy, and practice, and I look forward to drawing on that collective strength to help countries around strengthen health systems through evidence-based decision making.“
Additional information on the ISPOR Institute for Healthcare Transformation can be found here. Additional information on the field of HEOR can be found on the Society’s HEOR Explained website.
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ABOUT ISPOR
ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), is an international, multistakeholder, nonprofit dedicated to advancing HEOR excellence to improve decision making for health globally. The Society is the leading source for scientific conferences, peer-reviewed and MEDLINE®-indexed publications, good practices guidance, education, collaboration, and tools/resources in the field.
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