Patrice Matchaba
M.D.
Chief Executive Officer
As CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, Patrice Matchaba, M.D. leads Gates MRI’s research and development of novel products and interventions for diseases disproportionately impacting the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Patrice brings over 23 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry with expertise in drug development, global product registration, and market access, as he worked for Novartis Global Pharmaceuticals in the US and Switzerland. Prior to joining the institute, his most recent role was President of the Novartis US Foundation and Novartis Group Head of Global Health. He also led several therapeutic areas at Novartis, including Cardio-Renal, Immunology, Dermatology, Transplantation and Bone, as well as the transformation of the Global Drug Safety and Epidemiology organization. Before joining the Novartis Global Development organization in the US, he was the Chief Scientific Officer for Novartis South Africa.
Prior to joining Novartis, Patrice was a Senior Research Scientist at the Cochrane Centre based at the South African Medical Research Centre in Cape Town, which he joined after practicing as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Durban, South Africa. He also worked as a medical doctor in the mines of Botswana for three years.
Patrice was awarded a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) from the University of Stellenbosch for his contributions to Global Health. He did his residency on Obstetrics and Gynecology at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban, South Africa, and he was Board Certified as a Fellow of the College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FCOG – South Africa) where he was awarded the Daubenton Gold Medal as the best Fellow for that year. He attended the Harvard Business School Program of Management Development (PMD), graduated with honors at the University of Zimbabwe for his MBChB medical degree and with Distinction for his BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Lesotho.
Patrice currently sits on the Board of Last Mile Health and is Board Advisor to AxmedRx.