local leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic Nkengasong was appointed a special envoy to the director general of the World Health Organization. In this capacity he was responsible for amplifying the messages of the Director General as well as providing strategic advice on preparedness. Nkengasong led Africa's response to coronavirus disease, including training a team of young responders; the African Healthcare Volunteer Workforce. Protecting the African population from coronavirus disease is complicated by challenges such as difficulties in testing in regions affected by conflicts and issues with social distancing in urban slums. In the preparations for the Global Health Summit hosted by the European Commission and the G20 in May 2021, Nkengasong co-chaired the event's High-Level Scientific Panel. Biden administration On September 27, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Nkengasong to be the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Health Diplomacy and Global AIDS Coordinator in the Department of State. Nkengasong's initial nomination expired at the end of the year and was returned to President Biden on January 3, 2022. President Biden resent his nomination the following day. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on Nkengasong's nomination on March 15, 2022. The committee favorably reported his nomination on May 4, 2022. On May 5, 2022, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote. He was sworn in on June 13, 2022. Other activities Centre for International Health Protection (ZIG), Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Member of the Scientific Advisory Board (since 2020) African Coalition for Epidemic Research, Response and Training (ALERRT), Member of the International Scientific Advisory Board Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Member of the Board International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), Member of the Board of Directors Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), Member of the Bio Advisory Group Awards and honours US Secretary of Health and Human Services Award for Excellence in Public Health Protection Research National Order of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire CDC Foundation William Watson Medal of Excellence Virchow Prize for Global Health 2022 under High Patronage of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Nkengasong was honored by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on TIME Magazine's "2021 TIME100" list of influential global figures, who described him as a "modern-day African hero" for his role in the continent's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Select publications References Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention people World Health Organization officials United States Ambassadors-at-Large Cameroonian emigrants to