text: "Rajiv ShahFrom Wikipedia the free encyclopediaCurrent Under Secretary Rajiv ShahRajiv ""Raj"" Shah (born March 9 1973) is presently Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research Educationand Economics (REE) and Chief Scientist at the United States Department of Agriculture.Prior to his appointment at USDA Shah worked in a range of leadership roles at the Bill & Melinda GatesFoundation including Director of Agricultural Development Director of Financial Services leader of theStrategic Opportunities initiative and manager of the Foundation's $1.5 billion commitment to the VaccineFund. He also came up with the idea for the International Finance Facility for Immunization to transform theglobal system of vaccine financing and worked to secure donor commitments of more than $5 billion for thisfacility. Before joining the Gates Foundation Shah was a health care policy advisor on the Al Gore presidentialcampaign 2000 and a member of Governor Ed Rendell's (D-PA) transition committee on health.Shah earned his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and M.Sc. in Health Economicsat the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan andalso attended the London School of Economics.President Obama announced Shah's selection as Under Secretary of Research Education and Economics andChief Scientist on April 17 2009. Shah's nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate by unanimousconsent on May 12 2009.Early life and familyBorn to Indian immigrant parents who settled in Ann Arbor Michigan in the late 60's Raj Shah grew up in theDetroit area and attended Wylie Groves High School.He lives with his wife Shivam and their two young children Sajan and Amna. He has one sister Ami Shahwho is a medical doctor.CareerRaj Shah is currently the Under Secretary of Research Education and Economics (REE) and Chief Scientist atthe U.S. Department of Agriculture. The REE mission area provides the science that federal agencies policymakers researchers and others draw on to meet challenges facing America's food and agriculture system. Thefour REE agencies are the Agricultural Research Service (including the National Agricultural Library) theEconomic Research Service the National Agricultural Statistics Service and the Cooperative State ResearchEducation and Extension Service.Prior to his appointment at USDA Raj worked in a range of leadership roles at the Bill & Melinda GatesFoundation to help the poorest people on earth lead healthy and productive lives.As the Director of the Agricultural Development program Shah oversaw the foundation's multi-billion dollarportfolio of grant and program-related investments to help transform rural economies throughout the developingworld and help small farmers and their families overcome hunger and poverty. He led efforts to create theAlliancefor a Green Revolution in Africa helped recruit its leadership including UN Secretary General KofiAnnan and serves on its Board of Directors. He oversaw grant portfolios in science and technology; farmerproductivity; market access; and policy statistics and advocacy; and managed a team of more than 60professionals. He also developed innovative partnerships with private industry the United Nations the WorldBank and country governments around the world where he was an active voice on issues related to food andhunger.As the Foundation's first Director for the Financial Services to the Poor portfolio Shah worked with a broadrange of financial institutions and other donors to determine how Foundation resources could best amplify thefield's collective impact. Previously he led the Strategic Opportunities initiative which worked with Foundationco-chairs to identify assess and recommend new areas of giving. This process led to the creation of theFoundation's Global Development Program.Shah's early work with the Foundation focused on global health. As Deputy Director for Policy and FinanceRaj managed the Foundation's $1.5 billion commitment to the Vaccine Fund — an effort referred to by Bill andMelinda Gates as their best investment. He also came up with the idea for the International Finance Facility forImmunization to transform the global system of vaccine financing and worked to secure donor commitments ofmore than $5 billion for this facility. The World Health Organization estimates this initiative will save morethan five million children's lives through the next decade and a New York Times article described the effort as""a clever way to reduce the burden of costly diseases now and save money in the future.""Shah previously worked as a health care policy advisor on the Gore 2000 presidential campaign was an activesupporter of the Barack Obama presidential campaign 2008 and served as a member of Pennsylvania GovernorEd Rendell's health transition committee. He also co-founded Health Systems Analytics (a health careconsulting firm) served as an advisor to the City of Philadelphia's Public Health Commissioner and worked atthe World Health Organization. In addition he co-founded multiple nonprofit organizations focused onincreasing the political awareness and civic engagement of minority communities including Project Impact forSouth Asian Americans."