In this episode, Katherine E. Bliss is joined by Ken Staley, Senior Associate with CSIS and the U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator under President Donald Trump. Ken shares his thoughts on his time in “the best job in global health,” reflecting on the promise of new innovations in malaria prevention and diagnosis, how Covid-19 has affected efforts to address malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa and the Greater Mekong region, and why he is hopeful that improved data collection and analysis, program management, and support for health workers at all levels can contribute to eliminating malaria as a public health threat by 2050. As the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded in 2020, Ken served as the executive director of USAID’s COVID-19 Task Force, as well. Drawing on his experience working on Ebola, MERS, and other infectious disease outbreaks, he reflects on the ways in which programs focused on single-diseases, such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, contribute to stronger health systems and prepare countries to respond to public health emergencies and pandemic threats.