Dr. Hilary Wolf, a US global health leader with two decades of experience tackling infectious diseases across multiple continents, has been appointed chief medical officer – a move aimed at strengthening Cayman’s health system amid rising focus on prevention, access and equity.
Wolf takes over from Dr. Nick Gent, who retired at the end of September after three years in the post. Gent, who helped steer Cayman’s public health strategy through a period of major reform, is credited with advancing a data-driven, evidence-based approach and calling attention to persistent inequalities in care.
For Wolf, who most recently served as care and treatment director at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, the new role marks a return to on-the-ground public health leadership. At the State Department, she oversaw HIV treatment for more than 20 million people across 50 countries under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a programme credited for having “saved and improved the lives of millions of people around the world”.
Her career includes senior leadership and advisory positions with global health agencies such as the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization and UNAIDS. She has also spent years across Sub-Saharan Africa and South America, guiding governments in shaping national strategies for HIV care, reproductive health and workforce development.
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said Wolf’s appointment represents both continuity and new capacity at the top of Cayman’s health system. “Dr. Wolf brings a wealth of international experience and a deep understanding of clinical and public health systems,” he said. “Her appointment will strengthen the Cayman Islands’ ability to respond to current and emerging challenges.”
Tamara Ebanks, chief officer for the Ministry of Health, said the ministry looks forward to the technical insight and perspective that Wolf will bring. “Dr. Wolf’s record of leadership in infectious disease and public health, combined with her experience working within global and national health systems, will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the Cayman Islands’ health system and build public health capacity,” Ebanks said.
Strategic alignment
Her appointment comes at a pivotal time, as the ministry moves forward with the government’s Strategic Policy Statement, which calls for a comprehensive National Health Strategy aimed at building a more resilient and inclusive healthcare system.
The plan prioritises affordable access to care, stronger community wellness programmes, reforms in mental health and elder care, and greater protection for vulnerable adults – all with the long-term goal of creating a health system capable of adapting to demographic shifts and the growing burden of chronic disease.
Health Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks said Wolf’s global experience will help connect Cayman’s health ambitions to broader sustainability goals. “Her experience in building partnerships across borders and institutions will be vital as we continue to strengthen the links between health, environment, and sustainability,” she said.
Outgoing Chief Medical Officer Gent said he’s confident the system is being left in capable hands. “It has been a privilege to serve the people of the Cayman Islands,” he said. “I am confident that Dr. Wolf’s broad expertise and commitment to public service will bring great benefit to the country.”
Gent has spent much of his tenure confronting gaps in chronic disease management, warning that as many as two-thirds of people with diabetes or hypertension in Cayman remain untreated due to access and affordability issues.
“I think anybody coming after me will recognise that these are things which we must progress,” he said recently, adding that his successor would inherit a system that would be “a good base from which to continue”.
Wolf said she looks forward to building on that momentum.
“I am honoured to serve the people of the Cayman Islands as the chief medical officer,” she said in a statement. “I am committed to strengthening health systems, advancing population health, improving health equity, and delivering trusted medical guidance as I work to contribute to the health and resilience of all those who call these beautiful islands home.”
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