Jim Yong Kim

Jim Yong Kim (born December 8, 1959) is an American physician and anthropologist who has served in various high-profile positions in both academia and international organizations. He is best known for his tenure as the 12th President of the World Bank Group, where he served from July 1, 2012, to February 1, 2019. Kim's career has been marked by his dedication to health and development, with a particular focus on improving the conditions for the poor around the world.

Early Life and Education

Jim Yong Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to the United States with his family at the age of five. He grew up in Muscatine, Iowa. Kim attended Brown University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology in 1982. He then went on to earn both an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Harvard University. His doctoral thesis focused on the study of how the health care system in rural Nepal could be improved, which laid the foundation for his future work in global health.

Career

Early Career

Before his tenure at the World Bank, Kim held several key positions in the health sector. He was a co-founder of Partners In Health (PIH), an international non-profit organization known for its work in providing high-quality health care to some of the world's poorest communities. He also served as the chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, where he was instrumental in developing programs aimed at addressing health disparities.

World Health Organization

In 2003, Kim was appointed as the Director of the HIV/AIDS Department at the World Health Organization (WHO), where he led the "3 by 5" initiative, an ambitious plan to treat 3 million new HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries with antiretroviral drugs by the end of 2005.

Dartmouth College

In 2009, Kim became the 17th President of Dartmouth College, making him the first Asian-American to lead an Ivy League institution. During his tenure at Dartmouth, he emphasized the importance of global health and social justice in the college's curriculum and initiatives.

World Bank Group

Jim Yong Kim's presidency at the World Bank Group was marked by a strong focus on fighting poverty, with an emphasis on issues such as climate change, education, and healthcare. He advocated for increased investment in infrastructure in developing countries and worked to make the World Bank more responsive and effective in dealing with global crises. Under his leadership, the World Bank set the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity among the poorest 40% in developing countries.

Post-World Bank Career

After stepping down from the World Bank, Kim joined Global Infrastructure Partners, a fund that invests in infrastructure projects around the world, where he focuses on improving health care and infrastructure in developing countries.

Personal Life

Jim Yong Kim is married and has two sons. He is fluent in English and Korean.

Legacy

Jim Yong Kim's career has been characterized by his relentless pursuit of health equity and development. His work has had a significant impact on global health policies and practices, making him a respected figure in the fields of medicine, anthropology, and international development.