Alpha Oumar Diallo was born in Conakry, Guinea, and immigrated to Denver, Colorado at the age of 10 years. He developed type 1 diabetes in high school and received care at one of the premier diabetes research centers in the world. This diagnosis led him to start asking himself how different his life would be if he had developed type 1 diabetes in Guinea rather than in Denver. This question has framed his career in global public health and his service engagements. He is honored to serve on the Guinnovation Advisory Council because, in addition to his parents’ investments, sacrifices, and love, he has benefited tremendously from the generosity and investments (e.g., financial, time, and mentorship) in his education from individuals outside his family and organizations. He hopes that his continued involvement in Guinnovation will help uplift others who are less fortunate than he has been.

Alpha Oumar resides in Atlanta, GA, where is an epidemiologist at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) working with ministries of health in low- and middle-income countries to expand access to immunizations and strengthen health systems. He earned his PhD in epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA), master’s in public health at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health (Atlanta, Georgia, USA), and bachelor’s in arts degree concentrating in sociology and anthropology at Carleton College (Northfield, Minnesota, USA).