Anna M. Mandalakas, MD
- Retrovirology and Global Health
Chief, Division of Global Health
Director, Global Tuberculosis Program
Associate Vice Chair of Global Research, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Email: globalhealth@texaschildrens.org
Languages: English
Departments:
Get to know Anna M. Mandalakas, MD
Ninety percent of the world's children are born into less developed countries. Every child born deserves the right to a healthy life in which they can reach their full potential. Dr. Mandalakas is passionate about caring for vulnerable children both in the US and abroad. She is committed to conducting research that will inform policy and improve the lives of children.
Dr. Mandalakas has worked in the field of Global Child Health since the mid-1990s. The lessons she has learned caring for vulnerable children overseas have helped her to provide insightful care to vulnerable immigrant children in the US. She embraces traditional American ideals and is committed to caring for immigrant children fortunate to make their way to the United States.
It is estimated that 200-300 children die each day from Tuberculosis (TB). Each one of these deaths is preventable and represents our failure as a society to protect the health of these children. Dr. Mandalakas’ translational research team works to improve the health and well-being of children affected by TB in the US and abroad the research, education, and clinical care.
In complement to her roles at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Mandalakas serves as adjunct Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston’s School of Public Health in the Department of Epidemiology and holds a prestigious Leibniz Chair at the Research Center Borstel, Sülfeld, Germany where she is also a member of the Clinical Infectious Disease Group of the German Center for Infectious Research (DZIF).
Clinical Interests
Tuberculosis
Immigrant Health
Education
| School | Education | Degree | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve Univ. School of Medicine | Fellowship | Epidemiology | 2000 |
| Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital | Fellowship | International Child Health | 2000 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Residency | Pediatrics | 1997 |
| Drexel Univ. Coll. of Med./Hahnemann Univ. Sch. of Med. | Medical School | Doctor of Medicine | 1994 |
Organizations
| Organization Name | Role |
|---|---|
| American Academy of Pediatrics | Section on International Health, Founding and Past-chair of the International CATCH program |
| American Thoracic Association | Member |
| Baylor College of Medicine/University of Texas Center for AIDS Research | Director, International Research Core |
| International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | Member, Child Lung Health working group; New Diagnostics working group |
| World Health Organization DOTS Expansion working group | Member |
* Texas Children’s Hospital physicians’ licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician’s office and were not verified by Texas Children’s Hospital.
Research interests
Research Area:
Infectious Disease
Population & Global Health
Health Systems & Implementation Research
Research Methods & Evidence Synthesis
Dr. Mandalakas is a Professor of Pediatrics and serves as Associate Vice Chair of Global Research. For over three decades, Dr. Mandalakas’ translational research has focused on identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, TB diagnostics, and prevention of TB disease with a special focus on children and adolescence living with HIV. Since joining Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine in 2012, she has collaborated with colleagues to develop research capacity and enhance the care and treatment of TB and TB/HIV affected children, adolescents and families living in over a dozen countries. Her translational Global TB team conducts research to more effectively prevent, diagnose, and treat TB and support the goal of global TB elimination.
In recognition of her inspirational and pioneering spirit, she was awarded the Clara Southmayd Ludlow Medal of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 2022 and the Michael E. DeBakey Award for Research Excellence at Baylor College of Medicine in 2025. In her role as Associate Vice Chair of Global Research, she is leading Texas Children’s colleagues in their mission to advance high-quality clinical practice and policy development to promote child and family health globally through coordinated, high-impact, and ethical research, strengthened healthcare systems, and research capacity development for Baylor’s faculty, staff, and partners.
Research Interests:
Tuberculosis
HIV
Immigrant Health
Implementation Science
Diagnostics
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Mandalakas AM, Kirchner HL, Gie RP, Walzl G, Schaaf HS, Cotton M, Grewal HM, Hesseling AC. Optimizing the Detection of Recent Tuberculosis Infection in Children in a High TB-HIV Burden Setting.AJRCCM. In Press.