Biography
Dr. Hyer has over three decades of experience in medicine and public health in both the public and private sectors. After graduating with distinction from the US Naval Academy, he studied at Duke Medical School and then earned the PhD in molecular biology from Oxford University. He then spent 13 months on the “ice” in Antarctica as the Station Physician for the winter. Dr. Hyer then shifted to public health and vaccines, serving four years at the World Health Organization as a medical officer responding to outbreaks and emergencies including anthrax, Ebola, SARS, avian influenza, as well as tsunamis and earthquakes. In response to the need for effective communication, Randy co-authored a popular WHO handbook on risk and crisis communication during public health emergencies. In industry, Randy’s experience covers vaccines, biologics, biosimilars, and small molecule development. He was pivotal to the 2017 approval of a two-dose adult hepatitis B vaccine (HEPLISAV-B), the first FDA approved vaccine with a truly novel adjuvant. Beyond development, his responsibilities have included directing vaccine and pharmaceutical safety programs, overseeing vaccine clinical operations and biometrics functions, engaging medical scientists and policy-makers, and managing crises. Randy’s perspectives and contributions span his residing in eight and travelling to 100 plus countries in diverse roles across the public and private sectors.