Today, Tirana Hassan — a social worker, lawyer, and nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience — steps into the role of Chief Executive Officer with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières in the United States (MSF USA).
“It’s an incredibly consequential time to work in the humanitarian space,” said Hassan.
“Doctors Without Borders’ work in the US plays a critical role supporting the organization’s medical programs all over the world. I’m looking forward to leading those efforts here and ensuring that we can continue to maintain our independence, deliver lifesaving assistance with integrity, and work with patients and the communities we assist at the center of all we do.”
While new to this role, Hassan is not new to the organization. In 2007, she served as a humanitarian officer working across Somalia.
“It was one of the most challenging humanitarian environments I’ve ever worked in,” Hassan said. “Doctors Without Borders was often the only accessible medical care for local communities. What struck me most was how well-equipped MSF teams were to operate in these difficult environments and still deliver meaningful, lifesaving assistance, sometimes at great personal cost. In deeply troubling times, MSF’s courage, professionalism, and commitment are why I want to be part of this work.”
Throughout her career, Hassan’s focus has centered around advocating for and with people affected by conflict and crisis. Serving most recently as the executive director of Human Rights Watch from 2022 to 2025, she led more than 500 staff across the world. She also led Amnesty International’s crisis response program and has worked as an independent consultant and advisor for UNICEF and Save the Children across East and West Africa and South and Southeast Asia.
Hassan’s deep-rooted humanitarian values and years of experience have primed her to step into this US-based role during an unprecedented time for international aid and global health.
“We have seen a global regression not only in aid funding, but also in adherence to the basic principles that allow humanitarians to do their work safely,” Hassan said. “Now more than ever, our independence and impartiality matter. We will continue to deliver vital medical care where it’s needed most and lean on our decades of experience and expertise to navigate these complexities.”
Hassan will be focused on steering the organization to support our international teams caring for people in over 75 countries around the world. Her motivation comes from seeing the impact of the humanitarian work done by Doctors Without Borders teams on the ground.
“Right now, it’s so tempting to be overwhelmed and turn away from the atrocities happening in Gaza, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, and other places. But every time I look around, I see my colleagues doing the exact opposite. I see our teams bringing humanity into some of the worst situations, and that passion and commitment keep me going. I see the dedication my colleagues have to provide dignified care. Our priority will always be to deliver principled humanitarian assistance and maintain the integrity the organization has built over decades."
Meet Tirana Hassan, CEO of MSF USA
About MSF USA
The US section of MSF was established in 1990 and now raises one-third of all funding for MSF worldwide. There are roughly 250 people working in offices in New York, Washington, DC, and Oakland, carrying out fundraising, communications, advocacy, policy, and recruitment activities for MSF’s medical humanitarian programs worldwide.
MSF is an independent international medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and human-made disasters, and exclusion from health care in more than 75 countries. MSF’s decision to intervene in any country or crisis is based solely on an independent assessment of people’s needs. MSF offers assistance to people based on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation.
