Dr. Hegemann oversees the global health operations of Novartis. This includes the group’s business in sub-Saharan Africa, where we are implementing a new model with a primary focus on patient reach.
Global Health at Novartis includes four flagship programs (malaria, leprosy, sickle cell disease and Chagas disease), the adaptation of innovative and mature products to address the medical needs in underserved populations as well as capacity building and health systems strengthening. The Novartis Foundation and Novartis Social Business are part of his organization.
He joined Novartis in the Consumer Health Division in 2005 and held leadership positions of increasing responsibility. In 2011, he was appointed Development Unit Head for Established Medicines & Anti-infectives in the Pharma Division and served on the Development Committee of Novartis.
Dr. Hegemann studied at the University of Bonn (DE) and the University of Utrecht (NL). He holds a medical doctorate and a PhD in Molecular Pharmacology. He trained as a dermatologist with special interest in inflammatory and tropical skin diseases and conducted clinical research at the University of Cologne (DE), at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA (US) and at the University of Vienna (AT). At the University Hospitals of Vienna, Dr. Hegemann built and headed a phase I-II unit for novel dermatological therapies. Subsequently, he occupied local, regional, and global roles of increasing responsibility in drug development and commercialization with Takeda, Rhône-Poulenc Rorer, and Nycomed.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, and serves on the executive board of the Swiss Alliance against Neglected Tropical Diseases and the board of trustees of the Novartis Foundation.