The Immunization Partnership (TIP) announced today that Rekha Lakshmanan, M.H.A., has been appointed executive director, leading the organization to its next chapter as it strengthens vaccine confidence among the clear majority of Texans who support immunizations and serves as the state’s go-to source for accurate information amid growing misinformation.
Lakshmanan has been an integral part of TIP for more than 11 years, most recently serving as chief strategy officer, where she helped guide the organization’s growth, expand partnerships, and strengthen vaccine policy efforts across Texas and beyond.
“Rekha’s leadership and deep understanding of vaccine policy make her the ideal person to lead TIP into its next chapter,” said Lisa R. Fuller, M.D., chair of the TIP Board of Directors. “With the majority of Texans supporting vaccines, TIP is uniquely poised to increase statewide confidence in immunizations amid a sea of misinformation, and Rekha is the perfect person to strengthen that trust.”
During her tenure at TIP, Lakshmanan has built strong relationships with healthcare leaders, policymakers, and community partners to advance immunization advocacy and public health protection statewide. She has also been a visible and respected voice nationally, frequently advising on vaccine policy and legislative advocacy initiatives.
Before joining TIP, Lakshmanan spent more than a decade in the private sector helping healthcare organizations develop preventative and chronic care protocols to improve health outcomes. She currently serves as a non-resident scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, a nonpartisan, national think tank.
Lakshmanan holds a master’s degree in Health Care Administration from Texas Woman’s University–Houston Medical Center and a bachelor’s degree in Government from The University of Texas at Austin. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Leadership, Organizing and Action: Leading Change program.
Lakshmanan replaces Terri Burke as executive director.