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December 09, 2025
EXPERT SPOTLIGHT
Article
Expert Spotlight: Dr. Devasena Gnanashanmugam Vice President, Medical Affairs
We’re proud to spotlight Dr. Devasena Gnanashanmugam, Vice President of Medical Affairs, whose clinical expertise and strategic vision help shape Cepheid’s commitment to advancing patient care through evidence-based diagnostics. Board-certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases by the American Board of Pediatrics, she holds an M.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Certificate in Global Health. Dr. Gnanashanmugam brings a deep understanding of global health systems and infectious disease, supported by a strong publication record in high-impact journals.
Her research spans diagnostic accuracy studies, pharmacogenomic innovation, clinical trials, policy and implementation reviews, and expert commentary. Through her leadership, she continues to elevate Cepheid’s role in delivering science-backed solutions that improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
Dr. Gnanashanmugam shares the following insight into her notable career journey with Cepheid thus far:
Why did you choose to join Cepheid?
I knew Ellen Jo Baron, formerly Executive Director of Medical Affairs, during her tenure as Head of Microbiology at Stanford. Over the years, I kept in touch with her and learned about Cepheid’s transformative contributions to global tuberculosis testing. I wanted to be a part of that journey. I joined Cepheid because of my deep respect for Ellen Jo, Dave Persing, and Fred Tenover within Medical and Scientific Affairs, and also because of the dedication from other Cepheid leaders and associates in their efforts to improve healthcare worldwide.
What past educational, research, or professional experience are you most proud of?
I lead the Medical Affairs teams globally. Our role is to serve as the voice of the patient and provider: we strive every day to ensure that patients’ needs are heard and we advocate for these needs throughout the product lifecycle – from strategic planning and product development to launch, field use, and eventual product retirement.
This is achieved through two groups: one that monitors safety and supports regulatory work (led by Cristina Baker), and another (Gwynn Stevens, Christophe Martinaud, and Scott Sugden leading in their regions) that provides customer-facing support in their respective regions, answers technical queries, and provides internal and external customer education.
Why does Cepheid's work bring you professional fulfillment?
I’m excited about many projects at Cepheid, but I’ll try to keep my list brief! I’m excited to be part of the Fleming initiative and work with researchers in the UK on improving respiratory testing in primary care settings and improving screening for carbapenem-resistant pathogens.
I’m also excited about expanding into new geographies, such as Saudi Arabia and Asia. I have always been proud of the work Cepheid does to provide access to HPV testing for women, supporting programs for early infant diagnosis for HIV, and being part of the fight to eliminate TB globally.
Connect with Dr. Gnanashanmugam on LinkedIn.
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