A community organizer and public health doctor by training, Dr. Jirair Ratevosian has led global health advocacy efforts resulting in mobilizing billions of dollars for the global HIV/AIDS response, modernizing laws and policies in line with public health evidence, and promoting global peace and justice for survivors of genocide. He served as the most senior Armenian American official at the State Department, where he elevated the advancement of DEIA and equity policy, led the U.S. government effort to host the 7th Replenishment of the Global Fund, and advised the Biden-Harris campaign and transition team on COVID-19 and other health security matters. Prior to that, he was legislative director to Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), where he led health, environment, and foreign policy issues, including efforts to reauthorize PEPFAR in 2013, the creation of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, and drafting legislation to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), modernize discriminatory HIV policies in the military, create a two-state solution in the Middle East, normalize relations with Cuba, and support the creation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for Iran.

Dr. Ratevosian has contributed to articles appearing in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, The Lancet, New York Times, The Body, and Washington Post.

He holds a doctoral degree from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is fluent in Armenian. He has served on various non-profit and development boards, including the Board of the Global Fund to Fight HIV, TB and Malaria. In 2023, Dr. Jirair Ratevosian launched a historic bid for Congress. His candidacy was fueled by a vision of a more equitable, inclusive, and healthy society. He currently serves on the Victory Campaign Board, Equality California, and AIDS United.