Dr. Speidel is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco. He also serves as Director for Communication, Development and External Relations, in the UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health. Dr. Speidel is a graduate of Harvard College in chemistry and physics and a graduate of Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. 

Dr. Speidel’s previous positions include direction of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) population research program and overall direction of the USAID Office of Population where he had oversight over the world’s largest program of population and family planning assistance. Subsequently Dr. Speidel served as vice president and president of Population Action International (PAI), and between 1995 and 2003, he directed the population grants program of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. 

Dr. Speidel recently served on the board of directors of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, Ipas, the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and as founding co-chair and member of the board of the Funders Network on Population, Reproductive Health & Rights. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Pacific Institute for Women’s Health and Population Connection. 

Dr. Speidel is the author of more than 95 articles and chapters and editor or author of 14 books and monographs on issues relating to family planning, contraception, and population. His professional accomplishments have been recognized by various awards, the most recent being the Allan Rosenfield Award for Lifetime Contributions to International Family Planning from the Society of Family Planning.