Associate Professor Rachel Hardeman, Ph.D., M.P.H., Blue Cross Endowed Professor of Health and Racial Equity and director of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, has accepted an invitation to join the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The 14-member ACD, as authorized by federal law, is being re-established. The panel advises the CDC director, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Assistant Secretary for Health on policy and broad strategies that will enable CDC to fulfill its mission of protecting the nation’s health. It specifically recommends ways to prioritize CDC’s activities, improve results, and address health disparities.

As an official federal advisory committee, the ACD also provides guidance to help CDC work more effectively with its various private and public sector constituents to make health protection a reality. Meetings are open to the public, and at least one member is a public representative.

Originally established in 1962, the ACD was terminated in 2019. As advertised in the Federal Register, the committee charter was renewed in 2021. Under Section 301 [42 U.S.C. Section 241] and Section 311 [42 U.S.C. Section 243] of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, the ACD is authorized to: (1) conduct, encourage, cooperate with, and assist other appropriate public authorities, scientific institutions, and scientists in the conduct of research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, and studies relating to the causes, diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of physical and mental diseases, and other impairments; (2) assist States and their political subdivisions in the prevention of infectious diseases and other preventable conditions, and in the promotion of health and well-being; and (3) train State and local personnel in health work.

Committee members include people with expertise in areas pertinent to the CDC mission, such as public health, health equity, medical education, industry, healthcare delivery, health policy, preventive medicine, allied fields, and communication.

ACD meetings are typically held twice a year. There will be 14 members including the chair, David Warren Fleming, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Washington School of Public Health.

For more on the Advisory Committee, please visit www.cdc.gov/