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Debra Houry, MD, Emergency Medicine, Atlanta, GA, Grady Health System

DebraEHouryMDMPH

Emergency Medicine Atlanta, GA

Chief Medical Officer Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Summary

  • Debra Houry, MD, MPH, is the Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science at CDC. In this role, she is responsible for establishing, strengthening, and maintaining collaboration and coordination across CDC’s national centers including infectious diseases, chronic disease, environmental health, injury prevention, and public health infrastructure. She also provides overall direction to, and coordination of, the scientific and medical programs. Dr. Houry is also the Designated Federal Officer for the Advisory Committee to the CDC Director, working directly with private and public sector constituents to prioritize CDC’s activities and address key areas including data modernization and health disparities. As a board-certified emergency physician, she has seen firsthand the impact of infectious diseases, chronic health conditions, and injuries on individuals, families, and communities and strives to address and prevent challenges with implementable, evidence-based practices.

    Prior to this role, Dr. Houry served for nearly two years (2021-2023) as CDC’s acting Principal Deputy Director, overseeing improvements to lab quality, updating global health strategy and governance, and elevating cross-cutting initiatives across the agency such as social determinants and mental health. She was also a key leader in the CDC Moving Forward reorganization process for the agency. From 2014-2021, Dr. Houry served as the Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the CDC. She previously served as vice chair and tenured associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and as associate professor in the Rollins School of Public Health. Dr. Houry also served as an attending physician at Grady Memorial Hospital in the emergency department and in the medication assisted treatment clinic for opioid use disorder

Education & Training

  • Denver Health Medical Center
    Denver Health Medical CenterChief Residency, Emergency Medicine, 2001 - 2002
  • Denver Health Medical Center
    Denver Health Medical CenterResidency, Emergency Medicine, 1999 - 2002
  • Saint Joseph Hospital
    Saint Joseph HospitalInternship, Internal Medicine, 1998 - 1999
  • Tulane University School of Public Health
    Tulane University School of Public HealthMPH, 1994 - 1998
  • Tulane University School of Medicine
    Tulane University School of MedicineClass of 1998

Certifications & Licensure

  • GA State Medical License
    GA State Medical License 2001 - 2025
  • CO State Medical License
    CO State Medical License 1999 - 2013
  • American Board of Emergency Medicine Emergency Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Outstanding Government Service American Medical Association, 2023
  • Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Fellow
  • Emory Public Voices Fellowship
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Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Trends in US Emergency Department Visits for Mental Health, Overdose, and Violence Outcomes Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic  
    Debra Houry, MD, JAMA Psychiatry

Authored Content

  • CDC CMO Shares Her 5 Most Important Health Care ArticlesFebruary 2023
  • Deb Houry on the CDC’s Role in Curbing the Opioid EpidemicMarch 2018

Press Mentions

  • 'Helicopter' Parents and the Link to Mental Health in Children
    'Helicopter' Parents and the Link to Mental Health in ChildrenMarch 21st, 2023
  • CDC Urges Bivalent Booster in New Push. Will People Listen?
    CDC Urges Bivalent Booster in New Push. Will People Listen?March 13th, 2023
  • CDC's Chief Medical Officer Aims for 'Action-Oriented Culture'
    CDC's Chief Medical Officer Aims for 'Action-Oriented Culture'March 7th, 2023
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Grant Support

  • Emory Center For Injury ControlNational Center For Injury Prevention And Control2009–2011
  • Intimate Partner Violence And Mental Health SymptomsNational Institute Of Mental Health2004–2008
  • Grants For Voilence-Related Injury Prevention Research IPV &SvNational Center For Injury Prevention And Control2005

Professional Memberships

Hospital Affiliations