Dr. Houry is on Doximity
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Office
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
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 CenterChief Residency, Emergency Medicine, 2001 - 2002
- Denver Health Medical CenterResidency, Emergency Medicine, 1999 - 2002
- Saint Joseph HospitalInternship, Internal Medicine, 1998 - 1999
- Tulane University School of Public HealthMPH, 1994 - 1998
- Tulane University School of MedicineClass of 1998
Certifications & Licensure
- GA State Medical License 2001 - 2025
- 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
- Safety and Effectiveness of Computer Screening for Intimate Partner Violence Start of enrollment: 2004 Jan 01
- Mental Health Symptoms and Intimate Partner Violence Start of enrollment: 2004 Jan 01
Publications & Presentations
PubMed
- 72 citationsMethamphetamine use in the United States: epidemiological update and implications for prevention, treatment, and harm reduction.Christopher M. Jones, Debra Houry, Beth Han, Grant T. Baldwin, Alana M. Vivolo-Kantor
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2021-09-24 - 378 citationsTrends in US Emergency Department Visits for Mental Health, Overdose, and Violence Outcomes Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Kristin M. Holland, Christopher M. Jones, Alana M. Vivolo-Kantor, Nimi Idaikkadar, Marissa L. Zwald
JAMA Psychiatry. 2021-04-01 - 99 citationsThe CDC Injury Center's response to the growing public health problem of falls among older adults.Debra Houry, Curtis S. Florence, Grant T. Baldwin, Judy A. Stevens, Roderick John McClure
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2016-01-01
Journal Articles
- Trends in US Emergency Department Visits for Mental Health, Overdose, and Violence Outcomes Before and During the COVID-19 PandemicDebra 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
- New CDC Report Highlights Disparities in Flu Hospitalization and VaccinationOctober 21st, 2024
- Vaccines for Low Income Children Lag Behind, CDC Study FindsAugust 14th, 2024
- CDC: Vaccine Coverage Still Lags for Some ChildrenAugust 13th, 2024
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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
- Fellow
- Member
- Society for Academic Emergency MedicinePast president
- Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury ResearchPast President
- National Academy of MedicineMember
- ChiefMember
- American Public Health AssociationMember
External Links
- CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/about/leadership/leaders/ddsp.html
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