The CDC Leaders

Judith A. Monroe, MD, FAAFP

Director, Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support

Judith A. Monroe, MD, FAAFP, is the Deputy Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Director of the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support. In this role, she provides critical leadership improving and supporting the public health system. Most recently, Dr. Monroe served as the Indiana State Health Commissioner since 2005. She has held several national public health leadership positions, is a past president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and served as vice chair on the Board of Directors for the Public Health Accreditation Board. Dr. Monroe was also a member of the Indiana Health Information Exchange Board of Directors.

Under Dr. Monroe′s leadership as Indiana State Health Commissioner, Indiana improved its obesity ranking from most obese in 2003 to 28th in 2009 (obesity decreased by 14.7 percent in youth and 3 percent in adults); cigarette consumption decreased nearly 25 percent, smoking among high school students dropped 21 percent and among middle school students dropped 46 percent. In 2007, the Indiana General Assembly passed a bill to increase the cigarette tax and all revenue went to health-related programs. As a result, childhood immunizations improved and the percentage of uninsured residents declined. In addition, colon cancer screening increased 34.5 percent; cancer incidence, heart disease, and all causes of mortality decreased significantly.

During her tenure as health commissioner, Dr. Monroe focused on preparedness, preventing medical errors and quality improvement, in addition to health promotion and prevention. She partnered with Purdue University and led the design and implementation of the Indiana Public Health System Quality Improvement Project to strengthen local public health capacity, infrastructure, and public health system performance.

Dr. Monroe received her undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University and medical degree from the University of Maryland. She completed her residency in family medicine at the University of Cincinnati. Following her residency, she fulfilled a four-year National Health Service Corps commitment by practicing in rural Tennessee and then joined the faculty in the Department of Family Medicine at Indiana University.

Prior to being named the Indiana State Health Commissioner, she directed the Family Medicine Residency Program and Primary Care Center at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. She has received multiple awards for her teaching, clinical and leadership skills. She was named a 2009 Woman of Influence by the Indianapolis Business Journal and received the 2009 Merit Award by the Indiana Hospital Association for her leadership as health commissioner. Most recently, she was presented the MVP Award by Peyton Manning on behalf of the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital for her work to improve the health of children, the 2010 McGovern Award, and the Governor’s Distinguished Service Medal from Governor Mitch Daniels.