Executive Leadership & Expert Bios

Lisa Richardson, MD, MPH

Associate Director for Science, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, NCCDPHP

Lisa C. Richardson, MD, MPH, is the Associate Director for Science in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC). Her primary responsibilities include collaborating with DCPC's director in setting scientific priorities and working with Division staff to maintain a high caliber of scientific integrity in public health activities.

Dr. Richardson’s previous experience has well-positioned her for the lead role in ensuring an interface between programmatic activities and scientific investigations within the Division.  From 1997 to 1998, she served as the medical director for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer and Early Detection Program, which is the only organized screening program for low-income uninsured women in the United States.  From 1998 to 2004, Dr. Richardson was a faculty member at the University of Florida in Medical Oncology and collaborated extensively with the Florida Cancer Data System, one of the 48 programs funded by the National Program of Cancer Registries.  She returned to CDC in 2004 as a medical officer in DCPC’s Epidemiology and Applied Research Branch.  From 2006 to 2009, Dr. Richardson served as the team lead for the Scientific Support and Clinical Translation Team, which supports the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.

Dr. Richardson received her medical degree and Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and received a Master in Public Health from the University of Michigan, School of Public Health. She completed her internal medicine residency and hematology/medical oncology fellowship at the University of Florida, School of Medicine. She continues to provide clinical services to cancer patients at the Atlanta Veteran's Administration Medical Center.  Dr. Richardson is a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.

Dr. Richardson’s education and medical training have shaped her research interests which range from the caring for the individual to broader public health based system changes.  She has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed journal articles on breast cancer treatment patterns of care, health-related quality of life during cancer treatment, access to cancer care, systems of care, health disparities and racial discrimination. 

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