Global Health Center (GHC)

Denise Cardo, MD, is the Acting Director for the Global Health Center (GHC) where she leads CDC’s global efforts to protect and improve health through science, policy, partnership, and evidence-based public health action. Dr. Cardo’s permanent role is as the director of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) in CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID).

Dr. Cardo joined CDC in 1993 as a medical epidemiologist in the Hospital Infections Program (later named as Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion). After holding several leadership positions in DHQP, she was selected as Division Director in 2003.

Prior to joining CDC, she had a distinguished career in the division of infectious diseases at one of Brazil’s prestigious medical institutions, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she received her medical degree, completed her residency and fellowship, and joined the faculty as associated professor of infectious diseases. During 1990-1991, she did a sabbatical at the Hospital Epidemiology Program, University of Tennessee, Memphis.

Dr. Cardo has been involved in healthcare epidemiology and hospital infections since 1984 and is internationally recognized as an expert and leader in the area. Her interests include patient safety, occupational health, prevention of healthcare-associated infections, and antimicrobial resistance. She is the author of numerous papers and various book chapters and has received several awards for her work.