Member

Chief Medical Officer, retired
Director, Division of Public Health
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Lincoln, NE
Term: July 2017 – June 2021

Dr. Tom Williams, through July 2018, served in a dual role as Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Division of Public Health for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services where he oversaw 10 public health areas that touched the life of every Nebraskan by promoting good health, preventing disease and helping people live healthier lives. Dr. Williams is an anatomic and clinical pathologist with subspecialty expertise in Chemical Pathology. Prior to this position, he practiced at Nebraska Methodist Hospital for 38 years; the last 22 years as Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medical Director. Dr. Williams previous activities involving public health and government include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee and other CDC working groups; Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) as chair or vice chair for consensus or document development committees in the areas of chemistry and toxicology, quality and emergency-preparedness; Douglas County Health Department pandemic planning and emergency preparedness including working with the Omaha Metropolitan Medical Response System (OMMRS) and co-chairing committees responsible for emergency communication for healthcare professionals that focus on laboratory infection control and surveillance. Dr. Williams has nationally published articles and collaborated in developing CLSI documents directed towards emergency preparedness for clinical laboratories and has spoken locally and nationwide, and presented webinars on this topic. He served on the Technical Advisory Committee for the Nebraska Newborn Screening Program and has chaired or served on national College of American Pathologists (CAP) committees in the area of proficiency testing, clinical chemistry, publications and education. Dr. Williams shared the CAP Excellence in Teaching Award in 2013 for assisting in the development and facilitating an intensive course for new laboratory medical directors and received the CAP Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He also served four terms as president of the Nebraska Association of Pathologists.