Leadership

What to know

For more than 70 years, CDC has used its scientific expertise to help people around the world live healthier, safer, longer lives. Find information on our Center's global health leaders and read their biographies.

Photo of tall buildings at CDC's headquarters in Atlanta, GA.

Who we are

CDC's Global Health Center addresses global challenges such as HIV, tuberculosis, vaccine-preventable diseases, emergency and refugee health, and more.

Our leadership drives the execution of CDC's global health approach, working with partners to:

  • Plan, manage, and evaluate health programs.
  • Achieve U.S. Government program and international organization goals to improve health, including disease eradication and elimination targets.
  • Expand CDC's global health programs that focus on the leading causes of mortality, morbidity, and disability.
  • Generate and apply new knowledge to achieve health goals.
  • Strengthen health systems and their impact.

CDC remains committed to ensuring that every dollar spent achieves maximum public health impact, and saves lives around the world.

Meet our leaders

Woman with dark gray hair against a gray background with the U.S. flag.

Director

Biography of Kayla Laserson, Director of the Global Health Center.
A picture of a smiling woman with brown hair, glasses, a dark blue shirt with a white undershirt, and a thin necklace standing in front of a poster.

Senior Advisor / Chief of Staff

Biography of Pamela Dougherty, Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff for CDC's Global Health Center.
A woman with brown hair, in a black and white jacket and a black shirt underneath.

Deputy Director for Management, Operations, Communications, and Policy

Biography of Christa Capozzola, Deputy Director for Management, Operations, Communication, & Policy.
A picture of a man with short hair grey hair wearing a dark suit and red tie.

Associate Director for Science / Chief Medical Officer

Biography of Vik Kapil, Associate Director for Science and Chief Medical Officer. 
A woman with short brown hair, glasses, and small ear studs wearing a black jacket with a white button up.

Associate Director for Laboratory Science

Biography of CAPT Anne Purfield, Associate Director for Laboratory Science.
A woman with shoulder length hair brown, wearing a grey shirt with a black undershirt.

Associate Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response

Biography of Athalia Christie, Associate Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response. 
Woman with dark hair and eyes against background.

Associate Director for Policy

Biography of Marita Eibl, Associate Director for Policy.
Woman with dark eyes and dark shoulder length hair. She is wearing a red cardigan.

Associate Director for Communication

Biography of Jacqueline Rosenthal, Associate Director for Communication.
Man with gray/dark hair wearing a gray collar shirt and black suit, against a gray dark background.

Associate Director for Informatics and Information Resources

Biography of Xen Santas, Associate Director for Informatics and Information Resources.
Woman with brown long hair, dark eyes and against a gray/dark background.

Management Officer

Biography of Melanie Moser, Management Officer.

White man with gray hair and blue eyes. He is wearing a black jacket, white shirt and black stripped tie.

Director, Division of Global HIV and TB

Biography of Hank Tomlinson, Director of the Division of Global HIV & TB at CDC.
Woman in United States Public Health Service uniform smiling.

Principal Deputy Director

Biography of Surbhi Modi, Principal Deputy Director in DGHT.
White man with dark hair, glasses and gray shirt.

Deputy Director for Management and Overseas Operations

Biography of Clint Liveoak, Deputy Director for Management and Overseas Operations in DGHT.
White man with glasses and blue suit and tie smiling.

Associate Director for Program

Biography of Josef Amann, Associate Director for Program in DGHT.
Woman with brown hair and glasses in a suit smiling.

Associate Director for Data Integration and Analysis

Biography of Laura Porter, Associate Director for Data Integration and Analysis in DGHT.

Image of Black man wearing a US Public Health Service uniform. Black jacket, black tie, and white shirt. CAPT Simon Agolory, MD. Division of Global Health Protection, Acting Director

Director, Division of Global Health Protection

Biography of Simon Agolory, Acting Director in the Division of Global Health Protection.

A man with gray hair smiles while wearing a light blue shirt, gray suit jacket, and a red and blue striped tie.

Director, Global Immunization Division

Biography of John Vertefeuille, Director of the Global Immunization Division.
Print
Content Source:
Global Health Center