Debra Houry, MD, chief medical officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been awarded the American Medical Association's award for outstanding government service, according to a Feb. 15 report from the organization.
Dr. Houry joined the CDC in 2014 after practicing as an emergency physician for over 20 years. From 2014 to 2021, Dr. Houry served as the CDC's director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. During that time, she increased its budget from $150 million to $714 million.
She has dedicated her career to prescription drug monitoring, fighting the opioid epidemic state by state.
In 2021, Dr. Houry took over as the CDC's acting principal deputy director, updating global health strategies. She served in the role through the COVID-19 pandemic, stepping down in 2023.
She has also served on public health boards and committees and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications.