The CDC Leaders

"I believe that if we do these things right-the policy, the partnerships, and all the essential services of public health-we can really make a difference and establish health as the "preferred state of being."

- Stephanie B. Coursey Bailey, MD, MS

Stephanie B. Coursey Bailey, MD, MS

Chief, Office of Public Health Practice

Stephanie B. Coursey Bailey, MD, MS, was known for her ties to CDC long before becoming chief of the Office of Public Health Practice in October 2006. Since 1999, she has worked with CDC on projects, including co-chairing the National PH Workforce Taskforce, serving as a senior consultant for local practice to PHPPO, and serving on the National Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Tuberculosis, among others.

In 1981, Dr. Bailey joined the Metropolitan Health Department of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, as a public health medical doctor. From this position, she was promoted in 1988 to medical director and director of Bureau of Health Services and, in 1995, was appointed the director of health for the Department. During her early career, she served as a public health medical doctor and as a physician in the National Health Services Corps, providing health care in rural Dickson County, Tennessee.

In the city Nashville and in Davidson County, she spearheaded such programs as the Bridges to Care Program, which has linked more then 26,000 uninsured residents to health care through a public/private consortium since 2000. Her community strategic effort, STDFREE, has contributed to the shift in Nashville's ranking as the number 1 city for syphilis to number 7 in less than 2 years; and as of 2004, ranked 22; and was out of the top 40 cities in 2005. Her leadership, innovation, and expertise also facilitated adding a health component to the jail system, establishing an employee wellness program Metro-wide, and has incorporated learning and ongoing training into her department as well as in the community and at local universities.

Doctor Bailey received her MD in 1976 from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee. She also earned a masters of science in health services administration in 1993, from the College of St. Francis, Joilet, Illinois. She received her BA in psychology in 1972, from Clark University, Worchester, Massachusetts.

She is author or co-author of numerous publications, a long-time member of the American Public Health Association (APHA), the American Medical Association, and the National Association of County and City Health Officials. Dr. Bailey also has served and/or currently serves on several committees at CDC, including the National Advisory Committee to the Director, National Rural Health Committee, the Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis, the National Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health, National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke, Public Health Law Conference planning and faculty, Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Policy Expert Panel, Taskforce on Public Health Workforce Development, and the National Exploring Accreditation Steering Committee. Dr. Bailey is also a member of numerous state and local associations, committees, as well as other organizations like Public Health Leadership Society and the Public Health Foundation.

Her academic affiliations are many, including adjunct faculty member at Tennessee State University; Florida A&M, School of Public Health; Meharry Medical College; and the Public Health Institute/Leadership Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has received numerous public health service awards, including the Nashville Urban Journal's Person of the Year award, APHA's Roemer award, the Association for State and Territorial Health Officer's Excellence in Public Health for Local Practice, and the AMA's Dr. Nathan B. Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service in the category of Career Public Servant at the local level.