The CDC Leaders

“By working together with other US Government agencies and partners to bring the best of CDC′s expertise and compassion to the world, we are altering the course of HIV/AIDS and impacting global health by saving lives and building sustainable public health systems.”

—Deborah Birx, MD

Deborah Birx, MD

Director, Global AIDS Program (GAP)

Deborah Birx, MD, is a renowned national and international expert in the field of HIV/AIDS. Beginning her career in 1985 as a trained clinician in immunology, she focused on HIV/AIDS vaccine research and has published over 200 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, authored nearly a dozen chapters in scientific publications, as well as developed and patented vaccines. From 1985-1989 she served as an Assistant Chief of the Allergy Immunology Service at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, earning the U.S. Meritorious Service Medal for her leadership in refining, validating, and standardizing an in vivo test of cell-mediated immunity in HIV-infected patients.

She was also rewarded for her significant contribution to the field with the U.S. Meritorious Service Medal for her extensive work in organizing and implementing the gp160 vaccine therapy efficacy trial from 1990-1995. Through her professionalism and leadership in the field, she progressed to serve as the Director of the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP) at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research from 1996-2005. In this capacity, she led and managed the USMHRP which grew from a budget of $9.6 million and 125 staff located primarily in the U.S. and Thailand, to a budget of approximately $70 million and 900 directly- and indirectly-supported staff in 7 countries (U.S., Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon, and Nigeria).

Since 2006, Doctor Birx has served successfully as the Director of the CDC′s Global AIDS Program, where she has utilized her leadership qualities, superior technical skills, and infective passion that inspire those who work with her. She manages an annual budget of more than $1.5 billion and is ultimately responsible for all activities of GAP, including over 200 staff at headquarters, over 1,400 staff in the field, and more than 39 country offices in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, and Latin America. With her specialized knowledge and decades of international experience in the field of HIV/AIDS coupled with a passion for implementing and enhancing prevention and care programs, she promotes CDC′s mission, global goals, and unique strengths through the interagency collaboration in achieving the goals of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.