2002.05.03:Thompson Names Director of Preparedness Office

Font Size Print Print Download Reader

This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 3, 2002

Contact:

HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

THOMPSON NAMES DIRECTOR OF PREPAREDNESS OFFICE

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today that Jerome M. Hauer will serve as director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness (OPHP), taking over from Dr. D.A. Henderson, who will continue to serve as principal science advisor to the secretary for public health preparedness and chairman of the Secretary's Council on Public Health Preparedness. Henderson had agreed to serve as OPHP director for six months when the office was created last year.

Secretary Thompson said the moves mark the end of the development phase of the new office and set a more permanent leadership course. Secretary Thompson created the Office of Public Health Preparedness in October to develop and coordinate the department's bioterrorism preparedness efforts.

Hauer has been serving as advisor to the secretary for national security and emergency management. As OPHP director, he will now oversee and coordinate the department's planning, response and recovery efforts for all emergencies, including acts of terrorism. He will report directly to the Secretary.

Henderson had agreed to the initial six-moth term while the office was developed. He came from Johns Hopkins University, where he was director of the Center for Civilian Biodefense.

"We have a dream team of scientists and emergency management experts making sure that HHS and its state and local partners are ready to respond to a bioterrorism attack," Secretary Thompson said. "Jerry is a proven and aggressive leader who gets the job done, and one of the world's preeminent experts in emergency preparedness and bioterrorism. He will make sure we are coordinated and prepared for emergencies within HHS, but more importantly, with the state and local public health professionals. "

Henderson will continue to advise on the development of vaccines for threat agents such as smallpox and help develop the department's research agenda for bioterrorism.

"When I persuaded D.A. to help develop this new office, I knew the commitment was for six months, and I truly appreciate his hard work and dedication," Secretary Thompson said. "It's just the latest chapter in a lifetime committed to protecting the public's health by Dr. Henderson. I'm appreciative that he will continue to serve as my leading science advisor on bioterrorism."

Hauer is widely recognized for his work in developing the country's first bioterrorism response plans while serving as the Director of Emergency Management for New York City. He also pioneered efforts to put in place one of the first public health surveillance systems in the United States. Hauer was the first director of the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management for the City of New York.

Hauer has served on the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine's Committee to Evaluate R&D Needs for Improved Civilian Medical Response to Chemical and Biological Terrorism, as a member of the Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense's Working Group, and on the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health's Health Advisory Board. He also is an advisor to Columbia University's School of Public Health.

A graduate of Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Hauer was a student of D.A. Henderson's when he served as dean of the school. Hauer called Henderson "his longtime friend and mentor."

Hauer has published more than 45 articles, a book and a monograph. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Outstanding Alumni of the Year from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and the Distinguished Alumni Award from New York University.

###

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.