WASHINGTON—May 15, 2009—Research!America praised President Obama's selection of Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
The Honorable John Edward Porter, Research!America chair, said, "Dr. Frieden's scope of experience in protecting the health of the public from ordinary and extraordinary health threats is just what America needs. He will be a real asset to the CDC, which plays an enormous role in protecting Americans from public health threats that range from obesity to tobacco addiction, from injuries to the H1N1 flu virus."
Mary Woolley, Research!America's president and CEO, said, "Dr. Frieden knows the value of investing in public health research. In his role since 2002 as commissioner of the New York City Health Department, he relied on his own and CDC's research expertise as he calmly addressed New Yorkers, advising them of safety precautions being implemented as the H1N1 outbreak unfolded in real time. His background includes more than a decade of working on staff at CDC, so his knowledge of the agency, its mission and the health challenges it addresses will enable him to step into this role quickly and bring strong leadership to our nation's leading public health agency."
Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority. Founded in 1989, Research!America is supported by more than 500 member organizations that represent the voices of 125 million Americans. Visit www.researchamerica.org.
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