Judith Monroe
Dr. Judith Monroe, president, and CEO of the CDC Foundation, has dedicated her career to protecting people and saving lives. She joined the CDC Foundation in February 2016 as president and CEO, following her role as a deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and director of CDC’s Office of State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support.
In her work at the CDC Foundation, Dr. Monroe advances priority programs that improve the health of people across America and around the world. The CDC Foundation mobilizes philanthropic and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection work, managing hundreds of programs in the United States and in more than 140 countries.
The CDC Foundation is actively supporting CDC and U.S. health departments’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Dr. Monroe’s leadership, the CDC Foundation has provided support to disproportionately affected populations; procured personal protection equipment for frontline health workers; is hiring surge staff for all 50 states, six large cities, tribal organizations, and territories; and is supporting data solutions for contact tracing. In addition, the CDC Foundation is supporting communications and clinical research, including a portfolio with a focus on health equity. The CDC Foundation is also partnering with cross-sectoral leaders to provide expert panel discussions and scenario planning to help safely reopen the U.S. economy.
The CDC Foundation responded to the Zika epidemic as an implementing partner in addition to mobilizing resources; supported the response and recovery from the 2017 hurricane season; and serves as CDC’s strategic partner for global health security. In 2019, Dr. Monroe was recognized by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce with a MAC Heroes of Global Health award.
Prior to the CDC Foundation, Dr. Monroe oversaw key activities and technical assistance at CDC supporting the nation’s health departments and the public health system. Throughout the 2014–15 Ebola epidemic she served as senior advisor for the domestic response. During her tenure as the state health commissioner for Indiana, she served as president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials through the H1N1 pandemic. She envisioned and founded the ASTHO president’s challenge in 2008. This leadership platform resulted in initiatives with significant health improvements and the focus of ASTHO annual meetings.
Dr. Monroe currently serves on the board of directors for the Center for Global Health Innovation
and for the Georgia Global Health Alliance and is a member of the Milken Institute’s Public Health
Advisory Board. Additionally, she serves as a member of the World Health Organization Foundation’s Advisory Group and on the Advisory Council of the Pandemic Action Network.
Dr. Monroe was recognized in October 2020 by United Way of Greater Atlanta with the Woman of Excellence Award for her unwavering commitment to serving the community. CDC’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity also recognized her in 2020 as their Summer Health Equity Champion. In 2019, she received the American Public Health Association’s Presidential Citation for her work to improve the health and well-being of people around the world, and for her commitment to the future of public health as a mentor to young physicians and public health students.
Dr. Monroe received her doctor of medicine from the University of Maryland and a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Kentucky University. She completed her residency in family medicine at the University of Cincinnati, a rural faculty development fellowship through East Tennessee State University, and a mini-fellowship in obstetrics through the University of Wisconsin. She also participated in the State Health Leadership Initiative at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and received an honorary doctorate from Purdue University in Health and Human Services.