Strategic Directions for CDC: Changes and Challenges

Dr. Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Session Objective

The objectives for this session are to:

Share the goal of his plans for CDC—increased effectiveness in preventing morbidity and mortality.
Highlight challenges and issues for heart disease and stroke prevention and control: hypertension, sodium in processed food, action at the community and State level with partners.

Session Summary

Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, CDC director, will close the meeting with his vision for CDC and public health. Dr. Frieden will discuss overall the critical role of surveillance, policy, interventions, evaluation, and reporting on health impact and the role of surveillance and targeted public health policy interventions to prevent and control heart disease and stroke. Dr. Frieden will share his perspective and experiences in public health to prevent and control high blood pressure, to ban added transfats, to decrease sodium in processed and restaurant foods, and to decrease tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke.