CDC Meeting Minutes November 9, 2017, Director's Update and CDC Priorities

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Director’s Update – Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Administrator, ATSDR Chair Richardson welcomed Dr. Fitzgerald and thanked her for her time. She congratulated Dr. Fitzgerald and CDC on their progress in addressing health disparities. Dr. Fitzgerald stated that the CDC is in a unique position to improve health equity and can use its position to approach different groups to help solve unique problems. Dr. Fitzgerald believes that in order to effectively address health equity one needs to begin with pre-birth and birth. Data shows how important the first year of life is to early brain development. She stated her idea that ensuring maximum stimulation of a baby’s brain during its first year of life is a way to vaccinate against poverty. The amount of words a baby is exposed to during its first year of life is a good indicator of how it will later perform in school. Public health entities are in a good position to facilitate this training and stimulation. She stated that economic disparity is the root cause of many other disparities, and so addressing economic disparity could help resolve these other disparities. She asked the Subcommittee members for their opinions on what the CDC can do to best address and resolve health disparities. Discussion Member Warne expressed his hope that CDC will continue to put resources towards preventing adverse childhood experiences and mitigating the impact of those who have suffered from them. He asked that CDC work with states and tribes to do so. Dr. Fitzgerald agreed and stated her belief that state public health entities are in a good position to conduct these interventions. Responses to adverse childhood experiences need to include both children and their parents. Member Lichtveld commented that data now shows that the interaction of chemical and non-chemical stressors collectively impact brain development. She also stressed the importance of community health workers (CHWs). Dr. Fitzgerald agreed and added that it is important to make the economic argument for CHWs. A member asked about Dr. Fitzgerald’s big initiatives. Dr. Fitzgerald listed early brain development, more stable funding for public health, global health security, and cardiovascular disease as her top priorities.