Press Release

CDC Names Dr. Linda C. Degutis New Injury Center Director

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, is pleased to announce that Dr. Linda C. Degutis, Dr.P.H, M.S.N., is now serving as director of CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Injury Center).

As director of CDC's Injury Center, Dr. Degutis will work to fulfill the agency's mission of preventing injuries and violence, and reducing their consequences.

"Dr. Degutis brings in-depth knowledge of all facets of injury prevention. I am confident she will continue to build upon the superb efforts of the injury prevention team to improve health and safety across the nation and globally," said Dr. Ileana Arias, CDC's Principal Deputy Director.

Dr. Degutis will also be tasked with overseeing one of CDC's Winnable Battles – motor vehicle injury prevention. Winnable battles are public health priorities with large-scale impact on health and with known, effective strategies to intervene.

"Far too many injuries and violent events occur in our communities, and we must be committed to preventing them when possible as well as ensuring we have effective response plans for when they cannot be prevented," said Dr. Degutis. "I look forward to helping guide the Injury Center's efforts to use science to understand the problems and find programs and policies to help people be safe wherever they are."

After receiving her undergraduate degree from DePaul University, Degutis went on to earn her Master of Nursing and Doctorate of Public Health degrees from Yale University. Prior to her appointment, Degutis was research director for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Yale School of Medicine and director of the Yale Center for Public Health Preparedness (YCPHP) at the Yale School of Public Health.

Dr. Degutis' research interests have focused on issues related to alcohol and injury, with a particular focus on identifying promising interventions that address key policy issues. She is known internationally for her work in public health, injury, substance abuse and policy and has served as the principal investigator or co-investigator for grants on a wide range of topics including: alcohol interventions; public health preparedness; public health workforce training; public health systems research; and interventions for prescription drug addiction.

Dr. Degutis currently serves on the Institute of Medicine's Advisory Board for the Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship Program and the Executive Board of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

To learn more about CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, visit http://www.cdc.gov/injury.

###
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES