Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan was appointed Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) on July 10, 1998 and assumed his duties on October 5, 1998.

As director of CDC, Dr. Koplan led the premiere health agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) responsible for promoting health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. CDC's 11 centers, institutes and program offices work closely with local, state and federal health agencies and private sector partners to protect the public's health and promote healthy lifestyles. As administrator of ATSDR, Dr. Koplan administered the HHS agency created by the Superfund law to prevent or alleviate adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment.

Dr. Koplan's distinguished career in public health, disease prevention and health promotion started in the laboratory and the field as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer, one of CDC's celebrated "disease detectives." He has made contributions in the battle against the major burdens of infectious diseases, environmental and occupational hazards, chronic diseases and unintentional injuries. Dr. Koplan worked in the Smallpox Eradication Program, the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre and as CDC's Assistant Director for Public Health Practice. He chaired the PHS Executive Committee on AIDS from 1982 to 1984. As Executive Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, he played a major role in establishing national immunization policies. From 1989 to 1994, Dr. Koplan served as Assistant Surgeon General and the first director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at CDC. He established a national breast and cervical cancer early detection program at CDC that started with a $500,000 grant in 1987 and now reaches every state with more than $100 million in funding. Dr. Koplan was also instrumental in focusing attention on the global impact of the health hazards of tobacco. While serving in the Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps, he received the Distinguished Service Award--the highest award given--as well as seven other PHS awards. In April 1999, Dr. Koplan was recalled to Active Duty in the Commissioned Corps as an Assistant Surgeon General.

Previous to becoming CDC director, Dr. Koplan served as the President of the Prudential Center for Health Care Research in Atlanta, building the Center into a nationally-recognized health services and outcomes research organization. Dr. Koplan has served as a consultant to the World Bank and the World Health Organization on public health programs. He has worked in Finland on cardiovascular health programs, consulted on infectious and chronic disease issues in China for more than 15 years and designed efforts to prevent chronic disease in Hungary. In 1984, he led the U.S. team investigating the Bhopal chemical disaster in India.

Dr. Koplan has held numerous academic appointments and is currently Visiting Professor of Community Health at Emory University School of Medicine, Clinical Professor of Community Medicine at Morehouse Medical School and a lecturer at Harvard Medical School. He was a member of the advisory committee to the CEO of the American Cancer Society and on the Advisory Board of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

Dr. Koplan has written or contributed to more than 140 scientific publications on epidemiology, economic analysis, public health, prevention effectiveness and the value of cost-benefit analysis in prevention, health services research, health promotion and international health. His published articles have addressed such diverse areas as the Bhopal chemical disaster, viral vaccines, the course of smallpox infection in Bangladesh, the risks and benefits of exercise and a host of other issues.

Dr. Koplan was born January 3, 1945, in Boston, Massachusetts. He earned a B.A. in English from Yale University, an M.D. from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and an M.P.H. from Harvard University's School of Public Health. He was a resident in internal medicine at Montefiore Hospital (New York) and Stanford University Hospital and in preventive medicine at CDC. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine.

Back to the Centennial Board