80 FR 17452 - Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 62 (April 1, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17452-17459]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07348]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part C (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (45 FR 67772-76, dated 
October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 69296, October 20, 1980, as 
amended most recently at 80 FR 1417-1419, dated January 9, 2015) is 
amended to reflect the reorganization of the Office of Public Health 
Scientific Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    Section C-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as 
follows:
    Delete in its entirety the title and functions statements for the 
Health Information Technology and Surveillance Strategy Unit (CPA3), 
Office of the Director (CPA),
    Delete in its entirety the title and the mission and function 
statements for the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory 
Services (CPN) and insert the following:
    Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services (CPN) 
The mission of the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and 
Laboratory Services (CSELS) is to provide scientific service, 
expertise, skills, and tools in support of CDC's efforts to promote 
health; prevent disease, injury and disability; and prepare for 
emerging health threats. CSELS focuses on improving information and 
data quality, laboratory systems, and the public health workforce, 
through modernization, innovation, and service. To carry out its 
mission, CSELS (1) leads and executes a national public health 
surveillance strategy for human health that builds upon current 
resources, establishes priorities for the nation's next-generation 
capability and provides timely, comprehensive, and accessible 
information to strengthen public health practice, and provide value to 
clinicians; (2) participates in the identification, development, 
evolution, and adoption of informatics standards; (3) facilitates and 
coordinates program and laboratory systems integration for the Agency; 
(4) provides leadership and support to strengthen the quality and 
safety of laboratory practices; (5) provides leadership for scientific 
workforce education and advances professional development; (6) provides 
leadership on public health genomics strategy, activities, and 
planning; (7) creates and promotes access to quality, timely and useful 
cross-cutting scientific guidance, products, and services to strengthen 
the science and practice of public health and to improve public health 
decision-making.
    Office of the Director (CPN1). (1) Provides strategic direction 
regarding surveillance, epidemiologic investigation, and data and 
information sciences; (2) supports OPHSS's CDC-wide coordination and 
strategic activities in areas of health informatics technology, 
including the meaningful use of electronic health records for public 
health surveillance and the coordination of partners and stakeholders 
for biosurveillance, genomics, and publication science; (3) leads the 
development of public health workforce training; (4) guides the 
development of laboratory systems standards for quality and safety, 
including the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and 
engagement with relevant federal advisory committees; (5) manages, 
directs, coordinates, and evaluates the activities of the Center; (6) 
defines goals and objectives for policy formation, scientific 
oversight, and guidance in program planning and development; (7) 
establishes and implements a communications strategy in support of 
CSELS overarching goals and priorities; (8) provides oversight for the 
evaluation of programmatic performance of all CSELS activities to 
ensure health impact; (9) plans, coordinates, and manages all aspects 
of program business services including human and fiscal resources, 
extramural activities, space, and all administrative services; (10) 
devises information technology practices and procedures, and provides 
direction, innovation, planning and evaluation for information 
technology systems, services, security, and resources for CSELS; (11) 
provides leadership on issues management, budget formulation and 
performance integration; (12) manages inter-governmental and external 
affairs and cultivates strategic partnerships; (13) ensures scientific 
quality, integrity, and clearance across the Center; (14) provides 
guidance and strategic oversight to the processes within the Center 
that access, collect, manage, analyze, and visualize data, including 
assistance for involvement with federal advisory committees and other 
high level groups; (15) monitors projects for effective focus on the 
analytical, informatics, data management, and statistical 
infrastructure to deliver quality data, accurate analysis services and 
dependable software products and systems to customers and partners; 
(16) collaborates and consults with other Centers, working groups, 
state and local health departments, other federal agencies, and other 
partners, to accomplish the mission of the Center; (17) reviews, 
prepares, coordinates, and develops Congressional testimony and 
briefing materials; and (18) represents the CSELS and at times CDC at 
professional and scientific meetings, within and outside CDC.
    Division of Laboratory Systems (CPNB). The mission of the Division 
of Laboratory Systems (DLS) is to provide leadership, support, and 
cross-cutting services to continually strengthen the capability, 
sustainability, and quality of laboratory science, policy, and practice 
at CDC, in clinical and public health laboratories, both in the United 
States and with international partners. DLS strives to strengthen and 
align the capacity and ability of both clinical and public health 
laboratories to perform their critical roles in protecting the public's 
health. In this mission, DLS: (1) Fosters collaboration across the 
laboratory community; (2) strengthens integration of laboratory 
science,

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practice, and informatics into public health and patient care; (3) 
develops and advances the use of standards, policies, and guidelines to 
ensure safe and accurate laboratory performance and strong laboratory 
systems; (4) conducts studies to evaluate and improve the quality of 
laboratory practices and services; (5) strengthens the laboratory 
workforce; and (6) enhances the efficiency, effectiveness, capacity and 
capability of the public health laboratory system through integration 
of CDC program support.
    Office of the Director (CPNB1). (1) Provides leadership and 
guidance for strategic planning and implementation, establishes goals 
and program priorities, and engages in policy development to advance 
the mission of the Division, the Center, and CDC; (2) directs and 
provides public health vision for laboratory practices and systems; (3) 
contributes to national cross-cutting efforts to standardize and 
accelerate electronic reporting of laboratory results to improve 
patient care and public health surveillance; (4) provides leadership, 
oversight, and guidance in the business management and operations, 
including budget formulation and planning, of the Division of 
Laboratory Systems (DLS) programs; (5) directs, applies, and translates 
research and evaluation initiatives for laboratory practices, 
standards, and services; (6) oversees laboratory specimen management 
policies and the CDC/ATSDR Specimen Packaging, Inventory, and 
Repository (CASPIR); (7) oversees, manages, and supports the CLIA 
program and relevant federal advisory committees; (8) collaborates with 
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Food and 
Drug Administration in the CLIA program; (9) coordinates CDC efforts to 
support state and local public health laboratories in promoting 
sustainability of national testing services and capacity; (10) 
coordinates CDC's interaction with other government agencies; (11) 
performs scientific review and clearance for Division publications, 
presentations, and reports; (12) assists in the management the 
information collection and training to support the reporting and the 
implementation of CDC various regulatory requirements; (13) assist the 
agency in the development and management of laboratory domains for 
various trainings and fellowships; (14) provides communications, web 
support, responses to media requests, and Division communication 
outreach efforts; (15) advises the Center OD on matters relating to 
laboratory practice and coordinates Division responses to requests for 
technical assistance or information about activities supported by the 
Division; (16) reviews, prepares, coordinates, and develops 
Congressional testimony and briefing materials; and (17) represents the 
Division and at times CSELS or CDC at professional and scientific 
meetings, within and outside CDC.
    Laboratory Training and Services Branch (CPNBC). (1) Provides 
advanced laboratory training to maintain a competent, prepared, and 
sustainable national and global laboratory workforce for testing of 
public health importance; (2) engages agency and laboratory community 
experts to collaboratively develop effective training products which 
incorporate safety and quality laboratory practices; (3) assesses, 
designs, develops, and implements effective needs-based training 
pertaining to clinical and public health laboratory methodology, 
technology, safety and practice; (4) evaluates the efficiency and 
effectiveness of public health laboratory education and training for 
state and local public health, clinical, uniformed service, CDC, and 
other federal agency laboratory professionals; (5) evaluates the 
effectiveness and measures the outcomes of all training to ensure 
quality and safety; (6) provides oversight and management for CDC/ATSDR 
Specimen Packaging, Inventory, and Repository (CASPIR); (7) provides 
services for the safe storage, cataloging, assembly and shipping of 
isolates, panels, and other reference materials; (8) provides 
informatics support and project management for the specimen inventory 
management system and other databases related to public health 
laboratory services; and (9) evaluates the effectiveness of the 
branch's scientific support services and products to its customers.
    Laboratory Practice Standards Branch (CPNBD). (1) Provides 
technical expertise and support for oversight and implementation of the 
CLIA program and relevant federal advisory committees; (2) develops 
laboratory practice standards and guidelines, and assists with their 
adoption and validation; (3) supplies technical assistance and review 
of laboratory accreditation, state licensure programs, and proficiency 
testing programs; (4) provides scientific consultation for inquiries 
about testing complexity, personnel qualifications, quality control and 
quality assessment, and proficiency testing; (5) evaluates the 
applicability of federal quality standards to new laboratory 
technologies and establishes new alternative quality assurance 
measures; (6) interprets and assists the implementation of CLIA 
regulations; (7) collaborates to develop standards and guidance for 
laboratory information management in electronic health records and 
laboratory reporting for CDC's surveillance strategy; (8) supports the 
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee, its subcommittees, 
and workgroups; (9) provides scientific support for issues related to 
the development and implementation of cytology and related pathology 
standards; (10) assists in the development and review of laboratory 
performance standards and guidelines; and (11) disseminates information 
about laboratory standards and practices.
    Laboratory Research and Evaluation Branch (CPNBE). (1) Encourages 
establishment and adoption of performance standards and guidelines for 
laboratory practice; (2) develops, evaluates, and implements systems 
for measuring and assessing laboratory quality; (3) facilitates and 
conducts research and demonstration projects to support the scientific 
development of performance standards and guidelines, evaluation 
systems, and regulatory standards; and assesses the efficacy of 
established standards; (4) develops, promotes, implements, and 
evaluates intervention strategies to improve general performance 
deficiencies in health laboratory systems and worker competencies; (5) 
provides a forum for exchange of information about laboratory practice 
and research and development activities to promote the coordination of 
federal, state, and clinical laboratory improvement efforts; (6) 
coordinates and conducts activities that provide technical and 
scientific support to CMS in its evaluation, development, and revision 
of standards and guidelines; (7) evaluates current and emerging 
practices and provides guidance to ensure and promote quality in the 
application of advanced molecular technologies; (8) evaluates emerging 
technology and the impact on clinical and public health laboratory 
practice; (9) collaborates with other CDC genomics programs, including 
the Office of Public Health Genomics, for broad genomics policy 
initiatives; and (10) collaborates in the development of standards and 
guidance for laboratory information management in electronic health 
records in support of CLIA objectives and electronic laboratory 
reporting to support CDC's surveillance strategy.
    Division of Public Health Information and Dissemination (CPNC). The 
primary mission of the Division of Public Health Information and 
Dissemination (DPHID) is to serve as a hub for scientific publications, 
information and library

[[Page 17454]]

sciences, systematic reviews and recommendations, and public health 
genomics, thereby collaborating with CDC CIOs and the public health 
community in producing, disseminating, and implementing evidence-based 
and actionable information to strengthen public health science and 
improve public health decision-making.
    In carrying out its mission, DPHID: (1) Provides leadership and 
overall direction for the execution of programs that produce scientific 
publications, strengthen public health science, and provide access to 
scientific research and innovative products for improving population 
health and public health decision making; (2) identifies what works in 
community preventive services and collaborates with CDC and the public 
health community to educate and encourage action to improve public 
health; (3) serves as a hub of research, information exchange, and 
learning for the CDC and the public health community; (4) provides 
access to scientific literature and systematic review support; (5) sets 
and ensures adherence to quality standards for manuscripts, reports, 
and other scientific products; (6) develops curriculum, training, and 
consultation services for CDC and other federal and non-federal 
partners to foster the development of skills in publication of public 
health information, systematic reviews, library sciences, and 
information literacy; (7) presents a selection of public health genomic 
approaches, studies, and lessons learned from efforts to build greater 
program collaboration and service integration; (8) advances the field 
of public health informatics for CSELS and the Agency through applied 
research and innovation; and (9) through strategic communications, 
fosters collaboration with CIOs across CDC and the public health 
community to encourage dialog about actions that can be taken to 
improve the quality of science and public health decision making.
    Office of the Director (CPNC1). (1) Provides leadership and 
strategic direction on program priority setting to advance the mission 
of the Division, Center and CDC to achieve critical public health 
outcomes; (2) advises CSELS OD on matters relating to genomics, 
systematic reviews and recommendations, information and library 
sciences, scientific publications, dissemination and implementation, 
and informatics innovation; (3) defines goals and objectives for policy 
formation, scientific oversight, and guidance in program planning and 
development; (4) develops budgets, allocates resources, monitors 
progress, and reports accomplishments, future directions, and resource 
requirements; (5) establishes and implements a communications strategy 
in support of the Division's overarching goals and priorities; (6) 
fosters engagement, collaboration, and strategic partnerships with CDC 
Programs, other federal agencies, and with the public health community 
in support of Division and Center priorities; (7) oversees and 
coordinates proactive and reactive issues management related to 
Division programs; (8) provides oversight for the evaluation of 
programmatic performance of all Division activities to ensure health 
impact; (9) ensures scientific quality and integrity across the 
Division; (10) performs scientific review and clearance and may provide 
direct managerial and editorial oversight for Division publications, 
presentations, and reports; (11) collaborates with CSELS OD and 
Division programs to ensure adherence to information technology 
standards, procedures and requirements; (12) provides Division-level 
oversight to management, administration, human resources, business, 
extramural, space, and support services, and coordinates with relevant 
offices and programs on administrative matters; (13) reviews, prepares, 
coordinates, and develops Congressional testimony and briefing 
materials; and (14) represents the Division and at times CSELS or CDC 
at professional and scientific meetings, within and outside CDC.
    Informatics Innovation Unit (CPNC12) (1) Advances the field of 
public health informatics for CSELS and the Agency through applied 
research and innovation; (2) collaborates with CDC programs and the 
broader public health community to develop innovative technologies and 
techniques to positively impact public health practice; (3) transitions 
new informatics solutions, standards, and techniques to public health 
programs for deployment and implementation; (4) provides CDC and its 
external research and public health partners with consultation, 
evaluation, guidance, and support in the use of new informatics 
solutions for public health practice; (5) leverages its resources to 
rapidly create prototypes, conduct pilot projects, and examine and test 
hypotheses generated by CSELS, CDC, and its external partners to 
support innovative public health informatics solutions; (6) provides 
CDC, and its external partners an optimal (i.e., flexible and scalable) 
environment for the rapid development of prototype and pilot public 
health informatics solutions for collaboration, testing and evaluation 
purposes; (7) participates and represents CSELS within innovation 
committees, workgroups, organizations, and councils, within CDC and 
with other federal agencies as well; (8) facilitates public health 
informatics innovation within the Agency and the public health 
community, through partner outreach and collaboration, using 
crowdfunding, challenge grants, and other novel cost efficient 
mechanisms; (9) disseminates relevant knowledge to CDC and its partners 
via presentations, manuscripts, web-based content and other modalities; 
(10) provides education to fellows, colleagues, and partners on 
emerging informatics tools, techniques, and methodologies; and (11) 
provides regular updates to CSELS leadership as to the status of all 
projects in the technology laboratory.
    Office of Public Health Genomics (CPNC13). The Office of Public 
Health Genomics is charged with identifying opportunities for genomics 
to improve health and transform health care, informing CDC and partners 
about evidence-based genomic applications to impact health, and 
integrating evidence-based genomic applications into practice and 
programs--including pathogen genomics (advanced molecular detection), 
genomic markers for birth defects, reproductive health, child health, 
chronic disease as well as environmental and occupational exposures. To 
accomplish these aims, the Office (1) integrates advances in pathogen 
and human (e.g., birth defects) genomics responsibly and effectively 
into health care and disease prevention; (2) provides technical 
assistance and advice to CDC leadership and programs, other federal 
agencies, state health departments, and other external partners by 
identifying, evaluating, and implementing evidence-based genomics 
practices to prevent and control the country's leading chronic, 
infectious, environmental, and occupational diseases; (3) supports 
policy, education, and surveillance frameworks to promote effective 
implementation of evidence-based recommendations for genomic tests and 
family health history applications that can save lives now, as well as 
those applications that will emerge in the next decade and beyond; (4) 
fosters public health genomics programs at the state and national level 
by providing ongoing consultation and tools to state health 
departments, CDC programs, and other stakeholders to share successful 
approaches to promote the optimal use of genomic tests; (5) evaluates 
emerging genomic applications with the potential to

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impact population health; (6) supports the evaluation of genomic 
applications in the development of an evidence framework for 
introducing whole genome sequencing into practice, assessing the role 
of genomics and family history in recommendations for chronic disease; 
(7) identifies new emerging genomic applications with the potential to 
impact population health through horizon scanning and evidence 
summaries of validity and utility; (8) sponsors the development of 
stakeholder driven methods working group for accelerating research 
translation of genomics into practice and programs; (9) communicates 
evidence-based messages through well-established communications 
channels, including the Genomics and Health Impact Update & Blog, CDC 
Expert Commentary Series on Medscape, the CDC Web site, publications, 
and other means; (10) conducts programmatic efforts to implement public 
health genomics interventions and surveillance in partnership with 
state public health departments; and (11) conducts public health 
genomics epidemiologic studies and analyses based on health and 
biometric data.
    Community Guide Branch (CPNCC). The Community Guide Branch 
collaborates with CDC and the public health community to identify 
effective community preventive services and to educate and encourage 
action to improve public health. To accomplish these aims, the Branch: 
(1) Convenes and provides ongoing administrative, research, and 
technical support for the operations of the independent Community 
Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force), as directed by statutory 
mandate; (2) conducts and oversees production of the systematic reviews 
that serve as the scientific basis for Task Force findings and 
recommendations; (3) coordinates and manages large and diverse teams of 
internal and external partners participating in the systematic review 
process; (4) participates with other CDC programs and other federal and 
non-governmental partners in developing and refining methods for 
conducting systematic reviews; (5) assists CDC and other federal and 
non-federal partners in understanding, using, and communicating methods 
for conducting systematic reviews; (6) assists CDC and other federal 
and non-federal partners in linking reviews of evidence to guidelines 
development and program implementation; (7) assists the Task Force in 
producing reports on evidence gaps and priority areas for further 
examination; (8) establishes, updates, and evaluates the utility and 
use of the Community Guide Web site (www.thecommunityguide.org) by 
intended users; (9) convenes and participates with other CDC programs 
and other federal and non-governmental partners in (a) disseminating 
products and promotional materials throughout the U.S. health care and 
public health systems and to their multi-sectoral partners via a 
variety of media, such as journals, books, documents, the World Wide 
Web, and other media, (b) developing and testing policies and processes 
for referencing Task Force findings in research and programmatic 
funding announcements to increase use of Task Force findings and fill 
evidence gaps, and (c) developing, refining, and evaluating methods for 
assisting users in implementing Task Force recommendations; (10) 
convenes and participates with other CDC programs and other federal and 
non-governmental partners in establishing methods for evaluating 
implementation, use, and impact of Task Force-recommended strategies; 
(11) participates in the development of national and regional public 
and private partnerships to enhance prevention research and the 
translation of evidence into policy and action; (12) provides 
epidemiologic and scientific support for health departments, non-profit 
hospitals and other community-based organizations engaged in community 
health improvement; (13) maintains scientific expertise in cross-
cutting measures of population health and population health 
determinants; (14) develops stakeholder-driven epidemiological 
resources including analytic tools and scientific resources for 
identifying community health priorities and health disparities, and 
monitoring and evaluating public health impact; (15) hosts and 
periodically updates the Community Health Status Indicators web 
application; and (16) participates with CDC and other federal and non-
federal partners to encourage multi-sector collaborations that support 
shared ownership of community health improvement.
    Library Science and Services Branch (CPNCD). The Stephen B. Thacker 
CDC Library supports CDC's scientific and public health information 
needs by serving as CDC's resource for library collections, electronic 
and hardcopy resources, customized library services and tools, and 
information exchange and learning. To accomplish these aims, the 
Branch: (1) Develops, curates, and sustains collections of public 
health information, including (a) providing a user-friendly portal to 
collections through cataloging, classification, and metadata tagging 
that improves efficiency and access, (b) evaluating library resource 
usage data to assess collection usefulness and inform purchasing 
decisions; and (c) preserving collections that document CDC's role in 
public health missions, and unique, one-of-a-kind, historical, out-of-
print and archival collections, (2) provides CDC scientists with ready 
and timely access to electronic and hardcopy scientific and public 
health programmatic resources, including (a) document delivery and 
interlibrary loan services, and (b) access to journals, databases, 
electronic and print books, (most via the CDC intranet to the 
employee's desktop); (3) provides library science technical assistance 
(including for systematic reviews), training, and tools including (a) 
tailored literature searches, (b) reference services at the main 
library and library branches, (c) subject matter depth to better assist 
CDC science staff including the science and practice of systematic 
reviews, (d) training CDC staff to utilize library resources more 
efficiently and effectively, and (e) delivery of Science Clips--a 
weekly summary of notable publications--to CDC scientists and external 
partners; (4) provides and manages facilities for scientific inquiry, 
learning and research including space for conferences, meetings, 
computer and other training, hoteling, accessing special collections, 
and checking email; (5) provides staff support to the Library Advisory 
Board, whose members ensure their CIO's needs are considered in library 
operations and planning; and (6) collaborates with other federal 
libraries, Atlanta medical libraries, other library and information 
scientists, and public health partners to increase access to resources 
and explore innovations in information and library science that will 
enhance efficiency and effectiveness in meeting the information needs 
of the public health workforce.
    Scientific Publications Branch (CPNCE). Produces and disseminates 
timely, reliable, accurate, credible scientific information for public 
health action through publications and companion materials. Branch 
includes the MMWR Series and Vital Signs, and may accommodate other CDC 
publications. To accomplish these aims, the Branch: (1) Develops 
publications and companion materials that serve as primary vehicles for 
dissemination of CDC policy statements (MMWR) or calls to action (Vital 
Signs); (2) works directly, quickly and collaboratively with CDC 
programs and CDC OD, and actively solicits content; (3) provides

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complete editorial services, from conception of content to final 
proofreading; (4) builds public health capacity to share information 
for public health action by publishing the work of state, local and 
foreign health departments and working with inexperienced authors, as 
well as, provides consultation and training on relevant publication 
matters; (5) assures that publications and companion materials meet 
current publications and scientific standards, facilitates compliance 
with OSTP memo to link published reports with underlying data, and 
advances publication platforms such as inclusion of interactive 
options; (6) actively seeks mechanisms to disseminate content further 
through collaboration with the CDC Office of the Associate Director for 
Communication (e.g., media releases, fact sheets, Web sites, and social 
media), non-CDC publications (e.g., Journal of the American Medical 
Association, Journal of Public Health, Pediatrics), and other federal, 
state and local government agencies and non-government partners; (7) 
leads innovation in publication standards across the publication field 
that affect CDC's mission, such as recommendations and guidelines, in 
collaboration with other scientific publications and the Council of 
Scientific Editors; (8) meets informational needs of primary and 
secondary audiences, including state and local health agencies, policy 
makers, public health practitioners, clinicians, nurses and school and 
health educators, and the general public; (9) monitors and evaluates 
dissemination strategies, publication impact, and public health impact 
to optimize publications and companion materials; (10) produces and 
disseminates evidence-based, actionable information on a selected topic 
each month to the public, media outlets, and public health and medical 
health providers; and (11) coordinates and manages all aspects of Vital 
Signs releases by the Office of the Director, CDC.
    Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development 
(CPND). The primary mission of the Division of Scientific Education and 
Professional Development (DSEPD) is to improve health outcomes through 
a competent, sustainable, and empowered public health workforce. In 
carrying out its mission, DSEPD: (1) Plans, directs and manages 
programs that develop the current and future public health workforce 
(including the field of public health laboratory science and practice); 
(2) provides leadership in scientific workforce education and 
development, including quality assurance, technical consultation and 
evaluation; and (3) provides leadership to facilitate or coordinate CDC 
and partner strategic workforce initiatives to increase capability of 
the current workforce, expand pipeline programs to recruit new talent, 
strengthen systems to support the workforce, and leverage partnerships 
to maximally achieve goals.
    Office of the Director (CPND1). (1) Provides leadership and overall 
direction for DSEPD; (2) develops goals and objectives, and provides 
leadership, policy formation, scientific oversight, and guidance in 
scientific education and professional development program planning and 
development; (3) plans, coordinates, and develops workforce-related 
research plans for DSEPD; (4) ensures adherence and provides training 
to DSEPD on CDC and HHS science-related policies; (5) oversees and 
manages DSEPD clearance process for scientific, technical, and 
programmatic documents; (6) manages DSEPD communication activities, 
including communication product development, promotion and 
dissemination strategies, media relations coordination, and DSEPD Web 
sites; (7) responds to freedom of information requests and controlled 
correspondence; (8) coordinates all DSEPD program reviews; (9) reviews, 
prepares, coordinates, and develops Congressional testimony and 
briefing materials; (10) leads Division programmatic evaluation 
activities, assists DSEPD programs in establishing performance metrics, 
and coordinates quarterly reviews with programs to ascertain status on 
meeting of the metrics; (11) coordinates DSEPD budget formulation and 
negotiation related to program initiatives and goals management; (12) 
provides leadership, oversight, and guidance in the management and 
operations of DSEPD programs, including agency-wide assistance with OMB 
requirements and policy; (13) ensures and promotes the use of best 
practices in scientific education and professional development 
processes, services, and products; (14) provides leadership and 
guidance on new developments and national trends for public health 
workforce education and training; (15) establishes policies and 
standards for public health education and training activities and 
initiatives, including but not limited to, competency development, 
quality assurance, and evaluation, and works collaboratively within 
DSEPD and other components of CDC to ensure their implementation and 
adoption; (16) develops and implements a crosscutting framework for 
planning, implementing, and evaluating fellowship training programs 
that provide service to the organizations where fellows are assigned 
(e.g., CIOs, SLHDs) and the communities they serve, and are responsive 
to the needs of CDC's internal workforce and to the needs of DSEPD's 
external partners, including the academic sector; (17) manages pilot 
fellowship programs in early stages of development, as needed; (18) 
develops and manages unified DSEPD-wide administrative systems and 
supports the commitment of resources for application development; (19) 
coordinates management information systems and analyses of data for 
improved use of DSEPD resources; and (20) directs systems analysis and 
design, programming, and systems training as it relates to 
implementation of new and existing administrative, management, and 
executive information systems; (21) provides leadership to coordinate 
CDC and partner strategic workforce initiatives to increase capability 
of existing workforce, expand pipeline programs to recruit new talent, 
and strengthen systems to support the workforce; and (22) represents 
the Division and at times CSELS or CDC at professional and scientific 
meetings, within and outside CDC.
    Education and Training Services Branch (CPNDB). (1) Plans, directs, 
and manages training design, development, consultation, and delivery, 
and accredits educational activities for entry level public health 
professionals and the existing public health workforce; (2) identifies 
and implements best practices and methods for developing the public 
health workforce; (3) develops evidence-based policies and standards 
for public health education and training activities and initiatives, 
including but not limited to, competency development, quality 
assurance, and evaluation, and provides technical assistance within 
DSEPD and other components of CDC to ensure their implementation and 
adoption; (4) develops and maintains appropriate liaisons with all 
fellowship programs in DSEPD, and provides technical assistance to 
other programs across the agency to ensure the development of rigorous 
educational programs based on the science of adult learning and 
instructional technology; (5) facilitates a cross-cutting approach and 
sharing of educational/evaluation lessons learned and tools across 
DSEPD programs, as well as other programs across the agency; (6) 
provides guidance in planning and implementation of the educational 
components of complex

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systems and processes to support learners, such as fellows and other 
learners seeking continuing education to ensure data requirements are 
consistent with the evaluation framework and capture educational 
outcomes of learners; (7) provides consultation, guidance, and 
technical assistance to course developers, incorporating principles of 
learning theory to ensure consistent design and delivery of accredited 
educational activities; (8) maintains knowledge of continuing education 
standards and applies quality assurance practices required to uphold 
national accreditations; (9) assesses need and demand for additional 
accreditations to support professional license and certification needs 
of technical and professional staff within the health workforce; (10) 
develops and maintains internal and external partnerships to foster 
best practices in the design and delivery of educational activities and 
training; (11) maintains knowledge of information technology and 
learning standards as they apply to education and training to 
demonstrate and promote compliance and best practices by CDC programs; 
(12) applies the principles of instructional systems design and 
learning theory to design, develop, deliver, and evaluate informational 
and instructional products; (13) implements and maintains technology-
based systems to support learners, such as CDC Training and Continuing 
Education Online, a web-based accreditation and registration system; 
(14) coordinates educational opportunities and resources for learners 
across public health and health care through the CDC Learning 
Connection Web site, which includes CDC TRAIN, an online portal that 
provides learners no-cost access to a comprehensive catalog of learning 
products; (15) adapts information systems and processes to reflect 
current best practices and adherence to accreditation requirements; and 
(16) provides technical assistance and guidance to learners to ensure 
accreditation and learner support.
    Epidemiology Workforce Branch (CPNDC). (1) Plans, directs, and 
manages CDC-wide training and service programs for teaching and 
training future public health professionals, and supports the existing 
workforce in applied epidemiology, including but not limited to the 
Epidemic Intelligence Service Program, Epidemiology Elective for Senior 
Medical and Veterinary Students, and the CDC-Hubert Global Health 
Fellowship; (2) plans, directs, and evaluates elementary and high 
school student program pipeline activities intended to increase the 
number of individuals aware of and choosing a career in public health; 
(3) sponsors complementary activities to train teachers to develop 
lesson plans of public health significance for middle and high school 
students; (4) establishes and implements overall Branch policies, 
plans, and procedures; (5) develops and implements a formal plan to 
evaluate the effectiveness of all fellowship program activities, 
including the completion of program activities by EIS officers (EISOs), 
quality of field and HQ assignments, performance of officers, and 
effectiveness of educational activities; (6) conducts site visits and 
maintains liaison with supervisors of EISOs within CDC and in field 
assignments; (7) coordinates the assignment and deployment of EISOs in 
response to natural disasters, terrorist events, and other large scale 
public health emergencies; (8) provides technical assistance, 
consultation, resources, and training for DSEPD, other components of 
CDC, and the broader health workforce (e.g., state and local workers), 
including, but not limited to the development and dissemination of 
standard curricula, training, and related materials, in epidemiology; 
(9) maintains liaison with alumni within and outside CDC to assist with 
training, recruitment, and promotional activities; (10) responds to 
domestic and international requests for assistance and consultation 
(e.g., Epi-Aids); (11) maintains liaison with other governmental 
agencies, academic institutions and organizations, state and local 
health agencies, private health organizations, professional 
organizations, and other outside groups; (12) assumes an active 
national and international leadership role in applied epidemiology 
training; and (13) collaborates, as appropriate, with the CDC/OD, other 
CIOs, and domestic and international agencies to carry out the 
functions of the branch.
    Population Health Workforce Branch (CPNDD). (1) Plans, directs, and 
manages CDC-wide training and service programs for teaching and 
training future public health professionals, and supports the existing 
workforce in applied public health sciences, including but not limited 
to the Preventive Medicine Residency/Fellowship, Public Health 
Informatics Fellowship, Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship, and the 
Presidential Management Fellows Program; (2) operates and maintains an 
accredited preventive medicine residency program for physicians in CDC 
through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and a 
complementary fellowship program for public health veterinarians; (3) 
establishes and implements overall Branch policies, plans, and 
procedures; (4) develops and implements a formal plan to evaluate the 
effectiveness of all fellowship program activities, including the 
completion of program activities by fellows and residents, the quality 
of field and HQ assignments, performance of fellows/residents, and 
effectiveness of educational activities; (5) conducts site visits and 
maintains liaison with supervisors of fellows/residents within CDC and 
in field assignments; (6) coordinates the assignment and deployment of 
fellows/residents in response to natural disasters, terrorist events, 
and other large scale public health emergencies; (7) provides technical 
assistance, consultation, resources, and training for DSEPD, other 
components of CDC, and the broader health workforce (e.g., state and 
local workers), including, but not limited to the development and 
dissemination of standard curricula, training, and related materials, 
in preventive medicine, informatics, prevention effectiveness and 
leadership/management and policy; (8) maintains liaison with alumni 
within and outside CDC to assist with training, recruitment, and 
promotional activities; (9) responds to domestic and international 
requests for assistance and consultation (e.g., Info-Aids, Econ-Aids); 
(10) maintains liaison with other governmental agencies, academic 
institutions and organizations, state and local health agencies, 
private health organizations, professional organizations, and other 
outside groups; (11) assumes an active national and international 
leadership role in applied public health sciences training in 
preventive medicine, public health informatics, prevention 
effectiveness, and leadership and management, and policy; (12) 
collaborates, as relevant, with the CDC/OD, other CIOs, and domestic 
and international agencies to carry out the functions of the branch; 
(13) fosters closer linkages between academia and public health 
practice; (14) supports and provides oversight for cooperative 
agreements with academic partner organizations to enhance development 
of public health and health professionals skilled in improving the 
health of populations; (15) provides technical consultation to academic 
associations regarding improvements in curriculum and experiential 
learning opportunities; and (16) works with partners in academia, state 
and local health agencies, public health and health professional

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organizations to address public health educational needs, including 
developing population health competencies for academia to improve 
health professional education (e.g., schools of medicine, nursing, and 
public health).
    Division of Health Informatics and Surveillance Systems (CPNE). The 
mission of the Division of Health Informatics and Surveillance Systems 
(DHIS) is to provide leadership and cross-cutting support in developing 
public health information systems, managing public health surveillance 
programs, and provisioning health-related data required to monitor 
control, and prevent the occurrence and spread of diseases and other 
adverse health conditions. DHIS strives to improve surveillance and the 
quality of data for decision making through a focus on transparency and 
trust in collaborations with public health partners while applying new 
and efficient information technologies, standardized data collection 
processes, improved data analysis methods, and versatile and user 
friendly information systems. DHIS promotes a multidisciplinary 
approach (which includes epidemiology, statistics, analytics, data 
management, informatics, and evaluation sciences) to assure that the 
surveillance programs, information systems, and data serve public 
health program objectives.
    Office of the Director (CPNE1). (1) Provides leadership and overall 
direction for execution of programs that support public health 
surveillance, access to data for public health decision making, 
development of public health information systems, and the application 
of epidemiology and informatics to improve public health, playing a 
significant role in advising CDC senior leadership; (2) conducts 
strategic planning and establishes Division goals, objectives and 
priorities and assures alignment with the Center's and CDC goals, 
objectives and priorities; (3) provides coordination and guidance for a 
portfolio of projects and activities that address notifiable disease 
reporting, syndromic surveillance, surveillance best practices, data 
standards and harmonization, cutting edge IT solutions, analytic data 
management, software development for epidemiologic investigations, and 
partnership engagement on Division programs; (4) promotes a 
multidisciplinary approach (epidemiology, statistics, analytics, data 
management, informatics, evaluation sciences, and contract management) 
to assure that CDC surveillance and information systems serve public 
health program objectives; (5) works with internal and external 
partners to monitor and inform strategies related to informatics, data 
standards, health information technology, and health care-public health 
integration; (6) monitors progress in implementation of Division 
projects and activities, and evaluates the impact of Division 
initiatives that support CDC and the Center's goals, objectives, and 
priorities; (7) provides oversight and approval of scientific products 
including manuscripts, Web sites, databases, reports, and other 
documents; (8) assures compliance with all federal rules and 
regulations regarding research with human subjects, the paperwork 
reduction act, and data sharing; (9) facilitates scientific, policy, 
communication, technology, and program collaboration among Divisions 
and centers, and between CDC and other federal and non-federal 
partners; (10) provides communication and policy expertise in support 
of Division activities and responds to requests for information from 
CSELS OD and Divisions, OPHSS OD, and other internal and external 
organizations; (11) provides Division-level management, administration, 
support services, and coordinates with appropriate offices on program 
and administrative matters; (12) develops Division budget, monitors 
progress and allocation of resources, and plans for future resource 
requirements; (13) coordinates Division requirements relating to 
procurement, grants, cooperative agreements, material management, and 
interagency agreements; (14) provides fiscal management and stewardship 
of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, serving as a resource 
for robust contract management for CSELS; (15) develops and implements 
administrative policies, procedures, and operations for the Division; 
(16) represents the Division and at times CSELS and CDC at official 
professional and scientific meetings, both within and outside of CDC; 
(17) advises CSELS OD on workforce engagement CSELS-wide; (18) reviews, 
prepares, coordinates, and develops Congressional testimony and 
briefing materials; and (19) performs scientific review and clearance 
for Division publications, presentations, and reports.
    Surveillance and Data Branch (CPNEC). (1) Provides leadership, 
operational support, and data management for two national surveillance 
programs, the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS) 
and the National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP); (2) 
collaborates with stakeholders to identify and analyze surveillance 
needs and align them with informatics solutions and data management 
practices and policies; (3) provides subject matter expertise (SME) and 
technical assistance for harmonizing data collection across 
surveillance programs and employing current data standards; (4) uses 
analytic data management techniques to provision surveillance data to 
CDC programs and partners, and provides analysis and interpretation for 
MMWR tables and reports based on NNDSS data; (5) works with CDC 
programs and State, Tribal, Local and Territorial (STLT) programs on 
business requirements for the IT solutions used for surveillance 
including the CDC Platform and Message Validation Processing System 
(CDCP-MVPS) and the BioSense application; (6) manages data use 
agreements and memorandums of understanding for data sharing and 
acquisition of external data sources (e.g., CMS, MarketScan, VA data) 
for use by CDC programs; (7) provides technical assistance and 
consultation on analytic methods, analytic data management, and 
analysis of complex data to other units within CDC; (8) supports the 
acquisition of analytic tools, and the development of analytic and 
visualization methods for data analysis; (9) develops and maintains the 
WONDER Web site for the dissemination of multiple data sources; (10) 
collaborates with CDC and STLT programs on studies of data quality, 
representativeness, and investigations of disease or condition 
occurrences; and (11) provides technical monitoring for cooperative 
agreements with public health partners on informatics and surveillance 
related projects.
    Information Systems Branch CPNEB. (1) Provides innovative 
informatics solutions and services that support public health 
information systems for CDC programs and external partners; (2) 
develops and supports a portfolio of preparedness information systems 
including the Countermeasure Tracking Systems and the Laboratory 
Reporting Network; (3) provides subject matter expertise (SME) and 
technical support to client programs in information technology systems 
design, project management, data interchange strategies, data 
management, security, architecture, systems integration, technical 
standards, best practices, federal regulations, and protocols for 
deploying and operating systems at CDC; (4) finds opportunities for and 
develops shared information technology components that can be used by 
multiple programs and partners in order to increase efficiency, 
decrease cost, and promote interoperability and

[[Page 17459]]

information sharing; (5) provides information technology services to 
CDC programs and external partners including modernization of legacy 
applications; (6) provides IT project management for two surveillance 
programs--the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System and the 
National Syndromic Surveillance Program--including the development of 
the CDC Platform and Message Validation Processing System (CDCP-MVPS) 
the BioSense application, and the NEDSS Base System (NBS); (7) 
develops, maintains, and improves epidemiologic tools for data 
collection, data management, and data analysis, including Epi Info; (8) 
provides training, technical assistance, and support to public health 
partners and entities using Epi Info for outbreak investigations, 
studies, and surveillance; (9) provides SMEs, specifications, and 
services for standards-based data interchanges, electronic messaging, 
vocabulary management, message validation, security and credential 
management, routing and directory management; (10) provides 
consultation and technical assistance to CDC programs and to external 
partners on technical and informatics aspects of systems and tools 
required or endorsed by CDC; (11) provides Public Health Information 
Network (PHIN) certification; and (12) provides support, technical 
assistance, and strategic counsel to CDC programs for the transition 
from ICD-9 to ICD-10 (and future iterations).
    Partnerships and Evaluation Branch (CPNED). (1) Supports CDC and 
STLT Programs in the conduct of national surveillance; (2) supports and 
manages STLT and partner organizations cooperative agreements with 
regard to fiscal support and monitoring of expenditures; (3) 
coordinates the development of Funding Opportunity Announcements, 
Interim Progress Report Guidance, and Continuation Applications; (4) 
monitors activities of partner organizations and STLT cooperative 
agreements to assure program goals, objectives and key performance 
indicators are achieved; (5) assesses technical assistance needs of 
grantees and develops strategies to address those needs; (6) 
collaborates with other DHIS branches and programs in the development 
of evaluation criteria and performance measures for program planning 
and improvement; (7) leads and coordinates or develops and implements 
guidelines, uniform reporting procedures, performance measures, and 
evaluation criteria for STLT and other external partner cooperative 
agreements and grants; (8) works with other DHIS branches to 
synthesize, translate, and disseminate evaluation findings, success 
stories, and lessons learned; (9) coordinates and supports Division 
training activities related to analytic data bases and data collection 
and information systems; (10) develops and manages collaborative 
relationships with grantees and partners to increase awareness, 
understanding, and support for DHIS initiatives and priorities; (11) 
supports and facilitates partnership outreach and communications to 
existing and new partners; (12) provides guidance and support on the 
establishment and governance of Communities of Practice associated with 
DHIS programs; and (13) provides leadership for coordinating technical 
assistance and support to other CDC programs, STLT grantees, and other 
external partners or organizations.

James Seligman,
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2015-07348 Filed 3-31-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-18-P