The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has named Martin Kulldorff, Ph.D., as chief science officer for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). Kulldorff is a biostatistician and epidemiologist with over 200 peer-reviewed publications. He recently chaired the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and previously taught at Harvard Medical School.
ASPE functions as HHS' internal think tank, offering policy advice to the Secretary. The office leads special initiatives, coordinates research and evaluation activities across the department, manages planning processes, and provides analyses and cost estimates for policy options in public health, health care, and human services.
"Martin Kulldorff transformed ACIP from a rubber stamp into a committee that delivers gold-standard science for the American people," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "I'm glad to welcome him to my team to help develop bold, evidence-based policies to Make America Healthy Again."
"Five years ago, Martin Kulldorff and I co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration calling for an end to pandemic lockdowns," said National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D. "That evidence-based approach to public health now permeates HHS."
"It's an honor to join the team of distinguished scientists that Secretary Kennedy has assembled," said Kulldorff. "I look forward to contributing to the science-based public health policies that will Make America Healthy Again."
Kulldorff played a key role in developing new statistical and epidemiological methods for vaccine and drug safety surveillance systems at both the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including work on the Vaccine Safety Datalink and Sentinel systems. He also served on the FDA Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee as well as on ACIP's COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical Work Group.
Kirk Milhoan, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatric cardiologist and former U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, is now chairing ACIP. Robert Malone, M.D., serves as vice chair.
