Public Health Emergency Preparedness
Encyclopedia
In the United States government, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (or ASPR), formerly the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness (or OPHEP), is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, was established in June 2002 at the request of Tommy Thompson
. In July 2006, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to public health security and all-hazards preparedness and response was introduced. On December 19, 2006 it became public law and OPHEP was officially changed to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
Its scope of activity includes but is not limited to preparedness for bioterrorism, chemical and nuclear attack, mass evacuation and decontamination. The ASPR the Secretary's principal advisor on matters related to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. They are responsible for coordinating interagency activities between HHS, other Federal departments, agencies, offices and State and local officials responsible for emergency preparedness and the protection of the civilian population from acts of bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
The first head of OPHEP was Donald Henderson
, credited with having previously eradicated Smallpox
. Soon Jerry Hauer, a veteran public health expert, took over as director, with Henderson taking a different role in the department. Hauer was removed from the job primarily for conflicts he had with Scooter Libby over whether the risks of smallpox vaccination were worth the benefit. Hauer charged that the Office of the Vice President was pushing for the universal vaccination despite the vaccine's health risks, primarily exaggerate the risk of biological terrorism.
RADM W. Craig Vanderwagen, M.D., was sworn into office on March 27, 2007 as the first Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and recently retired.
RADM Nicole Lurie
, MD, MSPH is the current ASPR.
The Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, was established in June 2002 at the request of Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson
Thomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls...
. In July 2006, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to public health security and all-hazards preparedness and response was introduced. On December 19, 2006 it became public law and OPHEP was officially changed to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
Its scope of activity includes but is not limited to preparedness for bioterrorism, chemical and nuclear attack, mass evacuation and decontamination. The ASPR the Secretary's principal advisor on matters related to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. They are responsible for coordinating interagency activities between HHS, other Federal departments, agencies, offices and State and local officials responsible for emergency preparedness and the protection of the civilian population from acts of bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
The first head of OPHEP was Donald Henderson
Donald Henderson
Donald Ainslie Henderson, known as D.A. Henderson, is an American physician and epidemiologist, who headed the international effort during the 1960s to eradicate smallpox. , he is a Distinguished Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Center for Biosecurity and a professor of...
, credited with having previously eradicated Smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
. Soon Jerry Hauer, a veteran public health expert, took over as director, with Henderson taking a different role in the department. Hauer was removed from the job primarily for conflicts he had with Scooter Libby over whether the risks of smallpox vaccination were worth the benefit. Hauer charged that the Office of the Vice President was pushing for the universal vaccination despite the vaccine's health risks, primarily exaggerate the risk of biological terrorism.
RADM W. Craig Vanderwagen, M.D., was sworn into office on March 27, 2007 as the first Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and recently retired.
RADM Nicole Lurie
Nicole Lurie
Nicole Lurie, M.D., M.S.P.H., is the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response serves as the Secretary's principal advisor on matters related to bioterrorism and other public health...
, MD, MSPH is the current ASPR.