Debra Houry

Debra Houry

Debra Houry

Debra Houry is an American physician and public health official known for her work in emergency medicine and injury prevention. She has held significant roles in public health administration and has contributed to various initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes and safety.

Early Life and Education

Debra Houry was born and raised in the United States. She pursued her undergraduate education at Emory University, where she developed an interest in medicine and public health. She later attended Tulane University School of Medicine, earning her medical degree. During her time at Tulane, she was actively involved in research and community health projects.

Following medical school, Houry completed her residency in emergency medicine at Denver Health Medical Center. Her experiences in the emergency department fueled her passion for addressing public health issues, particularly those related to injury and violence prevention.

Career

Academic Career

After completing her residency, Debra Houry joined the faculty at Emory University School of Medicine. As a professor, she focused on emergency medicine and public health, mentoring students and conducting research on injury prevention and health policy.

Public Health Leadership

In 2014, Houry was appointed as the Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this role, she led efforts to reduce injuries and violence, including initiatives to combat the opioid epidemic and improve motor vehicle safety.

Under her leadership, the NCIPC developed comprehensive strategies to address the opioid crisis, including promoting safe prescribing practices and expanding access to treatment for substance use disorders. Houry also emphasized the importance of data-driven approaches to injury prevention, advocating for the use of surveillance data to inform public health interventions.

Contributions to Public Health

Debra Houry has been a vocal advocate for integrating public health and clinical practice. She has published extensively on topics such as injury prevention, opioid overdose prevention, and health policy. Her work has been instrumental in shaping national strategies to address pressing public health challenges.

Houry has also been involved in various national and international collaborations aimed at improving health outcomes. She has served on numerous advisory committees and has been recognized for her contributions to public health with several awards and honors.

Personal Life

Debra Houry is married and has children. She balances her professional commitments with her family life and is known for her dedication to both her career and her family.

Related Pages

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
• Opioid epidemic in the United States
• Emory University School of Medicine