Karen DeSalvo

American physician and public health expert

Karen B. DeSalvo

Karen B. DeSalvo is an American physician and public health expert known for her work in health policy and health information technology. She has held several prominent positions in the United States government and academia, contributing significantly to the fields of public health and healthcare delivery.

Early life and education

Karen DeSalvo was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She pursued her undergraduate education at Tulane University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. She continued her education at the Tulane University School of Medicine, obtaining her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. DeSalvo also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Epidemiology from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Career

Academic career

DeSalvo began her career in academia, serving as a professor of medicine at Tulane University. Her work focused on improving access to care for vulnerable populations and developing innovative models of healthcare delivery. She was instrumental in the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in New Orleans, helping to rebuild the healthcare system and improve public health infrastructure.

Public service

In 2014, DeSalvo was appointed as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this role, she was responsible for setting the national strategy for health information technology and advancing the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) across the country.

DeSalvo also served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS, where she focused on public health issues such as health equity, chronic disease prevention, and emergency preparedness. Her leadership was pivotal during the response to the Ebola virus epidemic and other public health challenges.

Google Health

In 2019, DeSalvo joined Google as the Chief Health Officer, where she leads efforts to improve health outcomes through technology and data-driven solutions. Her work at Google Health involves collaborating with healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers to leverage technology in addressing global health challenges.

Contributions to public health

Karen DeSalvo has been a strong advocate for health equity and the use of technology to improve healthcare delivery. Her efforts in promoting the adoption of EHRs have been recognized as a significant advancement in modernizing the healthcare system. DeSalvo's work emphasizes the importance of integrating social determinants of health into healthcare practices to achieve better health outcomes for all populations.

Related pages

• Public health
• Health information technology
• Electronic health record
• Health equity