Abstract: The Office of Public Health Scientific Services (OPHSS), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), oversees two CDC national centers, the National Center for Health Statistics and the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services. OPHSS also has CDC-wide functions, and is responsible for leading, promoting and facilitating science, standards and policies to reduce the burden of diseases in the U.S. and globally. One of OPHSS’ key duties is to ensure that public health surveillance activities are performing as needed. Over the past several years, state and local health departments and the U.S. Congress have called for enhancement’s to CDC’s public health surveillance systems. In response, the CDC Director has charged OPHSS with leading the CDC Surveillance Strategy to make these enhancements. The challenges, opportunities for improvement, and activities to date under the Surveillance Strategy will be presented. Concluding thoughts about future directions, including collaboration opportunities, will be offered and may serve as a basis further discussion.

Bio: Dr. Chesley Richards is the CDC Deputy Director for Public Health Scientific Services and Director of OPHSS