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ADM Brett P. Giroir, M.D.

Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)
HHS Office of the Secretary

ADM Brett P. Giroir, M.D., was sworn in as the 16th Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on February 15, 2018. The Assistant Secretary for Health leads development of HHS-wide public health policy recommendations and oversees several of the Department’s core public health offices — including the Office of the Surgeon General. His office leads many critical national initiatives, including an historic new plan to end the HIV Epidemic in America, the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, the revised Common Rule and a cross-agency effort to improve the outcomes of patients living with sickle cell disease.

In addition, ADM Giroir serves as Senior Adviser to the Secretary for Opioid Policy, responsible for coordinating HHS’s efforts across the Administration to fight America's opioid crisis.

ADM Giroir is a pediatric critical care specialist and physician-scientist, who has served in a number of leadership positions in the federal government as well as academia.

He was executive vice president and CEO of Texas A&M's Health Science Center from 2013-2015, and professor of pediatrics and engineering, having earlier served as vice chancellor of strategic initiatives (2011-2013) and vice chancellor for research (2008-2011) for the Texas A&M University system. Prior, he was professor of pediatrics and endowed chair at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center from 1993-2003, and was the first chief medical officer of Children's Medical Center of Dallas (now Children's Health).

ADM Giroir’s federal service includes directing the Defense Sciences Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) from 2006-2008. He joined the office in 2004 as deputy director, and also served on the Department of Defense’s Threat Reduction Advisory Committee both during his tenure at DARPA and thereafter. From 2014-2015, he chaired the Veteran’s Choice Act Blue Ribbon Panel to reform the U.S. Veterans Health System.

ADM Giroir has authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific publications, editorials and book chapters. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the U.S. Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the American Heart Association’s President Lyndon Baines Johnson Research Award, and the American Society of Nephrology’s President’s Medal. ADM Giroir was the nation’s high school debate champion in 1978. He received a bachelor’s degree in biology, magna cum laude, from Harvard University, and a medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Content created by Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)
Content last reviewed on December 19, 2019