Speaker Profile

Since 2011, Dr. Liburd has served as the associate director for minority health and health equity for CDC/ATSDR. In this capacity, she leads and supports a wide range of critical functions in the agency’s work in minority health and health equity, women’s health, and diversity and inclusion management. She has played a critical leadership role in determining the agency’s vision for health equity, ensuring a rigorous and evidence-based approach to the practice of health equity, and promoting the ethical practice of public health in vulnerable communities. In addition, the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity ensures a pipeline of diverse undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in public health and medicine through its administration of the CDC Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program and the James A. Ferguson Graduate Fellowship. Dr. Liburd has been instrumental in building capacity across CDC and in public health agencies to address the social determinants of health, and in identifying and widely disseminating intervention strategies that reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. She has skillfully executed innovative models of collaboration that have greatly expanded the reach, influence, and impact of the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE), and raised the visibility of health equity through peer-reviewed scientific publications, engagement with academic institutions, presentations at national and international conferences, partnerships with national and global organizations, and other communications and educational venues. 

Dr. Liburd has received honors for her leadership and management accomplishments. Among them, Jackson State University presented her with the John Ruffin Award of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities by Jackson State University (2016), and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions and BlackDoctor.org named her one of the Top Blacks in Healthcare in 2014 for her outstanding and noteworthy achievements in the healthcare field. In 2010, the National REACH Coalition honored her with their Distinguished Service and Leadership Award, and in 2002, CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation presented her with their Excellence in Collaboration Award for her seminal role in developing local, national, and international partnerships.

She is highly regarded inside and outside of CDC for her tireless commitment, effectiveness, leadership, and passion in working to improve minority health and achieve health equity for all people.

Dr. Liburd holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, a master of public health in health education/health behavior from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Arts in cultural anthropology and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in medical anthropology from Emory University.