Debra Lubar

Debra Lubar, PhD, is president of the Milbank Memorial Fund, a more than 120-year-old operating foundation that aims to improve population health and health equity by connecting leaders with sound evidence and experience. Prior to joining the Fund, Dr. Lubar served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she led operations for the $19 billion, 22,000-employee federal agency. As Director of CDC’s Office of Policy, Performance, and Evaluation, she established modern policy processes to enhance transparency and effectiveness of CDC guidance, regulations, and programs.

Prior to these agency-wide roles, Dr. Lubar was the Deputy Director of CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, where she directed program strategy, operations, Congressional affairs and public policy, communications, and human resources for one of CDC’s largest national centers. During this time, she also led key aspects of CDC’s COVID-19 response, including historic investments in state infectious disease control efforts. In previous CDC positions, Dr. Lubar oversaw budgets and appropriations for Zika and Ebola responses and helped to lead CDC’s national efforts to prevent and control chronic disease.

Before joining CDC, she was Chief Policy Advisor in the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. Dr. Lubar has a PhD in social work from the University of Georgia, a MSW from Boston University, and a BS from Cornell University. She is a Presidential Rank Award winner, the highest honor for senior federal career employees, recognizing significant accomplishments and leadership in public service.