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1993.03.10 :  Resignation -- Dr. William L. Roper
Contact:  HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343

                           STATEMENT BY
                         DONNA E. SHALALA
              SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

       "Dr. William L. Roper announced today that he has resigned
as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry effective June 30.

       "Dr. Roper has been an outstanding advocate for disease
prevention activities, moving the country into new areas of
prevention and strengthening existing programs.  He has been a
leader in working with state and local governments to strengthen
the nation's public health system.  And, during his stewardship
of the CDC, he has worked tirelessly to improve the health of the
nation's children.  While at CDC he has launched a major new
initiative to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and the
cost effectiveness of preventive services.  He has been an
articulate spokesman for the need to include prevention as a key
element in health reform.

       "Dr. Roper's contributions to public health began early in
his career.  As the health officer of Jefferson County, Alabama,
he was recognized by the Institute of Medicine for his
outstanding efforts in improving maternal and child health
services, particularly for low income women and children.

       "In addition to his major contributions to public health
and prevention, he has been a leader in health care financing and
health care reform.  As the administrator of the Health Care
Financing Administration, he played a key role in the Medicare
Physician Payment Reform enacted by Congress in 1989, including
the emphasis placed on improving the quality of medical care. 
Particularly important were his contributions related to the
research that established the basis for the Medicare payments to
physicians and his stressing the need to judge medical care on
the basis of its effectiveness.
       "There are few health leaders who have contributed so
substantially in public health, health care financing and the
organization and delivery of health care.  We are grateful for
his contribution to public service, particularly for his
contribution as the director of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
       "We are pleased that Dr. Roper has agreed to continue as
CDC director and ATSDR administrator until June 30, 1993, in
order to ensure the implementation of the President's
immunization initiative and to ensure an orderly transition.

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