Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • About HHS
  • Programs & Services
  • Grants & Contracts
  • Laws & Regulations
  • Radical Transparency
  • Big Wins
  • About OASH
  • Public Health Offices
  • Advisory Committees
Breadcrumb
  1. HHS
  2. ASH Home
  3. Office of Science and Medicine
  4. Chief Medical Officer
  • Office of Science and Medicine
  • Chief Medical Officer
    • Initiative on Substance Exposure in the Mother-Infant Dyad
  • InnovationX
    • Covid-19 Data Driven Innovation
    • Human-Centered Design
      • Clinical Response through Emerging Technology (CRET)
      • Sickle Cell Disease
    • KidneyX
    • Lyme Innovation
      • Lyme Innovation: Real-World Impact
      • LymeX
    • PandemicX
    • Vector-Borne Disease National Strategy
      • Public Engagement
      • The Kay Hagan Tick Act
  • Leadership

Chief Medical Officer

The Chief Medical Officer serves by providing policy and programmatic recommendations for critical emerging and long-standing federal issues that impact the medical and social determinants of health. This includes identifying ways to better serve the needs of communities in urban, rural, and tribal areas affected by opioids and other substance use, as well as support healthy aging, and health-related technology development. Using collaborative methods, the Chief Medical Officer seeks to help provide better understanding of public health problems, unique solution development, and impactful delivery and administration.

While the projects are ever-evolving to meet the new demands of the day, current focus is on telehealth, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, data-driven approaches to suicide prevention, and cardiac arrest.

Leith J States, MD MPH
 

Leith J States, MD MPH

Chief Medical Officer

Leith.States@hhs.gov

Meet the Chief Medical Officer

Content created by Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)
Content last reviewed February 25, 2025
Back to top

Subscribe to Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary and Press Releases.

Subscribe
  • Contact HHS
  • Careers
  • HHS FAQs
  • Nondiscrimination Notice
  • Press Room
  • HHS Archive
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Budget/Performance
  • Inspector General
  • Web Site Disclaimers
  • EEO/No Fear Act
  • FOIA
  • The White House
  • USA.gov
  • Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
HHS Logo

HHS Headquarters

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​

Follow HHS

Follow Secretary Kennedy