Secretary Kennedy Appoints Two OB-GYNs to CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

WASHINGTON — JAN. 13, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced the appointment of two new members to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). These appointments reflect the commitment of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to transparency, gold standard science, and diverse expertise in guiding the nation’s immunization policies. In June 2025, Secretary Kennedy reconstituted ACIP to restore public trust in vaccines.

The new members are:

• Adam Urato, M.D., Obstetrician and Gynecologist specializing in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Urato has held academic appointments at Harvard Medical School, the University of South Florida, and Tufts University School of Medicine. His clinical roles have included Maternal-Fetal Medicine attending positions at MetroWest Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Medical Center/St. Elizabeth’s, and Tufts Medical Center. Dr. Urato received his B.A. from Harvard College and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He has also published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and participated in FDA advisory panels.
• Kimberly Biss, M.D., Obstetrician and Gynecologist in St. Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Biss has held multiple hospital leadership positions at Bayfront Health/Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, including Chief of Staff, Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Medical Executive Board Officer. She is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and maintains membership in several professional medical associations. Dr. Biss received her M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine. Her experience includes clinical education roles and publication on COVID-19 vaccine safety for pregnant women.

“ACIP serves as Americans’ watchdog for vaccine safety and transparency,” Secretary Kennedy said. “Dr. Urato and Dr. Biss bring the scientific credentials, clinical experience, and integrity this committee requires.”

“President Trump asked us to bring the childhood immunization schedule in line with gold-standard science,” said Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and Acting Director of the CDC Jim O’Neill. “ACIP is doing just that. Our new ACIP members have the clinical expertise to make decisions driven by evidence, not dogma.”

ACIP provides recommendations to the CDC Director and HHS Secretary on the use of immunizations for the control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the civilian population of the United States.