CDC Panel Members' Scientific and Medical Training
CDC panels typically include subject matter experts with scientific and medical training, including those with academic and clinical credentials relevant to the panel's focus area. 1
CDC Expert Panel Selection Process
The CDC follows a structured approach when forming expert panels to develop guidelines and recommendations:
Qualifications Sought for Panel Members
- Scientific expertise: CDC identifies subject matter experts with "high scientific standing" 1
- Academic credentials: Members typically have "appropriate academic and clinical training" 1
- Clinical experience: Experts with "relevant clinical experience" are selected 1
- Proven excellence: CDC seeks individuals with "proven scientific excellence" in their respective fields 1
Types of Experts Typically Included
- Medical doctors and clinicians from relevant specialties
- Academic researchers and scientists
- Public health professionals
- Representatives from professional medical societies
- State agency officials with relevant expertise 1
For example, the CDC's anthrax guidelines panel included experts in:
- Infectious diseases
- Emergency medicine
- Critical care medicine
- Laboratory services
- Radiology
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Pediatrics 1
Conflict of Interest Management
The CDC implements strict conflict of interest protocols for expert panels:
- Financial conflict screening: Experts with financial relationships with companies that might be affected by the guidelines are excluded 1
- Non-financial conflict review: The CDC carefully reviews potential non-financial conflicts such as intellectual property, travel, and public statements 1
- Certification requirement: All experts must complete statements certifying no potential or actual conflicts of interest 1
Specific Examples of Expert Panel Composition
The CDC's anthrax clinical framework expert panel included participants from:
- Academic medical centers (University of Pittsburgh, Emory University, University of Michigan)
- Medical doctors with specialized credentials (MD, MHSc)
- Federal agencies with scientific missions (FDA, NIH)
- International health agencies (Health Protection Agency UK, Public Health Security of Canada) 1
Similarly, the CDC's chronic kidney disease expert panel included medical doctors and public health professionals with advanced degrees (MD, MPH, PhD) from various institutions 1
Historical Context
While the evidence doesn't specifically address panels appointed by President Kennedy, it's worth noting that CDC has evolved significantly since its founding in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center 2. The agency's mission expanded beyond communicable disease control to encompass noninfectious diseases, injury prevention, and environmental health 2, requiring increasingly diverse scientific expertise on its advisory panels.
In 1992, CDC's name was officially changed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reflecting its broader prevention mission while maintaining the CDC acronym due to its recognition within the public health community 3.
Conclusion
Based on the available evidence, CDC expert panels consistently include members with substantial scientific and medical training relevant to the panel's focus area. The selection process emphasizes academic credentials, clinical experience, and scientific excellence while carefully screening for potential conflicts of interest.