Staff Bio
Sara Patterson, MA
Public Health Infrastructure Center
Sara Patterson is the acting director of CDC’s Public Health Infrastructure Center.
Role at CDC
In this role, Patterson leads the Public Health Infrastructure Center (PHIC) which drives strategic initiatives to strengthen the systems, services, and workforce that safeguard health across US communities.
Previous experience
Prior to taking on her current position, Patterson served as acting chief operating officer at CDC. In this role, Patterson oversaw management, facilities, and operations at CDC. She provided executive oversight for CDC's budget, facilities and maintenance, security, human resources strategy, training, and workplace development and more. Sara served in a variety of leadership roles within the CDC Immediate Office of the Director during the most recent Administration transition, including serving as CDC's acting chief of staff and as acting deputy director for policy, communications, and legislation.
Patterson's permanent position is serving as PHIC's deputy director for Management, Operations, Communications, and Policy. In this role, she leads the center's programmatic, partnership and science to advance the center's priorities and mission. Patterson led similar functions in CDC's former Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services.
Previously, Patterson served as the director of CDC's Program Performance and Evaluation Office, helping CDC programs and external partners with strategy, development of funding announcements, performance improvement, and program evaluation to achieve the greatest possible health impact.
Earlier in her career, Patterson served as associate director for Policy and Partnerships at CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control where she oversaw policy and partnership activities. Prior to this role, she was the deputy director of this office overseeing congressional relations, cross cutting and strategic partnerships, and health policy efforts for the center.
Patterson began her career at CDC in 2002 as a Presidential Management Fellow in CDC's Financial Management Office, focusing on congressional relations, budget and policy development, and performance management.