Ralph Abraham, M.D., was sworn in as Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The ceremony took place on December 15, 2025, in Washington. Dr. Abraham will begin his role at CDC headquarters in Atlanta starting January 5, 2026.
Dr. Abraham brings nearly three decades of experience as a medical practitioner to the CDC. Most recently, he served as Surgeon General of Louisiana. In his new position, he is expected to help realign the agency with its core mission of protecting the United States from infectious diseases.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy stated, “The CDC’s foremost duty is to protect the American people from infectious disease. Dr. Abraham recognizes that responsibility. He brings the integrity, courage, and decades of medical experience required to restore the CDC’s standing as the world’s most trusted defender of public health.”
Deputy Secretary and Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill said, “CDC has turned a corner and refocused on its core mission of defending America and the world against infectious disease. It is also advancing Secretary Kennedy’s mission to make America healthy again. I am delighted to have Dr. Abraham’s clinical and scientific expertise to accelerate radical transparency and make CDC the best it can be.”
Dr. Abraham commented on his appointment: “I am honored to join Secretary Kennedy and Deputy Secretary O’Neill in their mission to reform the CDC. By putting sound science first — and checking our ideologies at the door — we can make the CDC a model for the world in infectious disease tracking, prevention, and treatment.”
Dr. Abraham’s background includes graduating from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine before earning his M.D., after which he practiced family medicine for several years. He represented Louisiana’s fifth congressional district in Congress from 2015 to 2021 where he served on several committees including Armed Services; Agriculture; Science, Space, and Technology.
As Louisiana’s Surgeon General, Dr. Abraham developed health policy initiatives focused on disease prevention and worked with state agencies to improve health outcomes across Louisiana. He has also participated in humanitarian missions internationally.
The CDC works to protect public health by responding quickly to disease outbreaks both domestically and abroad while investing in local initiatives that support communities throughout the United States.
