Patricia A. Nolan is the Director of Health for the State of Rhode Island. She also is the President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. ASTHO members work collectively to formulate and influence sound national health policy and to develop and implement state programs and policies to promote health and prevent illness and disability to improve quality of life. ASTHO is engaged in a wide range of legislative, scientific, educational, and programmatic issues and activities on behalf of public health.

• ASTHO Executive Committee
• Rhode Island Dept. of Health

Francis Collins, MD, PhD
Director
National Human Genome Research Institute

Francis Collins is Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health. The NHGRI oversees intramural, collaborative, and field research to study human genetic diseases and formulates research goals and long-range plans to accomplish the mission of the Human Genome Project, including the study of the ethical, legal, and social implications of genome research.

Dr. Collins' research laboratory is focused on the identification and understanding of genes that cause human disease, using methods of positional cloning. Past efforts have been successful in identifying the genes for cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, and Huntington disease.

• on-line biography

Muin J. Khoury is Director of the Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention (OGDP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The purpose of OGDP is to provide a coordinated focus for CDC-wide, cross-cutting genetics efforts with particular emphasis on communication, training, and policy development.

• on-line biography

Earl Fox is the Administrator for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Dr. Fox leads and directs programs and activities of the Agency and advises the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services on policy matters. He provides consultation and assistance to senior Agency officials and others on clinical and health professional issues and serves as the Agency's focal point on efforts to strengthen the practice of public health as it pertains to the HRSA mission.

HRSA directs national health programs which improve the health of the Nation by assuring quality health care to underserved, vulnerable and special-need populations and by promoting appropriate health professions workforce capacity and practice, particularly in primary care and public health.

• HRSA web site