Quick Info
| Profession | Infectious disease physician and public health official |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
Latest News about Jennifer Shuford
26/10/2026
The Washington Post reported that Jennifer Shuford, the CDC's deputy director and chief medical officer, would leave the Trump administration after the midterm elections. She later confirmed to the Post that she was leaving after a short tenure. The reason for her departure was not clearly stated in initial reports.
17/04/2026
Jennifer Shuford was appointed CDC deputy director and chief medical officer while serving as Texas Department of State Health Services commissioner. She was part of a team brought in that spring to help restore confidence in the agency. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials publicly praised the appointment.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Jennifer A. Shuford, MD, MPH, is an infectious disease physician and former public health leader. She served as Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services from December 2022 and was named deputy director and chief medical officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in April 2026. In October 2026, the Washington Post reported that she would leave the federal administration after a short tenure, and she confirmed her departure, saying she was leaving to spend more time with her family. |
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Educational Qualification(s)
| Bachelor's degree | Chemistry, Colorado College |
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| Medical degree | Doctor of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School |
| Residency | Internal medicine, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas (served as chief resident) |
| Fellowship | Infectious diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota |
| Master's degree | Master of Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health |
Career
| Early practice | Infectious disease physician in private practice in Austin, Texas |
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| Texas Department of State Health Services | Joined in 2017 |
| Chief State Epidemiologist | Served as Texas's chief state epidemiologist, supporting the state's COVID-19 response |
| Interim Commissioner | Led the agency on an interim basis from fall 2022 after the retirement of the prior commissioner |
| Commissioner | Named permanent commissioner in December 2022; oversaw the state's response to the 2025 West Texas measles outbreak |
| CDC | Named deputy director and chief medical officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in April 2026 |
| Recent development | Reported in October 2026 to be leaving the CDC after a brief tenure; she confirmed the departure and said it was to spend more time with family |
| Other roles | Board member of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; faculty member of the DSHS Preventive Medicine and Public Health Residency Program |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry, which she earned before pursuing medicine. | |
| 2. Completed her infectious disease fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. | |
| 3. Is a member of the Travis County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association, and the Infectious Disease Society of America. |
