These stories are based on confidential interviews conducted as part of the CDC Listening Project. Participants review and approve written summaries describing their work, their contributions, and the circumstances surrounding their separation. Stories are published without names or identifying details.
The Ripple Effect of Federal Health Work: Strengthening States and Communities, One Partnership at a Time
This public health advisor spent over 25 years linking CDC science to states, schools, and communities—helping partners implement evidence-based practices that reduced smoking, promoted physical activity, and strengthened the public health workforce.
When Communication Saves Lives: The Media Campaigns Behind Tobacco Prevention
From executive correspondence at the CDC Director’s office to running the Media Campaign Resource Center, this communications pro connected states to evidence-based media strategies—supporting campaigns that helped more than a million people quit smoking.
Building Capacity to Detect Health Threats and Manage a Strategic Response
This public health leader built systems that strengthened outbreak response, workforce training, and strategic planning nationwide. During COVID-19, this CDC professional helped streamline emergency grant distribution—processing hundreds of awards in days instead of months—to ensure states, tribes, and communities received critical resources when they needed them most.