John W. Gilford, PhD
Atlanta,CA
Summary
Dynamic healthcare management professional with extensive expertise in regulatory compliance and operational efficiency. Proven ability to leverage strategic planning to enhance healthcare services while ensuring adherence to industry standards. Recognized for cultivating collaborative team environments that drive innovation and significantly improve patient care outcomes. Committed to advancing organizational goals through effective leadership and a focus on quality improvement.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Health Administrator
HHS Region 4
08.2020 - Current
- Serves as the senior federal public health executive for the southeastern United States, overseeing strategic planning, clinical initiatives, and cross-agency coordination across eight states representing more than 70 million residents. Leads efforts to align HHS priorities with state and local health systems to improve population health and ensure regional program accountability.
- Led strategic planning and program integration across eight southeastern states—aligning HHS and state health priorities for improved population health outcomes.
- Directed planning sessions with 12+ federal agencies and 20+ state/local partners to establish unified regional priorities—producing a multi-sector workplan modeled across jurisdictions.
- Chaired five major interagency initiatives addressing immunization, chronic disease, maternal health, infectious disease, and workforce development—enhancing coordination and accountability.
- Built and led a high-performing multidisciplinary team, achieving full staffing, cross-training, and alignment with federal and state clinical program objectives.
- Forged partnerships with Morehouse School of Medicine, CDC, CMS, HRSA, ACF, and IEA—advancing maternal health equity, vaccine confidence, and laboratory modernization.
- Cultivated partnerships with over a dozen federal and 20+ community organizations—resulting in collaborative statewide initiatives on health equity, behavioral health, and violence prevention.
- Directed implementation of medical and clinical initiatives spanning infectious disease, chronic disease, behavioral health, substance abuse, and laboratory systems—achieving measurable outcomes.
- Provided weekly operational updates to the White House COVID-19 Task Force—informing national situational awareness and resource allocation for the Southeast region.
Adjunct Professor, School of Social Work
University of Georgia
01.2003 - Current
- Teach and mentor graduate students in social work, public health, and organizational systems integration. Translate more than two decades of federal and state leadership experience into applied learning on research methods, program evaluation, and policy analysis.
- Teach graduate-level courses in Program Evaluation, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, and Organizational Theory—integrating evidence-based public health practice and systems management principles.
- Mentor MSW students in applied research and policy translation projects, guiding career pathways in public health and human services.
- Recipient: Instructor of the Year Award (2022).
- Expand by adding: number of students mentored or notable program innovations.
- Developed curriculum aligning with educational standards and student needs.
- Facilitated engaging discussions to enhance critical thinking and comprehension.
- Built relationships with students, mentoring on personal, professional and academic goals while providing coaching on effective study habits.
Senior Behavioral Scientist and Program Lead
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
01.2011 - 01.2020
- Provided senior scientific and programmatic leadership across CDC's divisions of Injury Prevention, HIV/AIDS Prevention, and Chronic Disease, guiding national evaluation, capacity-building, and cross-sector strategies. Directed multi-agency projects that advanced evidence-based practice and strengthened public health infrastructure nationwide.
- Led multi-agency collaborations on violence prevention, chronic disease, and infectious disease initiatives—advancing federal-state partnerships to strengthen prevention infrastructure.
- Directed technical assistance for over 80 state and local health departments through the Violence Prevention Technical Assistance Center—streamlining capacity-building systems nationwide.
- Supervised interdisciplinary teams of behavioral scientists, epidemiologists, and program evaluators—enhancing national program accountability and data-driven improvement efforts.
- Authored and implemented program evaluation frameworks for CDC's HIV, injury prevention, and chronic disease programs—resulting in improved performance metrics and compliance reporting.
- Served as CDC liaison to the Department of Defense and SAMHSA on behavioral health and sexual assault prevention—aligning cross-sector strategies and evaluation tools.
- Expand by adding: size of program portfolio or number of national initiatives led for context.
- Analyzed epidemiological data to identify trends and inform policy decisions.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop strategies for disease prevention.
- Published findings in peer-reviewed journals, contributing to the scientific community's knowledge base.
- Presented research outcomes at national conferences, promoting awareness of emerging health issues.
- Performed complex troubleshooting and assisted in leading initiatives to solve challenging scientific problems with assays or instrumentation.
- Simultaneously managed several complex projects, meeting all pertinent milestones.
Technical Director / Project Manager
ICF Macro
01.1999 - 01.2010
- Directed a national, multi-site evaluation of trauma-informed behavioral health systems funded by SAMHSA, overseeing an interdisciplinary team of 15 professionals and coordinating activities across more than 20 implementation sites. Ensured rigorous program evaluation, fiscal oversight, and dissemination of results to inform federal policy and local service delivery.
- Directed national evaluation for SAMHSA's National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative—supervising a 15-member multidisciplinary team across 20+ sites.
- Developed evaluation and data systems adopted as national standards for program accountability and GPRA/OMB reporting compliance.
- Provided training and technical assistance to state agencies and community-based programs—building workforce capacity and data utilization skills across the U.S.
- Expand by adding: quantified number of local or state partners served annually.
- Led cross-functional teams to enhance project delivery and ensure adherence to technical standards.
- Developed strategic initiatives that improved operational efficiency and reduced project turnaround times.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to define project scopes and objectives, aligning resources for optimal execution.
Education
Ph.D. - Social Work (Program Evaluation)
University of Georgia
Athens, GAM.S.W. - Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
University of Georgia
Athens, GAB.A. - Psychology (Dean's List)
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OHSkills
- Public health strategy development
- Equitable Health Outcomes & Strategic Community Partnerships
- Policy Development & Intergovernmental Collaboration
- Program Evaluation & Performance Improvement
- Organizational Change Management & Workforce Development
Affiliations
- American Public Health Association
- CDC Behavioral and Social Science Working Group
- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
Honors & Awards
CDC Excellence in Partnering (2017, 2018), CDC Excellence in Communications (2016), CDC Excellence in Program Policy Evaluation (2015), ICF Macro Executive Leadership Development Program (2008), ICF Macro Excellence in Project Management Award (2007)
Selected Publications & Presentations
Basile, K., Clayton, H., DeGue, S., Gilford, J. W., Vagi, K., Suarez, N., Zwald, M., & Lowry, R. (2021). Interpersonal violence victimization among high school students—Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 70 (Suppl. 4), 1–8.
Song, W., Mulatu, M., Rorie, M., Zhang, H., & Gilford, J. W. (2017). HIV testing and positivity patterns of partners of HIV-diagnosed people in partner services programs, United States, 2013–2014. Public Health Reports, 132 (4), 1–8.
Rao, S., Seth, P., Walker, T., Wang, G., Mulatu, M., Gilford, J. W., & German, E. (2016). HIV testing and outcomes among Hispanics/Latinos—United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, 2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 65 (40), 1105–1111.
Gilford, J. W. (2004). Assessing cultural competence in systems of care.
Data Matters, 6 (2), 10–12.
Gilford, J. W., Young, X., Deal, K., & LaPoint, D. (2019, August). Achieving a culture of excellence in the Navy: The power of prevention. Presented at the Department of the Navy Command Resiliency Team Meeting, Daytona Beach, FL.
Gilford, J. W. (2024, April). Maternal health and health equity roundtable. Invited presentation at the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Gilford, J. W., Stratford, D., & Uhl, G. (2011, November). New directions in HIV prevention program evaluation. Presented at the United States Conference on AIDS, Chicago, IL.
Gilford, J. W. (2016, October). Implementation of evidence-based practices for HIV prevention. Presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
Timeline
Regional Health Administrator
HHS Region 4
08.2020 - Current
Senior Behavioral Scientist and Program Lead
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
01.2011 - 01.2020
Adjunct Professor, School of Social Work
University of Georgia
01.2003 - Current
Technical Director / Project Manager
ICF Macro
01.1999 - 01.2010
B.A. - Psychology (Dean's List)
University of Cincinnati
Ph.D. - Social Work (Program Evaluation)
University of Georgia
M.S.W. - Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
University of Georgia