Deputy Director for Management and Operations, Division of Global Health Protection

CDC role

Kelly Kay, M.P.H., is the Deputy Director for Management and Operations in CDC’s Division of Global Health Protection.

Previous experience

Kay brings over 25 years of public health experience working at CDC. She has previously served as the Division's Branch Chief for the Global Operations and Strategic Management Branch, and as the Principal Management Official.

Before joining the Division, Kay served as Associate Director for Management in the Office of the Chief of Staff in CDC's Office of the Director, where she directly oversaw financial management, personnel, and other business services and operations. Kay has held several leadership positions at CDC headquarters, serving with the Division of Global HIV & TB (DGHT) as Acting Branch Chief for the Country Strategy and Management Branch. As DGHT's Acting Branch Chief, Kay provided guidance and support to field staff and ensured field program and policy implementation.

Kay spent six years in the field with DGHT as Deputy Country Director for CDC Uganda and CDC South Africa. While in these positions, Kay planned, organized, and directed the day-to-day operations of the office while participating in the strategic planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS activities under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) initiative.

Prior to working on global programs, Kay focused on domestic issues as a Health Scientist and Deputy Branch Chief in the Program Evaluation Branch in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.

Education

Kay earned a Master of Public Health degree and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Emory University.