Key points
- Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances (OTASA) is involved with two types of tribal advisory committees: CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) and the HHS Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC).
- CDC/ATSDR TAC provides input and guidance on policies, guidelines, and programmatic issues affecting the health of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes.
- HHS STAC serves an important advisory role for HHS Operating Divisions, providing input and guidance on policies, guidelines, and programmatic issues affecting the health of AI/AN people by tribal elected officials.
About the CDC/ATSDR TAC
CDC/ATSDR strongly supports and respects tribal sovereignty and self-governance for tribal nations in the United States. The CDC/ATSDR TAC advises CDC/ATSDR on policy issues and broad strategies that may significantly affect AI/AN communities.
Purpose
- Exchange information with CDC/ATSDR staff about public health issues in Indian country, identify urgent public health needs, and discuss collaborative approaches
- Provide guidance regarding government-to-government consultation between CDC/ATSDR and AI/AN tribes
- Ensure that CDC/ATSDR activities or policies that impact AI/AN tribes are brought to the attention of tribal leaders
CDC/ATSDR TAC Member Responsibilities
- Make a good-faith effort to attend all meetings and provide input, guidance, and recommendations to CDC/ATSDR
- Submit area reports to CDC/ATSDR, including information from area AI/AN tribes
- Disseminate information to local area AI/AN tribes
CDC/ATSDR TAC Positions and Vacancies
The CDC/ATSDR TAC consists of 34 voluntary members: 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) from a federally recognized tribe geographically located in each of the 12 Indian Health Service Areas, and 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) from 5 National At-Large Tribal Member (NALM) positions.
In addition to the 34 members, CDC/ATSDR has 2 staff member positions:
Interim Designated Federal Official (Effective July 21, 2025)
Sara Patterson, MA
Acting Director, National Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, CDC
Executive Secretary
Captain Damion Killsback, PharmD, MPH
Director, Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances,
National Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, CDC.
Vacancies
The TAC is currently recruiting for (1) vacant delegate position in the Phoenix Area and (9) vacant alternate positions to represent the following areas: Albuquerque Area, Billings Area, Nashville Area, Navajo Area, Portland Area, Tucson Area, and (3) National At-Large Tribal Member positions. You can review the current TAC Roster for additional updates. For any questions or more information on vacancies and positions, email tribalsupport@cdc.gov.
Past Meetings
Visit the Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances' Letters, Reports, and Other Documents | Tribal Public Health | CDC to find the agenda, the follow-up report, and the executive summary for previous TAC meetings.