[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 160 (Monday, August 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56830-56831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17848]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Board of 
Scientific Counselors, National Center for Health Statistics

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within 
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is seeking 
nominations for membership on the Board of Scientific Counselors, 
National Center for Health Statistics (BSC, NCHS). The BSC, NCHS 
consists of up to 15 experts including the Chair in fields associated 
with the scientific and technical program objectives of the Center.

DATES: Nominations for membership on the BSC, NCHS will be accepted on 
a rolling basis. To be considered for the upcoming nomination slate, 
submissions should be received no later than September 22, 2023. 
Submissions received after this time will not be considered for the 
current membership cycle.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be emailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Hines, M.H.S., Designated 
Federal Officer, Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for 
Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3311 
Toledo Road, Mailstop P-08, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782. Telephone: 
(301) 458-4715; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Nominations are sought for individuals who 
have the expertise and qualifications necessary to contribute to the 
accomplishment of the objective of the Board of Scientific Counselors, 
National Center for Health Statistics (BSC, NCHS) to provide advice and 
guidance on statistical and epidemiological research, data collection, 
and activities that support NCHS, such as: determinants of health; 
extent and nature of illness and disability, including life expectancy; 
incidence of various acute and chronic illnesses/impairments and 
accidental injuries; prevalence of chronic diseases and impairments; 
infant and maternal morbidity and mortality; nutrition status; 
environmental, social, and other hazards affecting health status; 
health resources associated with physician and dental visits, 
hospitalizations, nursing, extended care facilities, home health 
agencies, and other health institutions; utilization of health care in 
a broad array of settings; trends in prices/costs and sources of 
payments; federal, state, and local government expenditures for health 
care services; the relationship between demographic and socioeconomic 
characteristics and health characteristics; family formation, growth, 
and dissolution; new or improved methods for obtaining current data on 
the aforementioned factors; data security and confidentiality and

[[Page 56831]]

comparability of data; and standardized means to collect information 
and statistics.
    Nominees will be selected based on expertise in fields associated 
with statistical, demographic, and epidemiological research, such as 
biostatistics/biometry, survey methodology and polling, sociology, 
reproductive health, minority health, nutrition, social and behavioral 
health sciences, and population-based public and environmental health; 
public health practice, e.g., state and local health data systems; 
operations research, health policy, and health services research, 
including health economics and econometrics; provision of health 
services, e.g., medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, other allied health 
care, and preventive medicine; health quality measurement and health 
indicators; health promotion; medical informatics; and data and health 
information security, storage, confidentiality, and dissemination.
    The Board makes recommendations about opportunities for NCHS 
programs to examine and employ new approaches to monitoring and 
evaluating key public health, health policy, and public policy changes. 
This includes automation, data modernization, and technological 
improvements to enhance data collection, analysis, access, and 
reporting capabilities of the Center. Members of the BSC, NCHS are 
responsible for surveying the state-of-the-art of their respective 
disciplines, and reporting, as appropriate, to the full Board and 
recommending convening of workshops or symposia to educate or update 
all Board members.
    The selection of members is based on candidates' qualifications to 
contribute to accomplishing BSC, NCHS objectives (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/bsc.htm). Members may be invited to serve for up to four-
year terms.
    Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy stipulates 
that committee membership be balanced in terms of points of view 
represented and the committee's function. Appointments shall be made 
without discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, 
sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, disability, and 
cultural, religious, or socioeconomic status. Nominees must be U.S. 
citizens and cannot be full-time employees of the U.S. Government. 
Current participation on federal workgroups or prior experience serving 
on a federal advisory committee does not disqualify a candidate; 
however, HHS policy is to avoid excessive individual service on 
advisory committees and multiple committee memberships. Board members 
are Special Government Employees, requiring the filing of financial 
disclosure reports at the beginning of and annually during their terms. 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviews potential 
candidates for BSC, NCHS membership each year and provides a slate of 
nominees for consideration to the Secretary of HHS for final selection. 
HHS notifies selected candidates of their appointment near the start of 
the term in June, or as soon as the HHS selection process is completed. 
Note that the need for different expertise varies from year to year and 
a candidate who is not selected in one year may be reconsidered in a 
subsequent year. Candidates should submit the following items:
    [ssquf] Cover letter that includes a statement of interest for 
serving on the Board and the names of two professional references. 
Candidates may submit references from current HHS employees if they 
wish, but at least one reference must be submitted by a person not 
employed by an HHS agency (e.g., CDC, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare 
Research and Quality).
    [ssquf] Current resume/curriculum vitae, including complete contact 
information (telephone numbers, work and home postal mailing addresses, 
email address) in Microsoft Word or PDF format.
    [ssquf] Short biographical sketch, including the top 3-5 areas of 
expertise.
    Nominations may be submitted by the candidate or by the person/
organization recommending the candidate.
    The Director, Office of Strategic Business Initiatives, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, has been delegated the authority to 
sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings 
and other committee management activities, for both the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
Disease Registry.

Kalwant Smagh,
Director, Office of Strategic Business Initiatives, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2023-17848 Filed 8-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P