Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)

Offices of the Assistant Secretary for Health

The following offices under the Assistant Secretary for Health are cornerstones for delivery of public health services.

Office of the Surgeon General (OSG): The role of the Surgeon General is to protect and advance the health of the nation.

Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS): The mission of the Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps) is protecting, promoting, and advancing the health and safety of the Nation

Regional Health Administrators (RHAs): Ten regional health administrators represent the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Office of the Public Health and Science across the country.

Medical Reserve Corps (MRC): The mission of the Medical Reserve Corps is to improve the health and safety of communities across the country by organizing and utilizing public health, medical and other volunteers.

National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO): The National Vaccine Program Office has responsibility for coordinating and ensuring collaboration among the many federal agencies involved in vaccine and immunization activities.

Office of Adolescent Health (OAH): The Office of Adolescent Health coordinates adolescent health programs and initiatives across the Department related to adolescent health promotion and disease prevention.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP): The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion provides leadership, coordination and policy development for public health and prevention activities within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.

Office of Healthcare Quality (OHQ): The Office of Healthcare Quality leads and coordinates cross-cutting issues that strengthen the health system and improve the quality of healthcare across the United States.

Office of HIV/AIDS Policy (OHAP): The Office of HIV/AIDS policy is responsible for coordinating, integrating, and directing the Department’s policies, programs, and activities related to HIV/AIDS.

Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP): The Office for Human Research Protections supports, strengthens and provides leadership to the nation’s system for protecting volunteers in research that is conducted or supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Office of Minority Health (OMH): The Office of Minority Health is the federal focal point for addressing the health status and quality of life for racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States.

Office of Population Affairs (OPA): The Office of Population Affairs serves as the focal point to advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health on a wide range of reproductive health topics, including adolescent pregnancy, family planning, and sterilization, as well as other population issues. OPA administered the Family Planning program authorized under Title X of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), and the Adolescent Family Life (AFL) Demonstration and Research program authorized under Title XX of the PHSA.

Office of Research Integrity (ORI): The overall mission of the Office of Research Integrity is to promote integrity in research programs of the Public Health Service, both intramural and extramural, including responding to allegations of research misconduct.

Office on Women’s Health (OWH): The Office on Women’s Health strives to improve the health of American women by advancing and coordinating a comprehensive women’s health agenda throughout HHS.

President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN): The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition is an advisory committee of volunteer citizens who advise the President through the Secretary of Health and Human Services about physical activity, fitness, and sports in America.

President’s Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues: The President’s Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues advises the President on ethical issues related to advances in biomedical science and technology.

Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability (ACBSA): The Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability makes recommendations to the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding blood and blood products.

Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA): The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS was established to provide policy recommendations on the U.S. Government's response to the AIDS epidemic.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC): The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee provides recommendations to the Secretary through the Assistant Secretary of Health on factors affecting access and care for persons with CFS, the science and definition of CFS, and broader public health, clinical, research, and educational issues related to CFS.