Dr. Davies appointed to national preparedness board

UNMC’s Dele Davies, M.D., senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean for graduate studies, was appointed to the National Preparedness and Response Science Board (NPRSB) earlier this year.

The NPRSB is a federal advisory committee that provides advice and guidance to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and to the HHS Secretary on preventing, preparing for, and responding to the adverse health effects of emergencies.

“It is an honor to be asked to serve alongside such a distinguished group of physicians and scientists on this national advisory board,” Dr. Davies said. “At any given point in time, there are numerous possible biologic, chemical or other emergencies that can have serious consequential impact on our nation. The work of the committee helps guide and support the significant ongoing efforts to prevent and mitigate these threats.”

Dr. Davies is among 13 voting members on the board with a broad range of expertise in science, medicine, and public health and nearly 20 ex officio members from agencies across the federal government with a vested interest in subject matter expertise important to the work of the board. He will serve through 2021.

A nationally recognized expert in pediatric infectious diseases, Dr. Davies joined UNMC in 2012. His research interests are in infectious diseases, especially perinatal infections caused by Group A and B streptococcus.

He has previously been involved in numerous planning efforts for potential outbreaks of highly infectious diseases on the local, national and international level. He also has served on the advisory board of the CDC National Center for Infectious Diseases Board of Scientific Counselors and as a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases.