Katherine V. Bruss, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist and consultant who earned her doctoral degree from Baylor University and certificate in Global Mental Health Refugee Trauma at Harvard University & Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Her 30-year career has focused on promoting health and wellness initiatives and programs across the federal government, major universities, and non-profit organizations. Dr. Bruss’ initial work in public health began at the American Cancer Society serving as the first managing editor of book publishing where several of the 18 books she produced were featured on The View, CNN, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and The Washington Post. She went on to work for the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NF-CDC) as a Program Officer, and subsequently advanced to a position as a federal employee at CDC as a Public Health Analyst (GS-685-14). Dr. Bruss recently retired from CDC where she received several awards, including an Excellence in Leadership Award for her work leading public-private partnerships and communications. She also served as the Senior Communications & Partnership Specialist on special assignment to the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health.
Dr. Bruss is an expert in partnership development who provides consultation related to strategic planning, coordination, and implementation of government and private sector partnerships. Known for her out-of-the-box partnership strategies, Dr. Bruss profoundly shaped public health programs during her time at CDC and the CDC Foundation. She orchestrated 70 public-private partnerships, collectively valued at over $65 million. “Public health has been so lucky to have someone with Kathy’s wisdom, passion, and energy,” said Judy Monroe, MD, president and chief executive officer of the CDC Foundation. “Whether it was engaging with industry, forming healthcare coalitions, or working with patient advocates, Kathy knew how to create relationships that benefited everyone while also advancing public health.”
During her tenure at CDC, Dr. Bruss provided subject matter expertise in mental and social health and emotional well-being at CDC, which included activities such as conducting and publishing reports, research and surveys, writing grants, advancing policy, launching various federal workgroups and initiatives, supervising fellows, developing websites for social connection, emotional well-being, and STEM, and creating communication materials and campaigns. Dr. Bruss regularly collaborated with leading researchers in loneliness and social isolation as well as with the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General where she contributed to the development of the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Connection and on measures of social connection for inclusion in the National Health Interview Survey, Household Pulse Survey, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and others to ensure data harmonization across surveillance systems. Her work on social connection has been featured in the media, including excerpts from her interview with Jim Burress in the recent WABE PBS series on loneliness.
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