Staff Bio
Sara Patterson is the acting chief operating officer and the acting director of the Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO) at ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø.
Role at ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø
In this role, Patterson oversees management, facilities, and operations at ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø. She provides executive oversight for ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's budget; facilities design, maintenance, security, management analysis, and safety and personnel security; acquisitions, contractual assistance, and grants; information technology and security; and human resources strategy, training, and workplace development.
Previous experience
Patterson previously served as the deputy director for Management, Operations, Communications, and Policy in the Public Health Infrastructure Center, where she oversaw policy, communications, and management and operations functions of the center. She also led the programmatic and partnership strategy for the center, and worked closely with the scientific functions to advance the center's priorities and mission. Patterson led similar functions in ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's former Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (CSELS).
Prior to joining CSELS, Patterson served as the director of ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's Program Performance and Evaluation Office, helping ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø programs and external partners achieve the greatest possible health impact by supporting programs with strategy, development of funding announcements, performance improvement, and program evaluation.
Patterson also served as ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's deputy chief of staff on an interim basis, where she provided strategic advice to the ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø director and ensured proactive coordination of agency-wide priorities and policies in support of ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's mission.
In addition, Patterson served as associate director for Policy at ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control where she oversaw policy and partnership activities. Prior to this role, she was the deputy director of the Office of Policy and Partnerships and oversaw congressional relations, managed cross cutting and strategic partnerships, and led health policy efforts for the center.
Patterson began her career at ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø in 2002 as a Presidential Management Fellow in the Financial Management Office, focusing on congressional relations, budget and policy development, and performance management.