Once discouraged, now encouraged: Former CDC official gives new reasons to believe in US healthcare

August 7, 2026 - 16:18

After nearly eleven years in top leadership roles at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Deb Houry is stepping back and taking a fresh look at the state of U.S. healthcare. Her verdict is surprisingly upbeat. Where many critics see fragmentation, high costs, and burnout, Houry sees a system that has learned hard lessons and is quietly building on them.

Houry, who served as the CDC's chief medical officer and later as deputy director for program and science, acknowledges the deep flaws that dominate public debate. But she argues that the pandemic forced a level of cooperation and innovation that did not exist before. Hospitals, public health agencies, and community groups now share data more openly. Telehealth, once a niche service, has become a standard tool for reaching patients in rural areas and underserved cities alike.

She also points to a shift in how medical professionals approach prevention. Instead of waiting for crises to emerge, local health departments are investing in early intervention programs, mental health support, and chronic disease management. Houry believes these changes are not temporary patches but structural improvements that will hold.

Her main concern is not capability but will. The infrastructure is there, she says. The workforce is more resilient than people give it credit for. What worries her is whether political leaders and the public will sustain the momentum. She urges Americans to look past the noise and recognize the quiet progress happening in clinics, labs, and community centers every day.

For Houry, the glass is not just half full. It is filling up.