Douglas B. Kamerow, M.D., M.P.H.

After 20 years leading key Federal research, health policy, public health, and clinical programs, Dr. Douglas Kamerow joined Research Triangle Institute late in 2001 as Chief Scientist, Health, Social, and Economics Research, in the Washington, DC office.

At RTI, he leads research on health-related behaviors, preventive medicine, evidence-based care, and improving the quality of health care. Current projects include a policy paper on Medicare coverage of preventive services for the Partnership for Prevention, a systematic review of testosterone replacement therapy in older men for the Institute of Medicine, and leadership of an evaluation of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s 14-site National Diabetes Initiative. Dr. Kamerow is also editor of BMJ USA, the US version of the British Medical Journal.

While serving in the U.S. Public Health Service, Dr. Kamerow created and led national programs that made major contributions to health and health care. As Director, Center for Practice and Technology Assessment, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (formerly AHCPR), he developed and led a multi-program national initiative to improve health care quality through development and implementation of evidence-based tools and research. He conceived and supervised creation of the Evidence-based Practice Centers program and the National Guideline Clearinghouse. He also directed the activities of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a technology assessment program, and a research grant program on implementing evidence-based recommendations into health care.

In the PHS, Dr. Kamerow held the rank of Assistant Surgeon General. In this capacity, he represented and substituted for the Surgeon General and the Deputy Surgeon General in presentations to major organizations, including the American Medical Association House of Delegates. He coordinated FDA, NIH, CDC, and other PHS agencies’ responses to AMA draft policies and reports, and spoke and voted on behalf of the Surgeon General on the floor of the AMA House of Delegates.

Before joining AHRQ, Dr. Kamerow directed the Clinical Preventive Services Staff of the PHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. There he was managing editor of the first and second editions of the report of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services. He also conceived and directed the development and implementation of the PHS national clinical preventive services education campaign, "Put Prevention into Practice," including editing the first edition of the Clinician’s Handbook of Preventive Services, published in 1994.

A family physician who is also board-certified in preventive medicine, Dr. Kamerow is Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at Georgetown University, where he continues to teach residents and medical students. He is a graduate of Harvard College (A.B.), the University of Rochester (M.D.), and Johns Hopkins University (M.P.H.). He has edited three books and authored or co-authored 50 journal articles, editorials, book chapters, and monographs on evidence-based medicine, practice guidelines, preventive services, and mental disorders in primary care. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Distinguished Service Medal (the PHS’ highest award), the DHHS Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service, the AHRQ Director’s Distinguished Service Award, the Gorgas Medal in preventive medicine, and two Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medals.