OASH Leadership
Marcus Plescia, M.D., M.P.H.
Marcus Plescia, M.D., M.P.H. is the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director of the Office of Science and Medicine at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). He advises the Assistant Secretary and OASH leadership across scientific and medical issues covering the full suite of public health priorities. He oversees staff and program work focused on state and federal health systems, infection-associated chronic conditions, vector borne disease, data-driven decision making and healthcare innovation.
Dr Plescia has widespread experience in medicine and public health. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and practiced for over 20 years in a variety of settings serving homeless, urban poor and rural underserved populations. He previously served as Chief Medical Officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) where he supported and advised the nation’s state public health leaders and served as their principal spokesperson. He has served in public health leadership roles at the local, state and federal level.
Dr Plescia has specific expertise in the prevention and control of chronic disease. He served as Chronic Disease Director for the North Carolina Department of Health, led the national cancer control programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and served as President of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. In these roles he has led successful public health interventions including expanded cancer screening coverage, prescription drug and disease reporting requirements, clinical guidelines, state and local tobacco policy and statewide obesity prevention programs. He led the implementation of the CDC's national colorectal cancer screening program and has published widely in the medical and public health scientific literature on chronic disease prevention strategies.
Dr Plescia received his Medical Degree, Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He trained in Family Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY.
Content created by Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)
Content last reviewed December 10, 2024