PATRICK O'CARROLL, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACMI is the Regional Health Administrator for Region X (AL, ID, OR, and WA) of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). He began this assignment in January 2003.

Dr. O’Carroll received his medical degree and his Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in 1983. After training in family practice and preventive medicine, he joined CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer. Initially assigned to work the area of violence epidemiology, Dr. O’Carroll later led the epidemiology research unit for the prevention of suicide and violence at CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention Control. He was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine in 1988.

In 1992, Dr. O’Carroll began working in the nascent field of public health informatics. He co-led the development of CDC WONDER and was lead scientist on the CDC Prevention Guidelines Database project. Dr. O’Carroll developed the nation’s first training course and textbook in public health informatics. As Associate Director for Health Informatics at CDC’s Public Health Practice Program Office, he defined, developed and directed CDC's Health Alert Network program. In 2001 Dr. O’Carroll was assigned to the State of Washington to work with the University of Washington’s Northwest Center for Public Health Preparedness on public health informatics issues related to workforce development. He was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics in 2004.

In his 19 years with CDC and USPHS, Dr. O’Carroll has received numerous awards and recognition for his work, including two Outstanding Service Medals. He holds Affiliate Associate Professor appointments in the Departments of Epidemiology and Health Services at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, and is also Affiliate Associate Professor in the Division of Biomedical and Health Informatics, University of Washington School of Medicine.