S. Ward Casscells MD

The Honorable S. Ward Casscells, MD is the John E. Tyson Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Public Health, and Vice President for External Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and Senior Scholar at the Texas Heart Institute.

His team contributes original data (including the regular Zogby/Casscells surveys) and insights on healthcare reform, pandemic readiness, and health diplomacy.

From April 2007 through April 2009, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). For this work, Dr Casscells received the DoD’s highest civilian award, the Distinguished Public Service Medal, the Surgeon General’s Medallion from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Army’s Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service, and the Order of Military Medical Merit.

Dr Casscells graduated from Yale College and Harvard Medical School (magna cum laude). He trained in medicine and cardiology at Beth Israel, Brigham and Women’s, and Massachusetts General Hospitals, the Harvard School of Public Health, National Institutes of Health, and Scripps Research Institute.

Dr. Cassscells has published work on the prevention of heart attack and stroke, information technology, medical ethics, influenza, disaster preparedness, nanotechnology, and healthcare management. He also speaks publicly about living with cancer. An inventor and founder of several companies, including Volcano Corporation, he has served on numerous civic, corporate, and professional boards. He has been elected to a number of honorary societies. His work in mobile telemedicine and disaster response earned him the General Maxwell Thurman Award, the Department of Health and Human Service’s Best Public Health Practice Award, and the Memorial Hermann Health System’s Hero Award.