Caira Woods

Caira Woods, PhD is a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of National Drug Control Policy and Office of National AIDS Policy, on detail from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  In this role, she serves as a liaison between the two offices, which seek to increase coordination between the National Drug Control Strategy and National HIV/AIDS Strategy.  In addition, Dr. Woods leads efforts in HIV prevention and care for women and girls and is bolstering ongoing implementation of the updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

Previously, Dr. Woods was a member of the Office of the Vice President’s violence against women team, where her primary responsibility was coordinating the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault.  Prior to joining the White House, she served as the Senior Advisor for Health and Science Policy in the HHS Office on Women’s Health, where she was principal advisor to the Director, and provided HHS leadership and coordination on national public health initiatives including the President’s Working Group on the Intersection of HIV/AIDS and Violence against Women and Girls, and the White House Council on Women and Girls’ Working Group on Advancing Equity and Empowerment.

An infectious disease researcher by training, Dr. Woods' previous experience includes serving as a Presidential Management Fellow at the National Institutes of Health, U.S. House of Representatives, and HHS Office of the Secretary.  She has also held positions at the National Academy of Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine).  Dr. Woods received her graduate degrees from New York University School of Medicine and undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Spelman College.