Sylvia Kay Fisher, Ph.D.
Dr. Fisher has consistently served the American public throughout more than
15 years of federal service. As Director of the Office of Research and Evaluation
in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Dr. Fisher
manages evaluations to assess the effectiveness of federal health programs
throughout the nation. Previously, as a research psychologist at the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, Office of Survey Methods Research, she specialized in the application
of cognitive methods to improve the quality of large government surveys.
Dr. Fisher was the director of evaluation in the Child, Adolescent and
Family Branch at SAMHSA from 2004 to 2010, and was project officer for the
national evaluation of the systems of care program. She also coordinated program
activities in the areas of suicide prevention, improving conditions for youth
in residential care, and addressing the needs of LGBT children and youth.
Dr. Fisher has worked extensively throughout her career to improve the
health and well-being of children and youth and LGBT populations. Among
other activities, she has launched and served as chair of a national workgroup to
address the needs of youth in systems of care who are LGBT and their families
and is currently a member of both the Healthy People 2020 Committee on
LGBT populations and the National Action Alliance on Suicide Prevention
LGBT Task Force.