Ruth  Berkelman

Rollins Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology

I am a Rollins Professor Emeritus at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University with appointments in the Departments of Epidemiology and Global health, as well as the Center for Ethics.   I have been fortunate throughout my career to enjoy breadth and depth of research in a number of public health policy issues, focused particularly on infectious diseases and public health preparedness.   I began my career in public health as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Following board certification in pediatrics and internal medicine,  I became Director of CDC's Division of Epidemiology and Surveillance Studies and later served as Deputy Director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases where I led CDC's efforts in emerging infectious diseases in the 1990s.  As chronic, non communicable diseases rose in incidence, we have needed to remain vigilant to the ever-changing, ever-adapting microbial world.  Elected to the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Microbiology, the American Epidemiologic Society and as a Fellow to the Infectious Diseases Society of America, I have been extensively involved with numerous boards and committees, including the HHS  National Biodefense Science Board, the Public and Scientific Affairs Board (Chair, 2002-2008)  and the CDC Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) for Infectious Diseases (Chair,  2012-2018). I have also served on the Board of Trustees at Princeton University and the National Academies (NASEM) Board of Life Sciences.  I currently reside in the Gainesville, FL area and am serving on the external advisory board for the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, the Center for Well-being and Health at Princeton University and the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine.