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MMWR Staff

 

Charlotte K. Kent, PhD, MPH (Acting Editor-in-Chief )
Jacqueline Gindler, MD
Christine G. Casey, MD
Mary Dott, MD, MPH
Teresa F. Rutledge
Barbara A. Stallworth
Connie Nevels
Douglas W. Weatherwax
Glenn T. Damon
Soumya Dunworth
Teresa M. Hood
David C. Johnson
Kristy Gerdes
Catherine B. Lansdowne
Marella Meadows
Martha F. Boyd
Sancian N. Crawford
Quang M. Doan
Phyllis H. King
Maureen A. Leahy
Julia C. Martinroe
Jacqueline N. Sanchez
Stephen R. Spriggs
Terraye M. Starr
Moua Yang
Tong Yang

 

Charlotte K. Kent, PhD, MPH
Acting Editor-in-Chief, Executive Editor, MMWR
Chief, Scientific Publications Branch
ckent@cdc.gov
404-498-0576

Charlotte Kent, PhD, has 28 years of experience directing the development, implementation, and evaluation of surveillance, epidemiologic, and health services research, and in managing public health programs at the local and federal level, including internationally. Her broad-based public health experience includes both infectious disease and chronic disease prevention and control. Dr. Kent received her PhD in Epidemiology and her MPH in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California Berkeley, and her BA in Anthropology from Amherst College. She has authored more than 115 published papers. The average citation per published paper is 59.0, with a high impact as measured by an h-index of 41. She has received numerous awards at CDC, including the CDC & ATSDR Honor Award for Excellence in Quantitative Sciences; the Kaafee Billah Memorial Award, Honoring Excellence in Economic Research; and the Charles C. Shepard Science Award. Since 2014, she has applied her skills and experience in leadership roles for the “voice of CDC,” the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series, and CDC Vital Signs, the Agency’s monthly call to action to address the most important public health issues in the United States.

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Jacqueline Gindler, MD
Editor, MMWR   Weekly
jgindler@cdc.gov
404-498-6445

Dr. Jacqueline Gindler joined the MMWR  as the Editor for the weekly in September 2015. She began her CDC career in 1989 as an EIS Officer in the Division of Immunization and later held several positions in the National Immunization Program, working with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians on the first harmonization of the U.S. routine childhood immunization schedule. She has had extensive international experience as a consultant to the World Health Organization on national polio vaccination days, surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis, and establishing and strengthening National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups. During 1998–2006, Dr. Gindler served as the U.S. director of the U.S.-China Collaborative Project on Birth Defects and Disabilities Prevention in Beijing, China, and during 2006–2008 as the Southeast Asia Regional Advisor for Immigrant and Refugee Health in Bangkok, Thailand. She has worked on the pandemic influenza emergency response, and for six months in 2014–15 she served as the Epidemiology Team’s Associate Director for Science for the CDC Ebola response. Most recently, she has been the Science, Policy, and Research Coordinator for the Immunization Systems Branch in the Global Immunization Division. She was selected to participate in the Advanced Course in Vaccinology, sponsored by the Fondation Mérieux, in Annecy, France in 2011.

Dr. Gindler received her bachelor of science degree (summa cum laude) in microbiology and her medical doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. She completed a pediatrics residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Gindler enjoys spending time with her three wonderful daughters. She is also an amateur metalsmith and designs and fabricates contemporary art jewelry in her home studio.

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Christine G. Casey, MD
Editor, MMWR   Serials
ccasey@cdc.gov
404-498-6621

Christine Casey, MD, joined the MMWR  as its inaugural Deputy Editor in May 2009. She previously served as Senior Medical Advisor to CDC’s Chief Science Officer and Associate Director for Science. She initially joined CDC in 2001 and also served as a staff medical officer in the Immunization Safety Office and Office of Public Health Research. Dr. Casey served as the U.S. Public Health Service (alternate) delegate to the American Medical Association and was a past contributor to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Red Book. Dr. Casey has been an invited peer reviewer for the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Lancet, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, Clinical Infectious Diseases, and Vaccine. She is active in the Council of Science Editors by serving as the co-chair Program Committee of the 2014 Annual Meeting.

Dr. Casey received her medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and completed her residency training at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center. She is board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. Following a clinical billet with the U.S. Coast Guard, Dr. Casey held leadership roles during disaster responses to the World Trade Center terrorist attack and to Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Casey earned a bachelor of science degree in economics and psychology from American University, Washington, D.C., and began her scientific career at the National Institutes of Health and the California Institute of Technology by participating in laboratory research of visual pathways and neuronal growth cone differentiation.

Dr. Casey cherishes spending time with her husband and two teenagers. She loves to cook, has completed seven half-marathons and two sprint triathlons, and enjoys reading historical fiction.

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Mary Dott, MD, MPH
Online Editor, MMWR
mud9@cdc.gov
770-488-8824

Dr. Mary Dott (CAPT, USPHS) joined MMWR as its inaugural online Editor in November 2017. She began her CDC career in 2001 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer. She has worked in the areas of birth defects, maternal and child health, workforce development, and emergency response and served in federal, state, and international assignments. She has a strong interest in professional education and brings more than seven years of professional education experience serving in various staff roles within the EIS program. She has contributed to many emergency responses, including CDC’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa during which she helped to establish the safety-training course “Preparing Healthcare Workers to Work in Ebola Treatment Centers in Africa.” Most recently, she has served as the Division of Public Health Information Dissemination’s Deputy Director of Science.

Dr. Dott received her bachelor of arts degree from the Plan II Honors Program of the University of Texas at Austin, medical doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and master in public health degree from Rollins School of Public Health. She completed pediatrics residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and CDC’s general preventive medicine residency assigned to the Georgia Department of Public Health. She is board certified in pediatrics and general preventive medicine.

Dr. Dott enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. They particularly enjoy live music and all sorts of water sports.

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Teresa F. Rutledge
Managing Editor, MMWR
trutledge@cdc.gov
404-498-1150

Teresa Rutledge has served as managing editor of MMWR,   since March 2008. She is responsible for overseeing content, format, and daily operations of the highly publicized, well-respected epidemiologic bulletin. Teresa joined CDC and MMWR   in 1991 and has remained with MMWR   for more than 20 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Georgia State University.

Teresa’s original major in college was accounting, but she discovered her passion for journalism and writing during her early days at MMWR   as a work-study student. She quickly changed her major to journalism, and the rest is history. Teresa is the longest tenured staff member at MMWR.

Teresa enjoys reading romance and suspense novels, traveling, and spending time with friends and family, especially her son and daughter.

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Barbara A. Stallworth
Program Specialist
bstallworth@cdc.gov
404-498-2359

Barbara Stallworth serves as the Administrative Officer, Continuing Education Coordinator, and Clearance Administrator for MMWR. She has been with the MMWR   Office since October 1999. Barbara came to CDC in 1991, moving to Atlanta from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Barbara earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Augusta State University. She has held various positions before joining CDC, including serving as the Assistant Personnel Director for Richmond County in Augusta, Georgia, teaching kindergarten in Vernon Hills, Illinois and working as an accountant at Brace Twine in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Barbara enjoys reading mystery novels, seeing good movies, attending plays, and traveling. She is a true Rise Up Falcons fan and her favorite activity is spending time with her four grandchildren.

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Connie Nevels
Management Analyst
cfn3@cdc.gov
404-498-2223

Connie Nevels recently joined MMWR   as a Management Analyst. She works with the MMWR   Proposals Tracking System and performs other duties in support of the MMWR. A dedicated public servant, Connie has been supporting CDC’s Mission of Healthier, Safer People in several positions at the CDC over the years. She also performs community service with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and her church, Friendship Baptist Church.

Connie graduated from the European Division of the University of Maryland in Heidelberg, Germany, with degrees in Psychology and Business Management. She has been working, learning, and teaching in positions in Germany and the southeastern United States, thanks to permanent change-of-station moves by the U.S. Army. Connie has taught many students of various ages in subjects ranging from ESL/Adult Education at Gwinnett Technical College to Kindergarten for Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Wuerzurg, Germany.

Connie enjoys spending time with her son, daughter, and granddaughter. Traveling, sightseeing, shopping and dining are some of her favorite pastimes. She is excited about working with MMWR.

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Douglas W. Weatherwax
Technical Writer-Editor (Team Lead)
dweatherwax@cdc.gov
404-498-2365

As lead technical writer-editor for MMWR, Doug Weatherwax is responsible for assigning all reports to writer-editors, planning each weekly issue, editing reports each week, and responding to questions from contributors and readers regarding MMWR   publication policies, procedures, and practices. Doug came to CDC in 2002, joining the MMWR   team on the serial publications side, before moving to the weekly in 2003. He became team lead for the weekly in 2004.

A lifelong communications professional, Doug was formerly managing editor of a weekly newspaper in Florida. He also was a reporter, columnist, and section editor for a daily newspaper in Illinois, and served as a senior editor and advertising manager for a manufacturer in Chicago, where he designed, wrote, and desktop-published a broad range of corporate, marketing, and employee communications.

Doug has a bacherlor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in English from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He enjoys hiking and watching football games on the weekends.

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Glenn T. Damon
Writer-Editor (Contractor)
nwx1@cdc.gov

Glenn Damon is a technical writer-editor for MMWR. Glenn began working at CDC in 2017 as a contractor for Tanaq Government Services. Glenn’s background includes experience as a copywriter, technical writer, editor, and owner of a marketing communication firm. Glenn retired from the Army Reserve after a career as an enlisted medic and a commissioned Medical Service Corps officer.

Glenn earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Georgia Southern University.

He and his wife, Lynn, have a dog and two cats.

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Soumya Dunworth
Writer-Editor (Contractor)
soumya.dunworth@cdc.hhs.gov
404-498-2311

Soumya Dunworth, PhD, joined MMWR   as a technical writer-editor in 2015. She received her PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from UNC-Chapel Hill and completed her postdoctoral work in the Department of Genetics at the Yale School of Medicine. Her research focused on the genetic and environmental causes for female and male infertility. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles highlighting advancements in reproductive biology and contraceptive development.

Prior to joining CDC, Dr. Dunworth was an adjunct professor at Albertus Magnus College and served as a medical writer and editor for a variety of academic and clinical clients. As a biomedical research scientist, educator, and medical writer, she is passionate about clear and effective communication.

Outside of science, she enjoys amateur gardening and traveling with her husband and two sons.

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Teresa M. Hood
Writer-Editor
tmhood@cdc.gov
404-498-2852

Teresa Hood is a writer-editor for the MMWR   weekly publication. Before joining the MMWR   in March 2015, Teresa was a writer-editor for the Air Force for 12 years, working as the editor and chief writer for the Air Force Civil Engineer magazine, a quarterly publication supporting the Air Force Civil Engineer at the Pentagon and the 60,000-person civil engineer workforce. Teresa’s position with the MMWR   marks her return to CDC, where she was a writer-editor for the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal during 1997–2003, and helped take the EID journal from a quarterly to a monthly publication of more than 150 pages with colorful cover art.

After graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from the University of Georgia, where her research was on plant elemental uptake by growth stage and temperature, Teresa began her career as an editor for two peer-reviewed journals on plant nutrition and soil science published by Marcel Dekker. Not surprisingly, two of her favorite hobbies are reading and gardening.

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David C. Johnson
Technical Writer-Editor (Serial Publications Team Lead)
dcjohnson@cdc.gov
404-498-2376

David Johnson is team lead for MMWR‘s serial publications (i.e., Recommendations and Reports, Surveillance Summaries, and Summary of Notifiable Diseases). In addition, he selects the content, writes the scripts, and arranges the guests for MMWR‘s weekly podcasts.

David has been with MMWR   since January 1992 and has served as a technical writer and team lead for both the weekly and serial publications.

David earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. Before coming to CDC, he was a reporter and editor with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and a public relations manager with the Atlanta Market Center.

David enjoys hiking with his son.

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Kristy Gerdes
Writer-Editor (Contractor)
vum3@cdc.gov
404-498-2311

Kristy joined MMWR as a technical writer-editor in 2017. She received her MPH degree in 2012 with a concentration in infectious disease. She has over 10 years of experience specific to academic and government industries, with expertise in a variety of areas to include health education and strategic communication, research, consultation, and behavioral/social health outcomes. As a Health Communication Specialist for CDC, she has managed, implemented and evaluated a CDC public health program; provided training, communication strategies, and marketing techniques to facilitate the adoption of healthy behaviors and prevent disease.

She enjoys hiking, traveling and going to movies.

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Catherine B. Lansdowne
Technical Writer-Editor
clansdowne@cdc.gov
404-498-2378

Cathy Lansdowne is a technical writer-editor for MMWR. She joined CDC in 2004 as an editor for the journal Preventing Chronic Disease and moved to MMWR   in 2006.

Cathy has been a science editor for more than 15 years, many of which were spent editing for publishers of medical, allied health, and psychology textbooks, including the health sciences publisher Elsevier and the American Psychological Association. She has edited books on a range of topics, including genetics, veterinary medicine, stroke, cardiology, occupational and physical therapy, emergency medicine, infectious disease, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy, self-injurious behavior, child neglect and abuse, and health psychology.

Cathy earned a master’s degree in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in English and American literature from Washington University in St. Louis.

Cathy and her husband, Rob, live in Marietta and have three children, Harrison, Griffin, and Lucy.

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Marella Meadows
Technical Writer-Editor (Contractor)
zaa7@cdc.gov
404-498-2311

Marella Meadows is a technical writer-editor for MMWR serial publications. She joined MMWR as a contractor with Karna, LLC, in 2016. Marella has worked with CDC as a writer-editor and health communications specialist since 2006. Previously, she was at the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services Office of the Director, the Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, the Global AIDS Program, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Marella has more than three decades of experience as a communicator. Before CDC, she owned MS Editorial Services, worked in book publishing, and was a newspaper reporter and copy editor. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Marella and her husband, Don, have two children, Duncan and Nicole. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, cooking, and listening to all types of music.

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Martha F. Boyd
Health Communications Specialist (Desktop Publishing Team Lead)
mboyd@cdc.gov
404-498-0924

Martha Boyd is the lead for the MMWR   desktop publishing team. Before coming to MMWR   in 2008, Martha worked for the Division of Creative Services Graphic Services Branch as lead for the publications team.

Martha began working at CDC in March 1987, as a visual information specialist in the Management Analysis and Services Office (MASO). Before joining CDC, she was employed by the Department of the Army as an illustrator. Martha earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Augusta College.

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Sancian N. Crawford
Health Communication Specialist (Contractor)
orw2@cdc.gov

Dr. Sancian Crawford recently joined MMWR as a health communications specialist. She will be responsible for supporting senior staff in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of MMWR health communication and marketing activities. Sancian has over 10 years of experience as a writer/editor with the majority being in the medical and scientific industry.

Sancian also works as a scientific writer/editor supporting CDC’s Excellence in Science Committee (EISC), the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Study Tracking and Reporting System (STARS), and eClearance within the Office of Scientific Quality (OSQ) and the Office of Scientific Integrity (OSI), Office of the Associate Director for Science.

Sancian earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science, a Master of Public Health, a Doctor of Chiropractic/Holistic Medicine, and is completing a Ph.D. in Public Health with a concentration in Clinical Epidemiology.

Sancian enjoys hydroponic gardening, traveling, and reading.

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Quang M. Doan
Web Manager (Contractor)
qdoan@cdc.gov
404-498-2351

Quang Doan is a Web Manager working for MMWR   as a contractor with Karna, LLC. He came to CDC in October 2001. His duties include web development, programming, and MMWR   Continuing Education database development. Before joining MMWR, he worked with such firms as IMS Health, Security First Network Bank, Webtone Technologies, Atlanta Property and Casualty Insurance, Anthem Blue cross and Blue shield of CT and Policy Management System Corporation.

Quang earned a bachelor’s degree in information systems at Georgia State University and a master’s degree in finance from Kennesaw State University.

When not working, Quang enjoys taking photographs and plays with his three children.

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Phyllis H. King
Web Manager (Contractor)
pking2@cdc.gov
404-498-2205

Phyllis King is a Web Developer working for MMWR   as a contractor with Karna, LLC. She has worked in the IT field for 20+ years as a Programmer/Analyst and Web Developer as a contractor for various agencies within the federal government.

Phyllis earned a BBA in Business Information Systems from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, sports, and baking.

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Maureen A. Leahy
Visual Information Specialist (Contractor)
mleahy@cdc.gov
404-498-2354

In 2011, Maureen joined CDC’s MMWR   as a contractor for Karna, LLC. Before joining MMWR, she was self-employed for 20+ years. Operating her business as Leahy Design, Maureen’s partial client list included a broad spectrum of Corporate, Non-profit, and Creative entities such as: The High Museum of Art, The Atlanta Opera, The Carter Center, Emory University, Emory Healthcare, Georgia Tech, Delta, and Coca Cola. Her professional career started with Heery International Architects & Engineers in the graphics group.

Maureen is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications Design, with extensive studies in Marketing Management. She has been honored with both national and regional design awards. These awards were submitted by her clients in their own competitive arenas.

As the daughter of an Irish immigrant, she has dual citizenship. She loves music and art, and in her spare time, she has explored painterly photography, knitting, painting, and letterpress printing. Her most recent letterpress printing was done on a turn of the century letterpress. During the weather window of not too hot–not too cold, she loves to imagine her back garden reaching its potential and digging in the dirt. Above all, she is most thankful for her two amazing children and tolerant (engineer) husband.

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Julia C. Martinroe
Visual Information Specialist (Contractor)
jmartinroe@cdc.gov
404-498-6677

Julia Martinroe is contracted to CDC through Karna, LLC and serves the MMWR   team as a visual information specialist. With more than two decades of professional experience as a graphic designer, Julia also has a technical background that includes an early career as a systems programmer in the banking industry and, more recently, as a web developer and web designer focused on content management systems.

Julia is an active member of the Atlanta Yacht Club, where she enjoys racing Thistles (a one-design sailboat). She has a lifelong love of the outdoors, having spent several years as a river guide and kayaking instructor in western North Carolina. Julia was raised in the tree-filled neighborhood of Druid Hills, right here in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Jacqueline N. Sanchez
Health Communications Specialist (Contractor)
ltd4@cdc.gov

Jacque joined MMWR as a Health Communications Specialist in 2018. She previously worked for CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality and Promotion where she developed the Tune in to Safe Healthcare Webinar Series, which educates health care providers on best practices to improve patient safety. At MMWR, Jacque creates and coordinates social media for publication promotion and continuing education, drafts summary content for the MMWR website and the MMWR Express mobile application, transcribes the MMWR podcast series, and works closely with the Office of the Associate Director for Communication to disseminate social media content.

Jacque graduated from The University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and from The George Washington University in Washington, DC, with a Master of Science in Health Sciences in Physician Assistant Studies. Her love of public health brought her to CDC.

Jacque is an avid runner who has competed in over 40 marathons and completed an Ironman triathlon in September 2018. She stays active in the outdoors with her husband and her Australian Shepherd, Penny.

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Stephen R. Spriggs
Visual Information Specialist
sspriggs@cdc.gov
404-498-2476

Steve Spriggs joined the MMWR   staff in February 2012 as a Visual Information Specialist (desktop publisher). Before joining CDC, Steve was Director of Communications for FourSquare Research, a market research company serving non-profits. Steve spent 13 years with Unisys Corporation as Group Leader Graphics in their Presentation Services department. He has nearly 30 years of experience in graphic design and desktop publishing.

Steve has coached girls’ fast-pitch softball for 12 years. He also enjoys music, movies, and reading.

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Terraye M. Starr
Information Technology Specialist
tstarr@cdc.gov
404-498-9143

Terraye Starr joined the MMWR   staff in May 2009 as an Information Technology Specialist (desktop publisher). Prior to joining CDC, she worked for First Army and Army Research Laboratory. She has over twenty years of federal government service.

Terraye earned her first bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland, where she majored in computers and information sciences. Since she always had a love for graphic design, she decided to obtain second bachelors in visual communications from American InterContinental University.

Terraye and her husband, Russell live in McDonough and have one child, Morgan. When not working, Terraye enjoys spending time with her family, reading, sports and shopping.

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Moua Yang
Web Developer (Contractor)
ktu0@cdc.gov
404-498-3058
Moua Yang joined the MMWR   staff in August 2015, as a Visual Information Specialist (desktop publisher) and has since joined the MMWR Web Developer team. Before joining CDC, Moua worked as a Desktop Publisher and Offshore Coordinator for RR Donnelley & Sons, Inc., where his projects included work for the New York Times, Toys R Us, TV Guide, Advanced Research, Merck, and Bank of America. He has been a freelance graphic designer since 2005.

When he’s not working, Moua enjoys spending time with his family, attending events at New City Church, watching sports, reading, binge watching TV shows, and drawing.

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Tong Yang
Desktop Publisher (Contractor)
tyang@cdc.gov
404-498-3058

Tong Yang joined the MMWR   staff in November 2015 as a desktop publisher. Tong’s career as a graphic designer extends over a decade of print design and digital media. Before moving to Atlanta from Milwaukee, he worked as a senior technician for a printing and advertising agency and as a graphic designer for a weekly newspaper.

Tong continues to do freelance work to feed his creative soul and plans to complete his education in front end web development. He enjoys Mixed Martial Arts, sketching, traveling, and spending time with wife and son.

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