MMWR Staff
Charlotte K. Kent, PhD, MPH
Editor-in-Chief, MMWR
Associate Director for Scientific Communication
ckent@cdc.gov
Charlotte K. Kent, PhD, MPH, 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 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.
Jacqueline Gindler, MD
Editor, MMWR Weekly
jgindler@cdc.gov
Jacqueline Gindler, MD, 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.
Christine G. Casey, MD
Editor, MMWR Serials
ccasey@cdc.gov
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.
Mary Dott, MD, MPH
Online Editor, MMWR
mdott@cdc.gov
Mary Dott, MD, MPH (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.
Paul Z. Siegel, MD, MPH
Associate Editor, MMWR Weekly
pzsiegel@cdc.gov
Paul Z. Siegel, MD, MPH, joined MMWR in 2020 as Associate Editor for the weekly. Prior to joining MMWR, Dr. Siegel was Deputy Associate Director for Science at CDC’s Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services (CSELS). His principal responsibility is to ensure the quality of manuscripts authored by CSELS scientists. From 1995–2015, he was an epidemiologist at CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, where he directed the Field Epidemiology Activity for 15 years. Board Certified in General Preventive Medicine, Dr. Siegel has conducted training in scientific writing for public health practitioners and epidemiologists at the national and international levels for over 30 years, including as a Fulbright Teaching Fellow to the Russian Federation in 1999.
Dr. Siegel received his bachelor of arts degree in modern languages (French and German), his medical doctorate from Albany Medical College, and master’s in public health degree from Tulane University in New Orleans.
Dr. Siegel enjoys gardening and keeps up with his French. He lives in constant amazement that not only his two adult children, but also one of his cats, are smarter than he is.
Terisa F. Rutledge
Managing Editor, MMWR
trutledge@cdc.gov
Terisa 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. Terisa 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.
Terisa’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. Terisa is the longest tenured staff member at MMWR.
Terisa enjoys reading romance and suspense novels, traveling, and spending time with friends and family, especially her son and daughter.
Jean Davis
Management and Program Analyst
jdavis@cdc.gov
Jean Davis joined MMWR in February 2020 as a Management and Program Analyst. Prior to joining MMWR, she worked in the Business Management Office, Office of the Director, CSELS. She has a vast amount of administrative experience, including overseeing inter-agency agreements, contracts, personnel actions, and much more.
Jean loves traveling and spending time with her daughter and son-in-law.
Connie Nevels
Management Analyst
cnevels@cdc.gov
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.
Teresa M. Hood
Technical Writer-Editor (Weekly Publication Team Lead)
tmhood@cdc.gov
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.
Glenn T. Damon
Writer-Editor
gdamon@cdc.gov
Glenn Damon joined MMWR as technical writer-editor in 2017. 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.
Soumya Dunworth
Technical Writer-Editor
sdunworth@cdc.gov
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.
Tiana Garrett-Cherry
Technical Writer-Editor (Contractor)
tgarrett-cherry@cdc.gov
Tiana Garrett-Cherry, PhD, is a technical writer-editor for MMWR. She began working with MMWR in 2021 as a contractor with Tanaq Government Services. Her position with MMWR marks a return to CDC, where she was an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer during 2011–2013, and a two-time epidemiology field assignee with the CDC’s National Center of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2013–2015) and the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (2016–2017).
Prior to joining MMWR, Dr. Garrett-Cherry worked as a freelance copyeditor, proofreader, and owner of a public health consulting agency. She received her PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology and master’s in public health in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she also completed her postdoctoral work in genetic epidemiology.
Dr. Garrett-Cherry enjoys volunteering, traveling, roller skating, spending time with family and friends, and trying new cuisines.
John Morgan Thompson
Technical Writer-Editor (Contractor)
Jthompson7@cdc.gov
John Morgan Thompson is a technical writer-editor for MMWR. Morgan began working at CDC in 2021 as a contractor for Karna, LLC. Before joining MMWR, Morgan worked as a freelance writer and technical editor.
Morgan earned a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College, where he studied English Literature. He enjoys tending to his garden, going for long hikes in the Rocky Mountains, and spending as much time with his cat.
Srila Sen
Technical Writer-Editor
ssen@cdc.gov
Srila joins the MMWR team after several years as a contract scientific editor with CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, followed by the National Cancer Institute’s Tobacco Control Monograph.
Most of her experience as a medical editor was gained at academic medical institutions, including the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Tufts University Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, segueing for a time as a consumer health editor with such leading publishers as Whittle Communications and EBSCO Publishing. The latter half of her career has involved managing research publications, including eight years with the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved at Meharry Medical College.
She has an undergraduate degree in Biology and received her master’s degree from the University of Missouri, School of Journalism, with a concentration in medical journalism.
Srila enjoys volunteering with various animal advocacy groups as well as at community and AmeriCorps alumni events. Her most cherished role is as dog and cat Mom to her family of rescues.
Stacy Simon
Writer-Editor (Contractor)
ssimon@cdc.gov
Stacy Simon joined MMWR, in 2020 as a technical writer editor, working as a contractor for Karna, LLC. Stacy’s background in medical journalism includes 9 years as Senior Editor with the American Cancer Society, where she wrote and edited news and feature stories to communicate cancer information to the general public.
Stacy has a master’s degree in communications from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Northwestern University.
Stacy and her husband live in Atlanta and have two children, Emily and Jeffrey. They enjoy spending time with family, taking long walks, and eating good food.
David C. Johnson
Technical Writer-Editor (Serial Publications Team Lead)
dcjohnson@cdc.gov
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.
Elizabeth L. Berdon
Writer-Editor (Contractor)
eberdon@cdc.gov
Elizabeth “Leigh” Berdon is a technical writer-editor for MMWR. Leigh began working at CDC in 2021 as a contractor for Tanaq Government Services. Leigh’s background includes 10 years as a technical writer and editor for medical device manufacturers. She has also worked as an economic developer and pension fund investment officer.
Leigh earned a bachelor’s degree in statistics from The Florida State University.
She enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, gardening, and being a dog mom.
Marella Meadows
Technical Writer-Editor
MMeadows1@cdc.gov
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.
Martha F. Boyd
Health Communications Specialist (Desktop Publishing/Web Development Team Lead)
mboyd@cdc.gov
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.
Quang M. Doan
Web Manager (Contractor)
qdoan@cdc.gov
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.
Alexander (Alex) Gottardy
Visual Information Specialist (Contractor)
agottardy@cdc.gov
Alex Gottardy, Visual Information Specialist (contractor with Tanaq Government Services, LLC), to the MMWR office. Alex has worked as a freelance designer on a wide array of projects in disciplines including web design, motion graphics, and book design. Alex holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Georgia, where he studied animation, computer science, and design. In his free time, Alex enjoys drawing, coding, and spending time with his lifelong friends in Atlanta.
Phyllis H. King
Information Technology Specialist
pking2@cdc.gov
Phyllis King joined the MMWR staff in 2008 as a contractor. She is currently an Information Technology Specialist with CDC/MMWR. Phyllis 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.
Maureen A. Leahy
Visual Information Specialist (Contractor)
mleahy@cdc.gov
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.
Julia C. Martinroe
Visual Information Specialist (Contractor)
jmartinroe@cdc.gov
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.
Stephen R. Spriggs
Visual Information Specialist
sspriggs@cdc.gov
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.
Terraye M. Starr
Information Technology Specialist
tstarr@cdc.gov
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.
Moua Yang
Web Developer (Contractor)
MYang2@cdc.gov
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.
Tong Yang
Visual Information Specialist
tyang@cdc.gov
Tong Yang joined the MMWR staff in November 2015 as a desktop publisher contractor. He is now a Visual Information Specialist with the Office of the Associate Director for Communication, Division of Creative Services, and assigned to support MMWR.
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.
Ian Branam
Health Communication Specialist (Communication Acting Team Lead)
IBranam@cdc.gov
Ian Branam is a health communication specialist in CDC’s Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (CSELS) and the acting team lead for the MMWR communications team. Ian oversees the strategic dissemination of scientific findings published in MMWR to reach key audiences with actionable information.
Prior to joining CSELS, Ian worked in CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) where he oversaw vaccine communication outreach to healthcare professionals, including leading CDC’s HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention campaign. He also possesses extensive media outreach experience and has developed, implemented, and managed national communication and marketing programs such as National Immunization Awareness Month.
Ian holds a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication with a focus on health and medical journalism from the University of Georgia. In his free time, he enjoys watching college football, grilling, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Shelton Bartley
Health Communication Specialist
SBartley2@cdc.gov
Shelton Bartley joined MMWR as a Health Communication Specialist in July 2020. He was previously a contractor in CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control where he worked on a variety activities that included monitoring and managing the division’s social media accounts, authoring blog posts and newsletters and assisting with the creation of virtual simulations to help cancer survivors and patients. Shelton has a Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Georgia and recently earned a certificate in Digital Health Communications from Tufts University School of Medicine. He also has Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mercer University. In his spare time, Shelton enjoys watching college football (Go Dawgs!), trying new foods and listening to jazz.
Leslie Hamlin
Health Communications Specialist
lhamlin@cdc.gov
Leslie Hamlin joined MMWR as a Health Communication Specialist in August 2021. Prior to joining MMWR, she worked as a contractor for the COVID-19 Response as communications lead for the Modeling Team, Epidemiology Task Force, where she managed and updated three high-visibility webpages, provided weekly updates for Dr. Walensky’s press briefings, produced one of CDC’s top-performing tweets each week, and edited and shepherded through clearance more than a dozen manuscripts. Before joining the Response, she served as center writer/editor for the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (3 years), senior editor/project manager for the National Center for Health Statistics (1 year), and division editor for the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases (2 years), and currently sits on the Working Group for the next iteration of the CDC Style Guide. Before joining CDC, she served as managing editor for 11 years for an Atlanta firm that produced monthly medical journals. She is driven by the desire to educate and empower the public, and is thrilled to be joining the MMWR Team!
She proudly hails from Kansas City, MO, and is a proud mother to her 5-year-old son Lou.
Lowery Johnson
Health Communication Specialist (Contractor)
LJohnson14@cdc.gov
Lowery Johnson joined MMWR as a Health Communication Specialist contractor with Tanaq, LLC, in July 2020. She previously worked as a contractor in CDC’s National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, where she provided digital and social media support. She has 8 years of experience in marketing and communication in the corporate sector and made the switch to public health in 2018, when she moved from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Atlanta. Lowery has a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Utah. In her spare time, she enjoys writing and creating, watching Utah Jazz basketball, and playing with her dog Cole.
Will Yang
Desktop Publisher (Contractor)
WYang@cdc.gov
Will Yang joined MMWR in July 2019 as a desktop publisher. He is a graphics designer with over 10 years of professional experience and has a background in leadership and communication work in the nonprofit sector. He earned a bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology and specializes in youth cultures and issues and communication methods to adolescent teenagers.
Will enjoys fishing and making lifelong memories with his family.