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MMWR Staff

Ron Moolenaar, MD, MPH
John S. Moran, MD, MPH
Christine G. Casey, MD
Teresa F. Rutledge
Douglas W. Weatherwax
Jude C. Rutledge
Donald G. Meadows
David C. Johnson
Jeffrey D. Sokolow
Cathy Bricker Lansdowne
Denise Williams
Martha F. Boyd
Terraye Starr
Stephen R. Spriggs
Julia Choate Martinroe
Maureen A. Leahy
Quang M. Doan
Phyllis H. King
Barbara A. Stallworth
Funmilola (Lola) Adigun
Jamey S. Giddens
Robert P. Gaynes, MD

Ron Moolenaar, MD, MPH
Editor-in-Chief
rmoolenaar@cdc.gov
404-498-0576

Ron Moolenaar, MD, MPH, assumed the position of editor-in-chief, MMWR Series, on September 7, 2010. Dr. Moolenaar joined CDC in 1992 as an EIS Officer in the National Center for Environmental Health, working with the initial field investigations of potential health effects from exposure to the gasoline additive Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) in Alaska and the outbreak of mysterious illness, later identified as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, in the southwestern United States. Since then, he has served in several positions at CDC, including the Immunization Services Division, the Division of Field Epidemiology (later the Career Development Division), and the Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects. Most of his time has been invested in supervising and mentoring EIS Officers, many of whom were assigned to state or local health departments. He also has served as Deputy State Epidemiologist for the Oklahoma State Department of Health during 1997–1998. For the past 3 years, he has been assigned to the Division of Public Health Systems and Workforce Development within the Center for Global Health (CGH). In CGH, his responsibilities included providing leadership and technical support to Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs) in China and India and leading the team charged with starting a new FETP in Iraq. He served in a leadership role in the Hurricane Katrina response effort and as Epidemiology Team Leader on an Applied Public Health Response Team.

Before joining CDC, Dr. Moolenaar practiced internal medicine in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Michigan State University. He earned his medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a master’s degree in public health in epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, completed the CDC Preventive Medicine Residency, and is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine. He is a Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service. He has authored or co-authored scientific articles on a wide variety of public health topics, including infectious diseases, environmental health, and disaster response.

Dr. Moolenaar enjoys spending time with friends and family. He enjoys playing basketball and tennis, reading history, and traveling to new places.

John S. Moran, MD, MPH
Deputy Editor
jmoran@cdc.gov
404-498-6445

John S. Moran, MD, MPH, assumed the position of deputy editor, MMWR Series, on September 7, 2010. Prior to taking this position, Dr. Moran was on a 3-year assignment in Kazakhstan, where he served as Influenza Advisor and Global Disease Detection Coordinator in CDC’s Central Asia office. During his 22-year CDC career, positions he has held have included stints as Acting Branch Chief in the former National Immunization Program and Division of TB Elimination and as an Acting Associate Director in the Division of STD Prevention. Most of his career has been spent in the Division of STD Prevention, where he began his career as an officer with the Epidemiology Intelligence Service (EIS). He was responsible for CDC’s recommendations for the treatment of gonorrhea and served for 4 years as a resident advisor to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) office in Jakarta, Indonesia. Short-term assignments as a CDC Medical Officer have included work as a consultant in 15 countries for USAID, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization.

Dr. Moran received his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of California and earned a master’s degree in public health from Emory University in Atlanta. After receiving his medical degree, Dr. Moran spent 5 years working with the Peace Corps in Africa and served for 2 years as a Medical Advisor in Washington, D.C. After his work in the Peace Corps, he came to CDC. He is board-certified in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine.

An author or co-author of more than 70 scientific articles, Dr. Moran also has served on the editorial board of the journal STD and has been an ad hoc reviewer for 25 other periodicals as well as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the National Institutes of Health, and the Cochrane Collaboration.

Dr. Moran and his wife live in Atlanta, where they spend their weekends gardening. They enjoy traveling overseas every chance they get.

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

Christine Casey, MD, joined the Morbidity, Mortality and Weekly Report (MMWR) as 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.

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 enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She enjoys cooking, running half-marathons, and reading historical fiction.

Teresa F. Rutledge
Managing Editor
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 17 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 her son.

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 enjoys hiking and watching football games on the weekends.

Jude C. Rutledge
Writer-Editor
jrutledge@cdc.gov
404-498-2377

Jude Rutledge has served as a writer-editor for MMWR since 2002.

Jude earned a bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College in Iowa, where he majored in history and religious studies. He then spent several years in Prague, Czech Republic, where he taught English at the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) and served as in-house editor for the ČVUT Graduate Department of Control Engineering, Polytechna Consulting, and Pfizer Pharmaceutical. In 2000, he returned to the United States for graduate studies at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology.

Jude lives in Talking Rock, Georgia, with his wife, Sara.

Donald G. Meadows
Technical Writer-Editor
dmeadows@cdc.gov
404-428-6036

Don Meadows joined the MMWR staff in February 2008 as a writer-editor. He began work for CDC on contract in September 2003 with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry/National Center for Environmental Health and then worked as a communications specialist with the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine from October 2006 through January 2008.

Previously, Don served as editor for the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry’s monthly magazine, TAPPI JOURNAL, and as senior editor for TAPPI’s Solutions! magazine. Before that, he managed several medical newsletters published by American Health Consultants and was the first editor for Drug Utilization Review, a monthly newsletter for hospital pharmacists.

Don earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Wayne State University and a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University. He has written for several newspapers, including the Edwardsburg (MI) Argus, the Sandusky (OH) Register, and the Oklahoma City Times. He also is a skilled photographer and artist.

Don has traveled through most of the United States, parts of Canada, much of Europe, and many countries of the Western Pacific. He’s also visited India, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.

Don got his first set of oil paints when he was 12-years-old and has continued his interest in art ever since. He paints in a realistic style, with hints of Impressionistic influences. He has had paintings in recent juried shows of the Portrait Society of Atlanta and in Rome, Georgia.

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

David Johnson is acting 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.

Jeffrey D. Sokolow
Technical Writer-Editor
jsokolow@cdc.gov
404-498-2379

Jeffrey (Jeff) Sokolow is a technical writer-editor with the MMWR. He is currently a project editor for the MMWR serials publications. Before joining CDC in 2002, he was an editor with a human resources management company. Before coming to Georgia in 1992, he was the director of a nonprofit foundation working with college students at the University of California–Santa Cruz, a program director for a community center in San Francisco, and an instructor of English composition and English as a second language at San Francisco State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in English from San Francisco State University.

In his spare time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his family, reading literature and history, listening to folk music, cooking, and traveling.

Cathy Bricker Lansdowne
Technical Writer-Editor
clansdowne@cdc.gov
404-498-2378

Cathy Bricker 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.

Denise Williams
Technical Writer-Editor
gkk3@cdc.gov
404-498-6281

Denise Williams joined MMWR as a technical writer-editor in 2011. She is currently a project editor for the MMWR serial publications. She began working for CDC in 2007 as a writer-editor in the Division of Creative Services, and has worked on health communications in the areas of infectious and foodborne disease, as well as communications related to various emergency operations center events and exercises including H1N1, the cholera epidemic in Haiti, and hazardous weather exercises and events. Also, while working in the Office of the Chief of Staff in the Office of the CDC Director, Denise co-led the effort to produce the 2012 release of the CDC Correspondence Manual.

Denise has an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Aviation/Marketing and a bachelor’s degree in Public Management from Florida A&M University. She started her career as an Administrative Officer/Public Affairs Officer in the United States Navy.

Denise has two daughters and two small breed dogs. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, creative writing, reading, photography, and cooking.

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 State University.

Outside of CDC, Martha’s life revolves around her teenage twins.

Terraye Starr
Desktop Publisher
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.

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

Steve Spriggs is contracted to CDC through Northrop Grumman and serves the MMWR team as a visual information specialist. 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.

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

Julia Choate Martinroe is contracted to CDC through Northrop Grumman 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.

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

In 2011, Maureen joined CDC’s MMWR as a contractor for Northrup Grumman. 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.

Quang M. Doan
Senior Programmer/Analyst (Contractor)
qdoan@cdc.gov
404-498-2351

Quang Doan is a senior programmer/analyst working for MMWR as a contractor with Northrop Grumman. 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 dogs and two children.

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

Phyllis King is a Northrop Grumman contractor working as a web developer on the MMWR Web Team. Before joining Northrop Grumman, she worked as a programmer/analyst for SRA International, Inc, developing and maintaining web sites for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

Phyllis earned a bachelor's in business information systems from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Phyllis lives in Lilburn, Georgia, with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, sports, and baking cakes.

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

Barbara Stallworth serves as the Continuing Education coordinator for MMWR and the National Center for Health Marketing (NCHM). Barbara came to CDC in 1991. She joined MMWR in 1999, after having worked for the National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Barbara serves as the documentum administrator for NCHM, which manages CDC electronic clearance. She also is responsible for planning the MMWR Editorial Board meetings each year, and other administrative tasks in the office. Barbara earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Augusta State University.

Barbara enjoys reading mystery novels, seeing good movies, attending plays, traveling, and spending time with her granddaughter, Angelica.

Funmilola (Lola) Adigun
Data Analyst (Contractor)
fadigun@cdc.gov
404-498-2357

Lola Adigun came to CDC in August 2007 in her current position as data analyst for MMWR. Lola is a contractor with Northrop Grumman. Her duties include maintaining the MMWR Continuing Education (CE) database and serving as the CE data analyst and office manager for MMWR. Before joining MMWR, Lola worked at MBNA America, Atlanta Journal Constitution, and AT&T (formerly Cingular) Wireless. She is pursuing a degree in English from Georgia State University.

Lola enjoys watching soccer and traveling abroad.

Jamey S. Giddens
Editorial Assistant
jgiddens@cdc.gov
404-498-2305

Jamey S. Giddens is the editorial assistant for MMWR. In addition to performing various administrative tasks, he assists the writer-editors with copy editing references to AMA and MMWR stylebooks and with writing summary blurbs and photo captions for the MMWR website.

Jamey joined the MMWR staff in June 2008. Before moving to Atlanta, he worked as a public affairs specialist for the Department of the Army in South Texas. He also worked for Lee Enterprises, the fourth largest newspaper conglomerate in North America, headquartered in Davenport, Iowa.

Jamey earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Southern Arkansas University, where he double-majored in print and broadcast journalism.

In his spare time, Jamey can likely be found at Borders reading the first few chapters of the latest book by David Sedaris or Chelsea Handler before making a decision to buy.

Robert P. Gaynes, MD
MMWR Podcast Host
rgaynes@cdc.gov
404-639-4051

Robert Gaynes is the MMWR podcast host. Before retiring from CDC in 2008, Dr. Gaynes was Medical Epidemiologist in the Office of the Director of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion and an Associate Professor at Emory University School of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Gaynes attended the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and completed residency training in Internal Medicine at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. He was an EIS Officer in Hospital Infections Program and also received training in infectious diseases at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics. He served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Hospital Epidemiologist at the University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor, MI. He also was the Chief of the Surveillance Activity, Hospital Infections Program and Director of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System.

Dr. Gaynes has recently spent time working on Clinical Decision Support and the Computerized Medical Record System at the Atlanta VA Hospital. He is Chair of the Infection Control Committee at the Atlanta VA Hospital. Currently, he works primarily on antimicrobial resistance/use, including surveillance of antimicrobial resistance connected to healthcare, identification and control of antimicrobial resistant infections, and the prevention of monitoring and preventing healthcare-associated infections at the Atlanta VA Hospital and Medical Center. Dr. Gaynes is a Fellow in the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and a Fellow in the Infectious Disease Society of America. He has authored and/or co-authored over 100 papers/book chapters on infectious disease topics related to healthcare epidemiology and infection control and antimicrobial resistance and use. In addition, he serves on the Editorial Board of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and as a reviewer for several scientific journals.

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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
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Phone: (404) 498-1150
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