Research Day To Feature CDC Emergency Response Leader As Keynote Speaker
April 15, 2024Students from PCOM South Georgia and area physician residency programs along with practicing physicians will share
their latest research projects during PCOM South Georgia’s annual Research Day on
Wednesday, May 8.
The event will include poster presentations, podium talks and a presentation by keynote
speaker Jennifer McQuiston, DVM.
Dr. McQuiston, a veterinarian, is a diplomate with the American College of Veterinary
Preventive Medicine and a retired captain in the U.S. Public Health Service. This
uniformed branch of service is committed to protecting the nation’s public health.
Its officers serve in various agencies across government as physicians, nurses, dentists,
veterinarians, scientists, engineers and other professionals.
Since 2015, McQuiston has served as the deputy director in the Division of High Consequence
Pathogens and Pathology in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According
to the CDC website, the DHCPP “improves public health and safety nationally and globally
through investigating, monitoring, and controlling sickness, disability, and death
caused by highly lethal viral, bacterial, prion and related infections and diseases
of unknown origin.” As deputy director, her responsibilities include leading a division
that investigates and responds to infectious disease threats that could have catastrophic
consequences on the public’s health and safety, such as Ebola, Marburg, smallpox,
anthrax, rabies, prions and others.
With a career at the CDC spanning more than 25 years, McQuiston began at the CDC as
an epidemic intelligence service (EIS) officer before becoming an epidemiologist and
communications specialist specializing in zoonotic diseases.
McQuiston often serves in leadership roles for CDC emergency responses, including
deploying to Sierra Leone as part of the 2014 West Africa response, serving at deputy
incident manager in 2015 for the CDC’s zika response, serving as principal deputy
incident manager in 2020 during the CDC’s COVID response, and leading as incident
manager in 2022 during the CDC’s response to the 2022 global mpox outbreak.
Research Day activities begin at noon on May 8 in classroom A on the PCOM South Georgia
campus. For more information, contact Jennifer H. Shaw, PhD, chair of the department of biomedical sciences, at jennifer.shaw@pcom.edu.
About PCOM South Georgia
In 2019, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a premier osteopathic
medical school with a storied 125-year history, extended its commitment to the Southeast
by establishing PCOM South Georgia. An additional teaching location in Moultrie, Georgia, PCOM South Georgia offers both
a full, four-year medical program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. PCOM is a private, not-for-profit
institution that trains professionals in the health and behavioral sciences fields.
Joining PCOM Georgia in Suwanee in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state, PCOM South Georgia
focuses on educating physicians for the region. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 229-668-3110.
Contact Us
Cindy B. Montgomery
Public Relations and Social Media Manager
Email: cindymo@pcom.edu
Office: 229-668-3198 | Cell: 229-873-2003
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