Patricia Quinlisk MD, MPH, D.Sc. (Hon)

Dr. Patricia Quinlisk is the Medical Director and State Epidemiologist at the Iowa Department of Public Health. She earned a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University and a medical doctorate degree from the University of Wisconsin. Her background includes training as a clinical microbiologist, training microbiologists while a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, and training as a field epidemiologist in the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. For 12 years she conducted epidemiologic training courses in Europe and is a professor at the University of Iowa, the University of Wisconsin, Des Moines University, and Iowa State University. She has served on CDC’s Board of Scientific Counselors, on the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, and as President of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). She was on the Institute of Medicine’s committees on Microbial Threats to Health in the 21st Century, Animal Health at the Crossroads, Preparing for the Psychological Consequences of Terrorism, and Antivirals for Pandemic Influenza. In 2009 she received an honorary Doctorate of Science degree from Iowa State University, and for five years she served as chair for the National Biodefense Science Board.