Smith - Leadership

Teresa M. Smith, BSN, RN

Associate Director for Communication

Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development

Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services

Office of Public Health Scientific Services

Teresa M. Smith, BSN, RN, is the Associate Director for Communication in the Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development (DSEPD). Ms. Smith leads the communication team, manages communication and marketing activities for the division, and works closely with division leadership and program leads, providing expert advice on communication and marketing strategies.

Most recently, Ms. Smith served as a member of the National Center for Influenza and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) Health Communication Science Office leadership team. She oversaw efforts to promote influenza vaccination to the general public and those at high risk for influenza-related complications as well as CDC's pandemic influenza communication preparedness. During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, she served as co-lead for CDC's Influenza Vaccine Task Force, Communication Team.

Ms. Smith joined CDC in 1998 working in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In her role at ATSDR she became the leader for the Environmental Health Nursing Initiative to advance environmental health nursing efforts. In 2003 Ms. Smith joined CDC's Emergency Communication System (ECS) as the lead for the Community Health Education Team. During responses to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, she served as the Acting Director of ECS, which included co-leading CDC's Joint Information Center.

Before joining CDC, Ms. Smith began her career in public health in 1994 as a public health nurse with the Ohio Department of Health, childhood lead poisoning prevention program.

Ms. Smith received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio State University.