Where We've Been Lately

Since August 1998, the Speakers Bureau has continually evolved as a means to meet requests from partners and the general public for first-hand/real time information on hot topics and emerging public health issues. Since its inception, the Speakers Bureau has received requests from stakeholders around the world such as schools, universities, community organizations, business corporations, and nonprofit organizations. Here is a snapshot of the great ways speakers connect with the community.

Knowledge is Power

Through the Speakers Bureau, CDC staff share the great work CDC does 24/7 to save lives, protect people from health threats and save money through prevention. On a daily basis members from the community at large call on CDC staff to offer expertise on an array of public health topics via conferences and seminars throughout the United States and internationally.

Fred Fridinger, DrPH, CHES, Supervisory Health Communication Specialist, Office of the Associate Director for Communication, Division of Communication Services, Strategic and Proactive Communication Branch, gave a webinar presentation to the University of Cincinnati & the Ohio Valley Node of the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network (CTN) Research Utilization Committee and colleagues on social marketing theories and strategies to be used to improve adoption of evidence-based medical practices. The audience for the presentation was university-based researchers and community-based treatment providers. The presentation was much appreciated by the network group, many of whom are directly involved in improving the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices for providers to treat patients with substance use disorders in community-based settings.

Julia Smith-Easley, MPH, Risk Communication Lead, Center for Global Health, Division of Global Health Protection, Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, served as a guest speaker at the Tom Harkin Global Communications Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The event, “Opening Program of the 2014 CDC National Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program”, focused on CDC’s CDC‘s Emergency Response and Recovery Branch’s efforts in global humanitarian emergencies. The event organizer remarked that the presentation was” very interactive and the speaker had useful and appealing materials.”

Claire C Caruso, PhD, RN, FAAN, Research Health Scientist, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, gave two presentations for the 2014 Region IV VPPPA Safety & Health Conference in Asheville, NC. VPPPA (Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association, Inc.) is a global safety and health organization that supports worksites across the U.S. in their efforts to receive and maintain VPP status and build strong Safety Management System programs. She discussed the broad range of health and safety risks that are linked to shift work and long work hours and strategies that employers and workers can adopt to prevent these risks.

Diane Downie, MPH, Public Health Analyst, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Division of State and Local Readiness, Program Services Branch, served as a guest speaker at Segoe Terrance Apartments and West Madison Senior Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The event, “Million Hearts Program Overview” focused on educating residents on heart disease and stroke prevention as well as discussing the signs and symptoms of heart attacks and high blood pressure. The event organizer remarked that the presentation was “wonderful and everyone really enjoyed hearing Diane”.

Emilio J. German, M.S.H.S.A., Public Health Analyst, Office of Health Equity, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, served as guest speaker at Clark Atlanta University’s Whitney M. Young School of Social Work. The event focused on educating graduate social work students on HIV-related disparities affecting African American/blacks and Hispanic or Latino communities—specifically those in Atlanta. The event organizer remarked that the “sincere, enthusiastic, and informative presentation was very well received by the students. We could feel Emilio’s commitment to the mission and goals of the organization.”

Roque Miramontes, Epidemiologist, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, travelled to Bucharest, Romania to present during the “Coordinating Tuberculosis Control Efforts in Romania” Workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to bring awareness to the problem of Tuberculosis in the area. Roque’s presentation focused on epidemiology and surveillance of MDR and XDR Tuberculosis. The workshop was a joint venture between the U.S. Embassy Bucharest, the U.S. European Command (EUCOM), the U.S. Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC) and the Romanian Ministries of Health and Defense.

Donna Weaver, Nurse Educator, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, was invited by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the leading pediatric hospital in Columbus Ohio, to present at their Annual Pediatric Infectious Diseases Conference. Nurses, health educators, clinic and hospital staff members were educated about current vaccines, immunizations, and infectious disease topics that affect children.

Anthony Davis, MSA, MPA, Emergency Management Specialist, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Response recently spoke with the city of Jonesboro Neighborhood Watch. He was asked to discuss CDC and its role in the community. Davis shared CDC’s 24/7 message of saving lives and protecting people in addition to how communities could keep each other safe and the importance of being prepared in the event of an emergency.

Monica Ponder, MS, MSPH, Health Communications Specialist, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recently spoke at Tau Omicron’s Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. World AIDS Day event. She presented on how to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS on an international scale, particularly in predominately black countries, and challenged common myths, stigmas, and stereotypes surrounding the disease. The audience was a mixture of Nursing, Education, Pharmacy, and Theology students.

Jim Schwendinger, MSN, MPH, NP, Health Communications Specialist, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Response was recently invited by Pfiedler Enterprises of Colorado to update a group of nurses and infection control/preventionists regarding the prevention and management of healthcare acquired infections. The talk was well received and the audience was able to expand their knowledge on the challenges of C. difficile & MRSA.

Andrew Kroger, MD, Medical Officer, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, recently spoke to a group of health care professionals at Washington County Public Health- Iowa. The focus of the conference was vaccines and immunizations. Dr. Kroger was asked to discuss recent vaccine recommendations, the storage and handling of vaccines, and to dispel myths related to vaccines. The lecture was well received by clinical staff that was in attendance.

Dawn Smith, MD, MS, MPH, Medical Officer, The National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention was a panelist at the annual State of Black Gay America Summit. She was asked to speak on the latest science including behavioral science towards the progress in both prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The timeliness of the event- Black Gay Pride weekend allowed for a greater reach for CDC to share important health information on this issue.

Lisa Wiggins, PhD, Epidemiologist, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, was a panelist at the recent Autism Society of American Conference in Atlanta. The focus was to describe current CDC autism activities. Dr. Wiggins provided an update on Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), the largest study in the U.S. to help identify autism risk factors for children.