User:Mstrassburg

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In my youth, I spent two years in the Peace Corps (Ethiopia) working with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Smallpox Eradication program. I then attended graduate school at UCLA where I received my doctoral degree in Epidemiology with a minor in Health Services. In my current position for the Los Angeles Department of Health Services (DHS) I oversee Web Informatics (http://www.ladhs.org/). My interests in this area includes improving the Public's access to quality health data, resources, and information on the web. Previous positions at DHS include Chief Epidemiologist, Disease Control Epidemiologist, Environmental Epidemiologist, and Immunization Program Director. Recently I have been assisting the Department in the area of Bioterrorism Preparedness and Pandemic Influenza Planning.

Outside of DHS I have worked as a consultant in the field of Epidemiology and Information Systems for over 30 years, both within the United States and internationally. My expertise has been in the areas of; disease eradication, program evaluation, surveillance and information systems. I have also developed a number of surveillance and data analysis software programs some of which can be downloaded at: http://ucsf.edu/fhop/_htm/software/index.htm. For the WHO I have consulted in over 20 countries. The objectives of these consultancies have varied and included; setting up eradication programs, conducting program reviews, developing training materials, setting up surveillance systems, and participating in Technical Advisory Group meetings. Five diseases have received my principal focus of attention during this time; Smallpox, Polio, Measles, Rubella, and Neonatal Tetanus. I have helped author a number of Field Guides for the Pan American Health Organization http://www.paho.org/English/AD/FCH/IM/FieldGuide_Index.htm

Recently I have worked in China developing courses on Epidemiology for the China CDC. I have helped Los Angeles and other Counties on training issues and in developing Bioterrorism Plans. I have also worked with WHO Geneva on SARS related issues.

For over 20 years I have taught at UCLA School of Public Health in the Epidemiology Department where I currently hold the rank of adjunct Professor. Since 2000 I have been teaching at Touro University, an Internet based college. I also teach a yearly course on Bioterrorism at USC.