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CSTE Leadership

Introduction

The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) works to advance public health policy and epidemiologic capacity. CSTE is an organization of member states and territories representing public health epidemiology, known as the "Council". In addition, CSTE has a separate role as the professional home for applied public health epidemiologists representing multiple levels of public health practice with more than 3,600 individual members. CSTE provides technical advice and assistance to partner organizations and to federal public health agencies such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CSTE members have surveillance and epidemiology expertise in a broad range of areas including infectious diseases, environmental health, chronic diseases, occupational health, injury, maternal and child health, and more. CSTE supports effective public health surveillance and sound epidemiologic practice through training, capacity development, and peer consultation.

Mission

Advance the field of applied epidemiology to maximize health.

Vision

Thriving and healthy people and communities everywhere.




2025-2026 CSTE Executive Board

President

Kathryn Turner, PhD, MPH

Deputy State Epidemiologist

Chief, Bureau of Environmental Health and Communicable Disease Prevention, Idaho   

Contact: kathryn.turner@dhw.idaho.gov 

Term Expiration: 2027

Vice President

Catherine M. Brown, DVM, MSc, MPH

State Epidemiologist and State Public Health Veterinarian, Massachusetts 

Contact: catherine.brown@mass.gov 

Term Expiration: 2026 

President-Elect

Sarah Kemble, MD

State Epidemiologist, Hawaii

Contact: sarah.kemble@doh.hawaii.gov

Term Expiration: 2028

Secretary/Treasurer

Ruth Lynfield, MD

State Epidemiologist and Medical Director, Minnesota 

Contact: ruth.lynfield@state.mn.us

Term Expiration: 2026 

Members-at-Large

Linda Bell, MD

State Epidemiologist and Director, Health Programs Branch, South Carolina

Contact: belllw@dph.sc.gov

Term Expiration: 2028

Isaac Benowitz, MD, MPH

Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist, Maine

Contact: isaac.benowitz@maine.gov

Term Expiration: 2028

Rachelle Boulton, MSPH

Program Manager, Division of Population Health Informatics, Utah 

Contact: rboulton@utah.gov

Term Expiration: 2027

Sherri L. Davidson, PhD, MPH

State Epidemiologist, Alabama

Contact: sherri.davidson@adph.state.al.us

Term Expiration: 2026

Mary-Margaret A. Fill, MD, MPH

Interim State Epidemiologist and Deputy State Epidemiologist, Tennessee

Contact: mary-margaret.fill@tn.gov

Term Expiration: 2026   

Laurie Forlano, DO, MPH

State Epidemiologist and Director, Office of Epidemiology, Virginia

Contact: laurie.forlano@vdh.virginia.gov

Term Expiration: 2028

Meghan O'Connell, MD, MPH

Chief Public Health Officer, Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board

Contact: meghan.oconnell@gptchb.org

Term Expiration: 2027 (2-year term)

Theresa Sokol, MPH

State Epidemiologist and Program Director, Infectious Disease Section, Louisiana

Contact: theresa.sokol@la.gov

Term Expiration: 2027

Betsy Wasilevich, PhD, MPH

Senior Epidemiologist, Environmental Health Bureau, Michigan

Contact: wasileviche@michigan.gov

Term Expiration: 2026 (1-year term)


Past Presidents

CSTE's past presidents are extraordinary in the time and effort they have put into improving the organization. Retired past presidents are recognized as CSTE emeritus members. CSTE's past presidents are:

  • 1980-1981    Martin Skinner, WY
  • 1981-1982    Grayson Miller, VA
  • 1982-1983    Tom Halpin, OH
  • 1983-1984    Andrew Dean, MN
  • 1984-1985    Jeffrey Davis, WI
  • 1985-1987    Richard Vogt, VT
  • 1987-1989    Harry Hull, NM
  • 1989-1990    Greg Istre, OK
  • 1990-1991    Dale Morse, NY
  • 1991-1992    Laurence Foster, OR
  • 1992-1993    Ed Thompson, MS
  • 1993-1994    Mike Osterholm, MN
  • 1994-1995    Richard Hoffman, CO
  • 1995-1996    Dennis Perrotta, TX
  • 1996-1997    David Fleming, OR
  • 1997-1998    Guthrie Birkhead, NY
  • 1998-1999    Patricia Quinlisk, IA
  • 1999-2000    Henry Anderson, WI
  • 2000-2001    Jerry Gibson, SC
  • 2001-2002    Matt Cartter, CT
  • 2002-2003    Gianfranco Pezzino, KS
  • 2003-2004    Matt Cartter, CT
  • 2004-2005    Christine Hahn, ID
  • 2005-2006    C. Mack Sewell, NM
  • 2006-2007    Bob Harrison, CA
  • 2007-2008    Eddy Bresnitz, NJ
  • 2008-2009    Perry Smith, NY
  • 2009-2010    Melvin Kohn, OR
  • 2010-2011    Steve Ostroff, PA
  • 2011-2012    Tom Safranek, NE
  • 2012-2013    Laurene Mascola, Los Angeles County
  • 2013-2014    Tim Jones, TN
  • 2014-2015    Alfred DeMaria, MA
  • 2015-2016    Joseph McLaughlin, AK
  • 2016              Megan Davies, NC
  • 2016-2017    Joseph McLaughlin, AK
  • 2017-2018    Janet Hamilton, FL
  • 2018-2019    Sarah Park, HI
  • 2019-2020    Sharon Watkins,PA
  • 2020-2021    Sherri Davidson, AL
  • 2021-2022    Ruth Lynfield, MN
  • 2022-2023    Angela Dunn, UT
  • 2023-2024    Sarah Lyon-Callo, MI
  • 2024-2025    Catherine M. Brown, MA