Department of Health Names New Deputy State Epidemiologist
NASHVILLE – John Dunn, DVM, Ph.D., has been named deputy state epidemiologist for the State of Tennessee. Dunn has been serving as the state’s public health veterinarian since 2007.
“John is a well respected public health professional at the local, state, national and international levels, and is uniquely qualified to assume the duties of this position,” said Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN. “I am pleased he will continue to use his skills to protect, promote and improve the health of Tennesseans as our deputy state epidemiologist.”
Dunn is an internationally recognized expert in foodborne and zoonotic diseases. He has presented workshops and seminars at multiple scientific, academic, industry and public health meetings in the United States and internationally. He led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s effort to develop national recommendations to prevent disease and injury associated with animals in public settings. He has conducted important outbreak investigations including an E. coli O157 outbreak following the 2004 North Carolina State Fair. Dunn has also conducted numerous investigations of foodborne illnesses and outbreaks as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer.
Dunn joined the Tennessee Department of Health in 2005 as a Public Health Service officer. Since 2007, he has served as state public health veterinarian and director of foodborne, vectorborne and zoonotic diseases, overseeing outbreak investigations and general communicable disease surveillance programs. As deputy state epidemiologist, Dunn will continue to direct these and other TDOH programs and coordinate statewide activities including outbreak response and training.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Tennessee Department of Health deputy state epidemiologist,” said Dunn. “We have an amazing group of public health professionals across the state. I am looking forward to working more closely with them.”
Dunn was awarded the James H. Steele Veterinary Public Health Award by CDC in 2008 for his work in the control and prevention of zoonotic diseases. He has received an Outstanding Unit Citation and Distinguished Service Award from CDC for his work with a team deployed to Texas to assist in relocation and sheltering of evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. He serves as chair of the National Association of Public Health Veterinarians’ Compendium on Diseases Associated with Animals in Public Settings, and has been recognized with a United States Public Health Service Citation for his work with this organization. He has worked as a CDC consultant in China and with the World Health Organization in Fiji. Dunn holds an appointment as assistant clinical professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dunn, a Nashville native, earned three degrees from Louisiana State University: a bachelor’s
degree in zoology, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and Ph.D. in veterinary medical sciences.