CGH Associate Director for Communication:
Marsha L. Vanderford, PhD

Marsha L. Vanderford, PhD, is the Associate Director for Communications for the CDC Center for Global Health (CGH). Dr. Vanderford most recently served as the Chief of the Emergency Risk Communication Branch, Division of Emergency Operations, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, providing leadership for CDC’s communication response during public health emergencies, including the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the 2009-10 H1N1 Influenza pandemic.

Dr. Vanderford earned her B.A. from California Polytechnic State University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.  Dr. Vanderford joined CDC in 2000 as Deputy Director of Communication in the National Center for Environmental Health. She has also held positions as Associate Director of Communication Science at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, and Acting Associate Director for Communication in CDC’s Office of the Director. Dr. Vanderford has served as a technical advisor to WHO and to China’s Ministry of Health for the development of global emergency risk communication capacity.  Prior to 2000, Dr. Vanderford was Professor at the University of South Florida with joint appointments in the Departments of Communication and Family Medicine.