Amy Wolkin, DrPh, MSPH

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Amy Wolkin

Branch Chief, Data Analytics Branch, Division of Injury Prevention

 

Areas of Expertise

  • Cross-cutting injury and violence health topics
  • Public Health data and surveillance
  • Epidemiology and research
  • Health equity

Amy Wolkin, DrPH, MSPH, is the chief of the Data Analytics Branch in the Division of Injury Prevention (DIP) at CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). Dr. Wolkin leads a multi-disciplinary group of talented scientists who provide leadership on the health statistics, data science, health economic research, and programming and web application development for NCIPC. From providing national leadership on surveillance platforms such as WISQARS and engaging on how best to apply the emerging science of data analytics to current and emerging public health priorities, the Data Analytics Branch provides consultation to all areas of the center’s key work and prides itself on delivering results through effective collaboration across the center.

Prior to joining NCIPC, Amy served at CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR), as the senior advisor to the center director for at-risk populations, where she led CPR’s efforts to address health equity issues and improve the resilience of at-risk populations to natural and human-caused disasters, disease outbreaks, and other adverse events. In this role, she collaborated with leaders and scientists from across CDC and external to the agency, led the At-Risk Task Force during emergency responses, conducted research projects to study vulnerability and resilience to public health emergencies, helped to develop practices and procedures to ensure data quality, and worked to translate research findings into tools and guidance documents.

An epidemiologist by training, Dr. Wolkin previously served as chief of the Health Studies Branch (HSB), at the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH). Dr. Wolkin led numerous domestic and international outbreak investigations, conducted epidemiologic research, worked closely with tribal nations, and responded to domestic and international emergency responses. She led several national surveillance efforts: she provided scientific oversight and management of the National Poison Data System, directed CDC surveillance efforts for monitoring disaster-related injuries and deaths, and oversaw work to improve disaster-related cause of death reporting. In addition to working at CPR and NCEH, Dr. Wolkin served as the acting associate director of science in the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services (CSELS), where she provided overall scientific oversight to the center and scientific guidance on the development, implementation, and management of surveillance programs and policies. She has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Dr. Wolkin received her Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina, and a Master of Science in Public Health degree from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia.