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WSLH Gains New Vector-Borne Diseases Coordinator

Mark Sotir, Ph.D.

MADISON, Wis. - Mark Sotir, Ph.D., has joined the WSLH and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health's Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section as the Vector-Borne Diseases Coordinator.

In this position, Sotir will serve as principal investigator for vector-borne surveillance and response in Wisconsin. His office will be located down at DPH, but will regularly work with the staff of the WSLH's Communicable Disease Division.

Sotir will design and direct the activities of the vector-borne disease surveillance program and compile and analyze data collected in surveillance activities, while working to enhance surveillance as needed to adequately monitor vector-borne disease agents in order to protect the public health in Wisconsin. He will apply new research and knowledge needed to enhance surveillance and implement appropriate and effective public health response. Sotir will also be responsible for providing advanced public health information in a timely manner to a variety of audiences including the public, surveillance partners, and local, state and federal public health agencies.

Sotir brings to this position over 10 years of work as an epidemiologist including two years serving as an Epidemic Intelligence Officer (EIO) in the Wisconsin Division of Public Health. Through his work at DPH, he participated in a study of school-aged children in Wisconsin and immunization waivers that will continue with a survey completed in partnership with Johns Hopkins University.

Sotir's additional experience includes consulting with the World Health Organization on the Stop Transmission of Polio program in Zambia for three months this past spring and work with tuberculosis for the Emory School of Medicine and Hanta virus with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While in Zambia , Sotir helped local jurisdictions set up electronic surveillance and reporting systems, while also visiting clinics, as this African country works towards being certified as free of Polio this summer. He credits his time in Zambia for providing him with greater understanding of working with different standards of living, varying levels of government and political climates.

Originally from Connecticut , Sotir has called Wisconsin home for three years. He holds a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and a Master's degree in Public Health.

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Written By: Jessica D. Burda, WSLH Public Affairs, with submitted information from Division of Public Health Human Resources

Date: August 4, 2005

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