CDC Lessons Learned in Responding to H1N1 (Swine Flu)

Speaker
Toby L. Merlin, MD, Deputy Director of the Influenza Coordination Unit, CDC

Talk Description
In addressing the recent H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak the CDC has activated plans and procedures that we have been developing for several years to respond to an anticipated pandemic arising from avian influenza. This talk will describe the role of the CDC in responding to such threats to public health and will review how well the measures that we had in place for avian flu have worked for this unexpected strain as well as what lessons we have learned - so far - that will help us to deal more effectively with future outbreaks.

Agenda
7:15 - 8:15: Dinner, Drinks, Socializing
8:15 - 9:30: Presentation and discussion

Speaker's Biographical Sketch
Toby L. Merlin, MD is Deputy Director of the Influenza Coordination Unit that oversees and coordinates domestic and international influenza preparedness activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Prior to joining the Influenza Coordination Unit, Dr. Merlin was Director of the Division of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances which leads CDC’s partnership activities across private and public sectors, including public health systems, businesses, educational organizations, health care organizations, faith based and community organizations, and federal agencies. Under Dr. Merlin’s leadership, this Division developed the pandemic influenza preparedness checklists that the US government has promoted as a preparedness framework for various sectors.

Dr. Merlin joined CDC in 2003 from Lovelace Health Systems in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he served as Senior Vice-President and Chief Medical Officer and an officer of the Board of Directors. Dr. Merlin also served as Chair of the Department of Laboratories and an elected member of the Medical Practice Board.

Dr. Merlin has also served on the senior medical management team of CIGNA HealthCare, and Dr. Merlin led CIGNA’s Technology Assessment Council, which was responsible for evaluating medical evidence on new procedures and technologies.

Dr. Merlin received his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Yale College and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Florida. He served an internship at Stanford University Hospital and completed his training in pathology at the University of New Mexico. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Pathology in anatomic and clinical pathology. From 1984 until 1992 he served on the faculty of the departments of Pathology and Internal Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, where he performed research in the molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and was Associate Professor of Pathology, Vice-chairman of the Department of Pathology, and Chief of Laboratory Services at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Dr. Merlin has been a member and Chair of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC). He has also served on the editorial boards of Human Pathology and the International Journal of Surgical Pathology, as well as various test committees on the National Board of Medical Examiners and committees of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.