June 2016 Speakers

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Laura A. Cooley, MD, MPHTM

Medical Epidemiologist, Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC

Laura Cooley, MD, MPHTM, is a medical epidemiologist in the Respiratory Diseases Branch of the Division of Bacterial Diseases within CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. As an infectious disease physician, Dr. Cooley spent two years in practice in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2012, Dr. Cooley joined the Commissioned Corps of the US Public Health Service and CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. Dr. Cooley transferred to the Respiratory Diseases Branch in 2015 and is devoted to Legionella surveillance, response, and prevention. She received her undergraduate degree at Wake Forest University and her medical degree at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. She completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at Tulane University School of Medicine and obtained a master’s degree in public health and tropical medicine at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

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Robert Fitzhenry, PhD

Director of Waterborne Diseases, Bureau of Communicable Disease, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Robert Fitzhenry, PhD, is director of waterborne diseases within the Bureau of Communicable Disease in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH). Dr. Fitzhenry has a PhD in molecular microbiology from University College London, and after his PhD, he obtained a Wellcome Trust grant to study host-pathogen interactions at Columbia University. Prior to joining NYCDOHMH, Robert was the lead scientist of a molecular epidemiology unit focused on drug resistance and malaria. At NYCDOHMH, he is responsible for the surveillance and investigation of waterborne diseases.

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Bill Gaines

Principal Engineer, Environmental Quality Office, Ford Motor Company

Bill Gaines is a principal engineer with Ford Motor Company, Environmental Quality Office, in Dearborn, Michigan. He has a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan, and more than 35 years of experience in industrial process control and wastewater facilities operation. Bill has published more than 30 papers on water and wastewater treatment. He is responsible for the design, construction, and launch of Ford Motor Company's wastewater facilities worldwide and has designed or modified more than 50 wastewater treatment plants totaling more than $130,000,000.