Dr. Koonin’s focus is to improve national response to future pandemic emergencies by identifying and tackling complex preparedness issues, establishing mutually beneficial public-private partnerships, and developing new strategies, tools, and capabilities. Dr. Koonin is a frequent lecturer at national and international conferences on pandemic and infectious disease preparedness and response, and has published more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications on an array of public health and preparedness topics. Dr. Koonin has experience as a family nurse practitioner and epidemiologist. She earned master of nursing and master of public health degrees from Emory University and a doctorate in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.