Dr. Lisa Ekpo has been with the USVI Department of Heath approaching 6 years, currently serving as the Deputy Territorial Epidemiologist. Born and raised on St. Thomas, she moved to the US mainland to pursue a B.S. in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology from Emory University then an MPH from the University of Georgia. She completed her doctorate in public health at the University of South Florida. Dr. Ekpo has worked in public health for over 10 years, first starting her career at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA where she worked in healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and lead the coordination of a multi-state point prevalence survey. Locally, she continues her work in HAI by coordinating the territory’s first HAI program while providing epidemiological and leadership support across program areas in general epidemiology and emergency response. Her public health research interests include infectious disease, vital statistics and maternal health.