Elana Morris
Summary
Accomplished public health professional with 20+ years of experience in epidemiology, program evaluation, and health communication, with a focus on HIV prevention, adolescent health, and emergency response. Proven ability to design and lead large-scale, mixed-methods research initiatives, manage multimillion dollar cooperative agreements and contracts, and translate data into actionable strategies. Skilled collaborator with extensive experience delivering technical assistance and training to diverse audiences.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Epidemiologist
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of HIV Prevention
01.2018 - Current
- Co-lead a $5 million, 5-year novel surveillance project to conduct rapid quantitative and qualitative HIV biobehavioral assessments in two states heavily impacted by the HIV epidemic to fill data gaps and inform local HIV prevention strategies.
- Oversee project implementation, data quality, and grantee performance for multi-site HIV behavioral surveillance system.
- Design and manage complex survey instruments and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements to enable data collection.
- Lead national meetings, trainings, and site visits with state and local health departments to support project implementation, HIV testing, service linkage, and engagement of hard-to-reach populations using rigorous sampling methodologies and best practices.
- Optimize data dissemination through collaborations on complex analyses and sharing findings through diverse platforms (e.g., conferences, journals, fact sheets, reports, webpages, presentations) for various public and professional audiences.
- Deployed multiple times during the COVID-19 response to support school-based transmission assessments, homelessness services evaluation, and community guidance development; led and contributed to study design, survey development, training, interagency coordination, and dissemination efforts, including co-authoring national guidance, reports, and peer-reviewed publications.
Behavioral Scientist
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of HIV Prevention
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Directed research and evaluation for national HIV prevention communication initiatives, setting strategic direction and overseeing contractors and fellows.
- Led exploratory and formative research through data analysis, literature reviews, and primary data collection, and ensuring IRB and protocol compliance.
- Synthesized findings into actionable insights to inform campaign development and continuous improvement.
- Managed 2 contracts totaling over $3.75 million monitoring contractor performance and ensuring quality and timeliness of deliverables.
- Deployed to the Zika response and led the evaluation of communications campaign to enhance contraceptive access and use among Puerto Rican women.
Health Scientist
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Adolescent and School Health
01.2008 - 01.2015
- Led program evaluation for DASH-funded initiatives, including designing the cooperative agreement evaluation strategy, developing logic models, evaluation questions, and performance measures.
- Facilitated internal workgroups and partner feedback sessions to develop five-year performance indicators.
- Oversaw development and implementation of a web-based evaluation system with reporting and analytics capabilities.
- Delivered training and technical assistance to 36 state/local agencies, 6 NGOs, and CDC staff via webinars, guidance documents, and tools.
- Created evaluation and programmatic guidance tools for funded partners.
- Co-led a multi-site, longitudinal mixed-methods evaluation to increase HIV testing and improve school climate through student and staff surveys, reaching 11,000+ high school students.
- Co-authored scientific reports, including a CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on HIV risk behaviors among male students.
- Managed 3 contracts totaling $7.6M monitoring contractor performance and ensuring quality and timeliness of deliverables.
- Deployed to CDC's Emergency Operations Center for the 2014 Ebola Response.
Epidemiologist
Georgia Division of Public Health, Epidemiology Branch
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Provided evaluation and epidemiologic support for the WIC program by designing and implementing program evaluations, applying data analysis to inform policy and cost strategies, delivering technical assistance, and presenting findings to public health partners.
Public Health Program Director
Georgia Division of Public Health, Family Health Branch
01.1999 - 01.2007
- Led a team providing data and epidemiologic support for maternal, child, adolescent, and reproductive health programs; directed analysis, evaluation, and surveillance efforts; authored reports and training materials; secured federal funding; and guided data-driven decision-making through partner engagement, technical assistance, and strategic project oversight.
Education
Master of Public Health -
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
Atlanta, GACertificate - Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
Atlanta, GABachelor of Arts - undefined
University of Missouri
Columbia, MOSkills
- Project management and leadership
- Strategic planning
- Program effectiveness evaluation
- Qualitative and quantitative research
- Effective survey design
- Technical support facilitation
- Data analysis and visualization
- Emergency preparedness and response
- Effective health communication
- Management of grants and contracts
Publications
23 Articles in High-Impact Journals
26 Presentations at National Conferences
5 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Reports
Timeline
Epidemiologist
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of HIV Prevention
01.2018 - Current
Behavioral Scientist
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of HIV Prevention
01.2015 - 01.2018
Health Scientist
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Adolescent and School Health
01.2008 - 01.2015
Epidemiologist
Georgia Division of Public Health, Epidemiology Branch
01.2007 - 01.2008
Public Health Program Director
Georgia Division of Public Health, Family Health Branch
01.1999 - 01.2007
Certificate - Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
Bachelor of Arts - undefined
University of Missouri
Master of Public Health -
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
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