Amanda MacGurn, MPH
Bend
Summary
Experienced and dynamic health communication leader, leveraging the power of effective communication to educate, inform, and empower individuals in making healthier choices and enhancing their overall well-being. Skilled in developing impactful messaging strategies and promoting a positive, collaborative work environment. Collaborates with diverse stakeholders to drive positive results. Committed and passionate about making a difference.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Lead, Health Promotion and Communication Team
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
02.2023 - Current
- Led a team of 9 professional mid-level and senior communication specialists and behavioral scientists to promote public awareness about the prevention of waterborne diseases and water-related public health issues
- Provided direction and strategic oversight for the transition of 17 websites onto new CDC.gov platform, in addition to 60 social media posts, 50 media interviews, 150+ responses to public inquiries and 10 campaigns executed by her team in 2024
- Consistently engaged with CDC staff, partners and the public with diplomacy, friendliness and with intention to foster strong collaborations
- Conducted thorough strategic planning and exercised creative solution implementation as program experienced severe budget cuts; demonstrated versatility and change management skills while effectively maintaining strong team morale
Health Communication Specialist
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
05.2019 - 02.2023
- Provided communications expertise to CDC's Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology as a senior communicator, from May 2019 - Feb 2023
- Delivered wide-ranging communication products and services, including media interviews, social media, public inquiry management, website updates, promotional materials, and frequent coordination with subject matter experts, leadership, and partners within and outside CDC
- Actively participated in 5 emergency responses, including 10 deployments to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a French-speaking communication lead for CDC, and as a communication co-lead for the agency's multinational monkeypox response
Border Health Technical Advisor
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
07.2014 - 05.2019
- Served as a project manager overseeing cooperative agreements with two global health partner organizations the International Organization for Migration and the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organization in Benin, Guinea, Senegal, and Togo from May 2015 to May 2019
- Provided public health technical assistance at points of entry (airports, seaports, and land border crossings) in four West African countries to develop infectious disease protocols, public health emergency response plans, and cross-border coordination for disease response with neighboring countries
ORISE Fellow
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
07.2013 - 07.2014
- Led the establishment of a novel partnership with the contact lens industry and academic researchers in optometry and ophthalmology to raise awareness about the safe wear and care of contact lenses
- Established a guidelines for wear and care of contact lenses and developed a website on CDC.gov to provide information to the public and resources to eyecare providers
Education
Master of Professional Studies - Public Relations and Corporate Communication
Georgetown University
Washington, D.C.05-2025
Master of Public Health - Global Health
Emory University
Atlanta, GA05.2013
Bachelor of Arts - Foreign Language and Culture, French
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, OR05.2006
Skills
- Fluent in French; proficient in Spanish and Romanian
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Extensive emergency response experience
- Experienced with coalition-building and workshop facilitation
- Leadership and management experience at team and federal response levels
- 7 years of experience working in international and multi-cultural settings
- 12 years of federal experience
Personal Information
Title: Health Communication Specialist
Awards
CDC Length of Service Award: 10 years (2023)
CDC Director's Award for Innovation: Multinational Mpox Vaccine Equity Pilot Program (2023)
Excellence in Emergency Response Toby Merlin Award: 2022 Domestic Monkeypox Response
Excellence in Emergency Response Toby Merlin Award: 2021 Ebola Graduated Response in DRC and Guinea
Excellence in Communication: Melioidosis Outbreak Communications Team (2022)
Director's Recognition Award: 2021 Monkeypox Response Team
Excellence in Communications: Risk Communication for Maximum Impact (2021)
Excellence in Emergency Response Toby Merlin Award: Ebola International Border Response Team (2020)
Excellence in Communications: CDC's Joint Information Center for the 2018 Ebola Response
CDC Honor Award Nominee: Excellence in Communications (2020)
Languages
French
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Professional Working
Romanian
Professional Working
Interests
Yoga
Foreign languages
Social dance
Reading
Cooking
Hiking
Timeline
Team Lead, Health Promotion and Communication Team
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
02.2023 - Current
Health Communication Specialist
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
05.2019 - 02.2023
Border Health Technical Advisor
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
07.2014 - 05.2019
ORISE Fellow
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
07.2013 - 07.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Foreign Language and Culture, French
Southern Oregon University
Master of Professional Studies - Public Relations and Corporate Communication
Georgetown University
Master of Public Health - Global Health
Emory University
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