State Epidemiologist and Medical Director
Minnesota Department of Health
Ruth Lynfield, MD is the State Epidemiologist and the Medical Director of the Minnesota Department of Health. She is the co-principal investigator of the Minnesota Emerging Infections Program. She has conducted infectious disease investigations and responses to outbreaks; she has also developed surveillance systems, and conducted public health research, evaluation and planning. Her research focuses on emerging infections, antimicrobial resistance and prevention of infectious diseases. Dr. Lynfield is on the Executive Board of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, and has chaired the CDC Board of Scientific Counselors, Office of the Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases. She has served on the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee. She is an associate editor for Red Book (Report of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Infectious Disease). Dr. Lynfield is Adjunct Professor of Medicine, and of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota.