Emerging Threats Epidemiology Group (ETEG)

David Brett-Major, MD MPH - Professor

David Brett-Major is an Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases physician. He has worked in the United States, South America, Africa, and Asia as a clinician, educator, researcher, and in the field of health emergency risk management. He has been involved in Filovirus emergency response in Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. David has been involved in Health Security Policy and Management, dual-use research of concern, high consequence pathogens including pandemic influenza, and all hazards preparedness. He has been a part of global alert and response coordination against Ebola virus disease, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, and Avian Influenza A (H7N9). As a clinical scientist and medical epidemiologist, his research interests focus on risk, how it may be identified, characterized, and managed from patient and community-centered vantages, particularly related to emerging infectious diseases.

Katie Angell, BS, MPH

Katie Angell is an infectious diseases epidemiology PhD student. Katie graduated with an MPH in Epidemiology and Applied Biostatistics from the University of Colorado - School of Public Health. She has experience working for the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment in antimicrobial resistance in conjunction with the CDC's Emerging Infections Program. Katie's main research areas of interest lie in antimicrobial resistance as an urgent and emerging disease, vector-borne, and more generally, infectious diseases.

Julia Bai, BS, MPH

Julia Bai received her BS in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin and her MPH from Texas A&M University before continuing her education at UNMC. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Epidemiology. Beyond the inevitable data sorting, input, and analysis, Julia's research interests include bioterrorism, biosecurity, infectious diseases, and outbreak surveillance.

Brittany Hocking, BS

Brittany Hocking is an MPH student concentrating in epidemiology. She received her BS in Biology and Veterinary Medical Technology from Wilson College. She has clinical experience as a Licensed Veterinary Technologist at a large emergency and specialty hospital in Pennsylvania. Brittany's interests include the One Health Approach and infectious diseases, especially those with zoonotic potential.

Lauren Longacre, BA, BS, BSN

Lauren Longacre is Research Nurse Coordinator with clinical experience as a trave nurse as well as Step-Down Critical Care at Nebraska Medicine and Progressive Care. While working at Nebraska Medicine she served as a Quality Champion, establishing team-based measures geared towards the prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections. She received her BSN at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and holds both a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in French from Saint Louis University. She has special interests in Epidemiology, Infection Prevention, Global Health, and Biosecurity.

Rachel Prudhomme, BA, MBA

Rachel Prudhomme earned her MBA at Creighton University and her undergraduate degree at the College of St. Benedict. She is a Program Manager for the Global Center for Health Security. Prior to joining the team, Rachel was a process improvement expert working in a healthcare setting improving patient safety and quality. As a Program Manager she is responsible for grant management and organization, including but not limited to resource management, financial alignment and general project management. Rachel joins the ETEG group excited to expand her epidemiology repertoire.

Nancy Tahmo, BS

Nancy Tahmo is a Fulbright MPH student in the Department of Epidemiology. She received her BS in Biochemistry, focusing on Food and Nutrition Biochemistry, from the University of Bamenda, Cameroon. She was recently awarded the Chambers Global Health Fellowship for the project: “Forest populations in the Congo basin and their threat pathogen experience,” where she is bringing together stakeholders across Cameroon to collaboratively establish a protocol addressing the threat of zoonotic diseases in indigenous forest-dwelling communities. Nancy has worked with South Heartland District Health Department in rural Nebraska, tackling obesity and related conditions like cancer. She is a Community Health Promotion Research Assistant for “Whole-of-Community Systems Intervention for Youth Population Physical Activity” funded by the National Cancer Institute and the Early Life Cancer Prevention in the Great Plains project funded by the University of Nebraska System. She recognizes the importance of combining her rich background in conceiving innovative solutions through Community-Based Participatory Research. Her work addresses inequities in resource-poor communities through health promotion and global health security.

Frankline Sevidzem Wirsiy, PhD, MSc, BSc

Frankline Sevidzem Wirsiy is an epidemiologist and Global Health Security Consultant on a consultancy with ETEG as well as other partners. He has worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Uganda with both international and national organizations in the fields of development, research, advocacy, emergency response, and humanitarian aid. He is the Co-founder and Vice President of Global Action for Public Health Services, Cameroon (GAPS), and is a Pfizer One Young World (OYW) Ambassador. He is also a SwitchPoint Future League Member [Young African Leader] for an advocacy partnership by IntraHealth International with the Global Fund and ONE Campaign Africa. As a researcher, his particular interest includes tropical, emerging, and re-emerging infectious diseases, immunization practice, and Maternal and Child Health. He is passionate about networking and organizing measures in Global Public Health in order to prevent disease and promote long, healthy life.