Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)

Nancy Messonnier, MD, is the Director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). Since beginning her public health career in 1995 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer in the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Dr. Messonnier has held a number of leadership posts across CDC and within NCIRD. She brings strong management and leadership skills, commitment to staff mentoring and development, and a passion for immunization and infectious disease prevention.

Dr. Messonnier has played critical roles in several successful public health initiatives including the vaccination of millions of people living in the African Meningitis Belt with MenAfriVac; serving on anthrax response teams during the 2001 intentional anthrax release; leading the evaluation of an anthrax vaccine and post-exposure antibiotic; overseeing a family of studies exploring resurgence of pertussis; championing for prevention and control of bacterial meningitis in the U.S; and providing vital leadership to CDC’s cross-cutting laboratory, global health, and surveillance initiatives. She has written more than 140 articles and chapters and received numerous awards.

Dr. Messonnier received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania and MD from the University of Chicago School of Medicine. She completed internal medicine residency training at the University of Pennsylvania.