Principal Deputy Director

Staff Bio

Athalia Christie, DrPH, MIA

Global Health Center (GHC)

Dr. Christie is a recognized global public health expert with extensive experience in outbreak response, disease surveillance, global immunization, policy development, and strategic partnerships.

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Role at CDC

Athalia Christie, DrPH, MIA is the Principal Deputy Director for the Global Health Center (GHC). Dr. Christie supports GHC operations and provides leadership and guidance in science, implementation research, and response activities, ensuring high-quality and comprehensive program delivery.

Previous experience

In 2024, Dr. Christie served as the Acting Principal Deputy Director for GHC, where she provided leadership and direction in the development of CDC's core capabilities to advance global health priorities.

Dr. Christie previously served as GHC's Associate Director for Emergency Response and Preparedness, coordinating global emergency response work across CDC, the USG inter-agency and our global partners. During her time in this position, she has served three times as the Senior U.S. Government Official overseeing interagency response teams spanning at least 12 federal departments and agencies, twice for Marburg Virus Disease (2023 and 2024) and for Clade 1 Mpox (2024).

Throughout her 27-year career at CDC, Dr. Christie has consistently displayed commitment to improving global health outcomes, successfully leading local, national, and international public health programs. Dr. Christie began her CDC tenure as a Public Health Prevention Service Fellow and served her state assignment with the New York City TB Control Program. She then embarked on a series of global immunization positions, including a secondment to the World Health Organization as the Horn of Africa Polio Coordinator, and a secondment to the American Red Cross to lead the Measles Initiative.

Dr. Christie later led policy, communications, and strategy for the Global Health Center as its Deputy Director. In addition, Dr. Christie has served as CDC's Ebola Response Lead in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the Principal Deputy Incident Manager for DRC Ebola, COVID-19, Multi-national Mpox, and Marburg responses.

Areas of expertise

Dr. Christie has expertise in outbreak response, disease control, and policy. She has received dozens of awards for her service, including the Watsonian Public Health Advisor of the Year, the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service, and the American Red Cross’ Spirit of Excellence.

Education

Dr. Christie received her Doctorate in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University and a Master’s in International Affairs with a concentration in public health from Columbia University.