Bio
James M. Hughes, M.D., is Professor of Medicine and Public Health with joint appointments in the School of Medicine and the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He serves as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Center for Emerging Biologic Threats (SECEBT); Senior Advisor, Emory Center for Global Safe Water; and Senior Scientific Advisor for Infectious Diseases, International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI). Prior to joining Emory in June 2005, Dr. Hughes worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), serving as Director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and as a Rear Admiral and an Assistant Surgeon General in the U.S. Public Health Service. He first joined CDC as a member of the Epidemic Intelligence Service in 1973. He served as Director of CDC’s Hospital Infections Program from 1983 to 1988, as NCID Deputy Director from 1988-1992, and as NCID Director from 1992-2005.
Dr. Hughes received his B.A and M.D. from Stanford University and completed his postgraduate training and board certification in internal medicine (University of Washington), infectious diseases (University of Virginia), and preventive medicine (CDC). He is a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) as well as numerous other national and international professional societies. He served on the Board of Directors of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) from 2004-2007, and is currently serving as the IDSA President (2010-2011). He also serves on the International Board of the American Society for Microbiology, is a member of the Councils of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and serves as Vice-Chair of the IOM Forum on Microbial Threats. Among his honors and awards are Distinguished and Meritorious Service Medals and the Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Award from the U.S. Public Health Service; the Secretary’s Open Forum Distinguished Public Service Award from the Department of State; the CDC Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award; the Gen–Probe Joseph Award from the American Society for Microbiology for “exemplary leadership and service in the field of public health;" the Jonathan M. Mann Lectureship Award from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, and admission in the Emory Millipub Club.
Dr. Hughes has published more than 80 research articles and reviews, more than 15 editorials, and more than 40 book chapters. He has co-edited 9 books on emerging infectious diseases. Currently, he serves as Principal Investigator of an adolescent immunization study in Richmond County, Georgia funded by CDC and a study to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of immunization providers in India funded by the Gates Foundation. His interests include emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, vectorborne and zoonotic diseases, influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases, and foodborne and water-related diseases.
Research
Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases; antimicrobial resistance; vectorborne and zoonotic diseases; foodborne diseases; healthcare-associate infections; rapid detection of and response to infectious diseases and bioterrorism; strengthening public health capacity at the local, national, and global levels; and prevention of water-related diseases in the developing world.
Service
EXPERT GROUPS
Member, Forum on Microbial Threats (formerly Forum on Emerging Infections), Board on Global Health, Institute of Medicine, 1996-present; Vice-Chair, 2009-present.
Chair, Global and Regional Biosurveillance Collaboration Work Group, National Biosurveillance Advisory Subcommittee, Advisory Committee to the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010-2013.
Member, PREDICT Advisory Committee, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats Program, 2010-2013.
Member, Advisory Committee, “Loss of Natural Ecosystems and Biodiversity Threatens Public Health: Policy Recommendations for Protecting Nature and Health” report, Pew Environment Group, Pew Charitable Trusts, April 2011 – present.
External Scientific Advisory Committee Member, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2010-2013.
Member, Advisory Committee, proposal on “Social Network Models of Influenza Transmission in the Emergency Department,” Emory University, 2011-2014.
Member, Predictive Health Symposium Committee, Center for Health Discovery and Well-being, School of Medicine, Emory University, 2011.
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM COMMITTEES
Scientific Program Committee Member, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting, 2007-present.
Scientific Program Committee Member, Southeastern Center for Emerging Biologic Threats (SECEBT) Joint Meeting with Southeast Regional Center of Excellence for Emerging Infections and Biodefense (SERCEB), the Emory Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR), and the Emory Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center (PERRC), Disaster Response Utilizing Academic Institutional Resources, Atlanta, GA, July 2010.
Scientific Program Committee Member, International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID), Atlanta, GA, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.
Annual Meeting Program Committee Member, Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2010-2011.
Scientific Program Committee Member, Southeastern Center for Emerging Biologic Threats (SECEBT) Joint Meeting with Southeast Regional Center of Excellence for Emerging Infections and Biodefense (SERCEB) and the Emory Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR), Academic Consortia: Untapped Resources for Preparedness, Response, and Recovery – Examining the Cholera Outbreak in Haiti, Atlanta, GA, 2011.
Scientific Program Committee Member, International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance (IMED) 2011, Vienna, Austria, 2010-2011.
PLANNING COMMITTEES
Planning Committee Member, Antimicrobial Resistance: Implications for Global Health and Novel Intervention Strategies, IOM Forum on Microbial Threats, Washington, DC, April 2010.
Planning Committee Member, The Causes and Consequences of Neglected Tropical and Zoonotic Diseases - Implications for Global Health and Opportunities for Novel Intervention Strategies, IOM Forum on Microbial Threats, Washington, DC, September 2010.
CONSULTANTSHIPS
Consultant, “Strengthening Collaborations Between Wildlife, Livestock, and Human Health Sectors,” Chatham House, London, UK, 2010.
Consultant, Strategic Review of CDC Quarantine & Border Health Services Branch, 2010.
Consultant, 1st and 2nd Informal Consultation on the Global Laboratory Directory (GLaD), Hosted by the Laboratory Alliance and Biosafety International Health Regulations Coordination, Health Security and Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2009 and Atlanta, GA, 2010.
Chair, Special Emphasis Panel to Evaluate the Scientific Merit of Applications Submitted in Response to RFA-GH-10-002, Addressing Emerging Infectious Diseases and Related Public Health Concerns in India, 2010.