Preventive Medicine News

Dr. Matthew “Matt” McKenna died on March 31, 2023, surrounded by family at his home in Sandy Springs. A 1984 graduate of Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. McKenna returned to Emory in 2016 as a Professor and Division Director in the Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. He was a nationally known expert on preventive medicine, applied epidemiology; policy and systems approach to program implementation; data analysis, interpretation, and presentation; and project management. 

Dr. McKenna graduated summa cum laude with a BA from Loyola College in Baltimore in 1979. He earned his MD at Emory University School of Medicine in 1984. His postgraduate training took place at St. Margaret Memorial Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he served as an intern and resident in Family Medicine from 1984 – 1987 and was elected Chief Resident for 1986-87. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in epidemiology as well as his Master of Public Health at University of Pittsburgh from 1987-1989. From 1990-1992, he completed his residency in General Preventive Medicine at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. 

During his 18 years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he served as Chief of the Epidemiology and Health Services Research Branch, Chief of the HIV Incidence and Case Surveillance Branch, and Director of the Office on Smoking and Health. As Director of the Office on Smoking and Health, he partnered with the Bloomberg Foundation to expand global surveillance activities from concept to implementation in nine countries. He also served as Medical Director for the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness and the Fulton County Fire Department for five years, in addition to performing clinical duties at the DeKalb County Board of Health HIV Primary Care Clinic, CareHere Health Clinic, and Mercy Care. He was a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine, and a member of the American Public Health Association and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research. He was honored with ten service-related awards from the United States Public Health Service and the CDC.

Dr. McKenna returned to Emory in 2016 as a Professor and Division Director in the Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. Although his diagnosis of glioblastoma in April 2019 cut short his time at Emory, he left a deep and lasting impression on his colleagues and students, who valued his knowledge and experience, but also his kindness and his sense of humor. 

After serving as Interim Director, as of July 1, 2021 Sandra Valenciano, MD, MPH became the permanent CEO/District Health Director of the DeKalb County Board of Health. Dr. Valenciano completed her residency in Preventive Medicine at Emory in 2020 and she serves as adjunct assistant professor for the division. 

The Journal of the American Medical Association has published a commentary by Dr. Richard Goodman and two Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR) editors. "Protecting the Editorial Independence of the CDC From Politics" asserts the need for freedom from political influence during the publishing process. 

The Preventive Medicine Residency Program has partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health for a series of planned rotations for 3 Emory Preventive Medicine Residents to each do 2-month rotations in support of GaDPH’s COVID-19 response activities. The first of the three physician-residents is slated to work at GaDPH during October-November. The rationale for this set of rotations includes the imperative to bring additional medically-trained human resources to the state’s pandemic response, as well as to provide the Preventive Medicine Residents with service and training experiences that will help form the foundations of their careers going forward to protect communities and to promote health and well-being.

Dr. Javier Valle was formally promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, US Navy Medical Corps this month during his annual training exercise serving with the US Marine Corps, Combat Logistics Regiment-45 at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Dr. Valle serves as a Medical Officer for CLR-45 and has been overseeing COVID-19 mitigation efforts for the regiment as well as ensuring deployment medical readiness for the regiment. 

Congratulations to Dr. Sara Turbow, who has been named an Associate Program Director for the Preventive Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Turbow will share Associate Program Director duties with Dr. Javier Valle. Dr. Turbow, a member of the Emory General Medicine faculty since  2015, completed her Preventive Medicine Residency this month. Dr. Turbow earned her MD, MPH, and General Medicine Residency at Emory.

The American College of Preventive Medicine has named Elizabeth J. Tong, MD, MPH, FACPM as a Fellow. Dr. Tong is boarded in both Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine. She has been on faculty at Emory School of Medicine since completing her Preventive Medicine residency at Emory in 2006. After completing her residency, she stayed in practice at Atlanta VA, seeing patients and teaching Emory Preventive Medicine residents. She now works at Emory Clinic, teaching and mentoring Emory Preventive Medicine residents and Emory Medical Students who rotate through her General Medicine clinic. She lectures and mentors about Preventive Medicine as a career and Clinical Preventive Services. Congratulations, Dr. Tong!