USF Public Health grad gets top CDC job

Posted Sep 6, 2011 by Lindsay Peterson

Updated Sep 6, 2011 at 03:26 PM

Sherri Berger left USF with her master’s degree in public health 15 years ago.

Last month she took over as Chief Operating Officer of the Atlanta-based CDC, with its 10,000 employees, 5,000 contractors and $11 billion budget.

Berger led USF’s Public Health Student Association

It wasn’t a surprise to her professors. “She was a ball of fire,” former College of Public Health Dean Charles Mahan told Michael Hoad in a USF Health News story.

She started with the Centers for Disease Control while still a USF student, on a fellowship that enabled her to work as an epidemiologist in Florida while she completed her coursework.  And she worked her way up.

“Despite the budgets, I encourage people to look at careers in public health,” Berger told Hoad.

“Prevention is the key to better health for this country. Find something you’re passionate about and go for it.”