Lisa founded Health Preparedness Partners after her 30-year career with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During that time, she led the development of national preparedness plans and policies, conducted large-format exercises, and consulted with businesses, state and local governments, healthcare facilities, non-governmental organizations, academia, and ministries of health around the world, to improve emergency preparedness. Lisa served as a leader in multiple national and international health emergency responses while at CDC, including: responding to crises involving Zika, Ebola, and flu outbreaks, as well as helping during hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.
As the originator of private sector pandemic and emergency response programs at CDC, Lisa has extensive experience working with businesses and non-governmental organizations. She is a frequent lecturer at national and international conferences on pandemic and infectious disease preparedness and response and has published more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications on an array of public health and preparedness topics. She currently serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lisa earned her master of nursing and master of public health degrees from Emory University and a doctorate in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.