Our People
On this Page
Our staff comes from all backgrounds and has a wide range of talents and interests. We are doctors, scientists, researchers, health educators, and operations professionals. We are mountain climbers and scuba divers. Community activists and pianists. Mothers and fathers. We are passionate about health and committed to making a difference.
Spotlights
Many of the people who work at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities are personally touched by the work that we do. Following are a few of their stories.
Krista Biernath
Division of Human Development and Disability
When I was 17 years old, I lost all of my hearing in one ear. I learned that I had a genetic syndrome that caused tumors to grow on my hearing nerves. And I learned that someday I would become completely deaf in the other ear. I was devastated and frightened. I grew up with full hearing and didn’t know anyone who was deaf. I couldn’t imagine the world without sound. A few years later, a friend told me about a remarkable new technology called an alpha pager, a pager that could receive a message sent via a live operator. I was excited to think that someday this technology could help me.
Read more about Krista »
Melissa Creary
Division of Blood Disorders
I was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at age 3. One day at the beach I got sick and remained sick, and nobody knew why. I was tested for every possible disease, including leukemia. Then another family member suggested that I should be tested for sickle cell. When the results came back positive, no one was more surprised than my parents. Neither of them knew they carried the trait.
Read more about Melissa »
Our Leaders
Coleen A. Boyle, PhD, MSHyg
Director
Read about Dr. Coleen Boyle »
Stephanie Dulin, MBA
Acting Deputy Director
Althea Grant, PhD
Acting Director, Division of Blood Disorders
Gloria Krahn, PhD, MPH
Director, Division of Human Development and Disability
Read about Dr. Gloria Krahn »
Cynthia Moore, MD, PhD
Director, Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Read about Dr. Cynthia Moore »
Betsy Mitchell
Acting Associate Director for Communication Science
Vicki Kipreos, PMP
Management Officer
Read about Vicki Kipreos »
Salvatore J. Lucido, JD, MPA
Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation
Read about Sal Lucido»
Esther Sumartojo, PhD, MSc
Associate Director for Science
Read about Dr. Esther Sumartojo »
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
1600 Clifton Road
MS E-87
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
New Hours of Operation
8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov