Moderator: The Global State of Public Health
Peter E. Thomas Ph.D., M.P.H.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dr. Peter Thomas is an epidemiologist and senior research scientist in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where he is a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service.
His work focuses on preventing HIV transmission in the US by reducing the level of undiagnosed HIV infection. His research interests are to understand the social, structural, and individual level factors which affect HIV testing and HIV stigma in the African American community.
Dr. Thomas is a recognized subject matter expert on implementing HIV testing and prevention among high-risk persons in non-clinical setting and at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He has been instrumental in developing new models for increasing the number of at-risk persons who are tested and the number of HIV-infected persons who are newly diagnosed and linked to care for treatment. He was an active participant in discussions on HIV/AIDS among black men that was convened at the White House in 2010 as part of efforts to develop the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
He joined the CDC in 2002, as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer, after earning his doctorate in epidemiology from The University of Michigan and an M.P.H. in international health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He previously worked for Morehouse Medical Treatment Effectiveness Center, within Morehouse School of Medicine.
Dr. Thomas is a native of Atlanta, is fluent in French, and continues to work domestically and in several African countries teaching, consulting, investigating and conducting public health research. His work is published in several peer review journals.
Dr. Thomas is a co-founder of the Black Young Professional’s Public Health NETWORK, Inc. and dedicated to improving the health opportunities for all people, particularly for persons of color and for those who are disadvantaged.