Tim F. Jones Named State Epidemiologist

Tim F. Jones, MD, has been appointed State Epidemiologist for the Tennessee Department of Health. In this position, Jones will direct the department’s Communicable and Environmental Disease Services section of the Bureau of Health Services. He has also been appointed by Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, to serve as the department’s interim Chief Medical Officer. In this role he will advise Governor Phil Bredesen and Commissioner Cooper in all matters pertaining to protecting the health and safety of Tennessee residents and visitors.

“I cannot say enough about how fortunate Tennessee is to have Dr. Jones serve as the department’s state epidemiologist,” said Cooper. “His credentials are outstanding, and his public health experience is extensive. Any state would be honored to attract someone with his qualifications.”

As State Epidemiologist and CEDS Section Chief, Jones will be responsible for the statewide investigation and epidemiologic surveillance of the following programs:  Bioterrorism, Emerging Infections, Environmental Epidemiology, Hospital Infections, Immunization, Public Health Preparedness, Strategic National Stockpile, Tuberculosis Elimination, Outbreak and Contact Investigations, Disease Surveillance and the Division of HIV/AIDS/STDs.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the Communicable and Environmental Disease Services Division in this new leadership role,” said Jones. “Tennessee’s CEDS office is made up of some of the most experienced and dedicated professionals in the country and I believe our team is prepared to grow professionally with the public health outbreak and emergency preparedness challenges we may face in the future.”

Jones has been employed with the Tennessee Department of Health since July, 1999.  He most recently served as Tennessee’s Deputy State Epidemiologist and Director of the FoodNet and West Nile Virus (WNV) Programs. Jones holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College and a Medical Degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his three year residency in family medicine and one year fellowship in maternal and child health at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island and is certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners.
Prior to moving to Tennessee, Jones practiced with the National Health Service Corps in an underserved area in Utah before joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Epidemic Intelligence Service in 1997. He is a noted expert in the area in foodborne disease epidemiology, and has offered national and international consultations with the CDC and the World Health Organization. He has traveled extensively in this capacity, including assignments in Alaska, Liberia, Central and South America, Japan, Yemen, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Jones replaces Allen S. Craig, MD, who recently resigned to accept a medical position outside the United States.