Sumiko Mekaru, DVM, PhD

Sumiko Mekaru, DVM, PhD has a diverse and extensive work experience in the field of public health, epidemiology, and veterinary medicine. Sumiko has held various positions in prestigious organizations and universities.

From 2022 to the present, Dr. Mekaru serves as the Vice President for Research and Innovation at The Public Health Company. Sumiko oversees the development of a global biosecurity platform, providing enterprises with a SaaS-enabled service for bio-risk management.

Prior to that, from 2021 to the present, they worked as an Instructor at Tufts University School of Medicine, where they likely taught courses related to their expertise.

From 2016 to 2022, Dr. Mekaru had significant roles at Booz Allen Hamilton, a renowned consulting firm. Sumiko served as the Life Sciences Strategy, Policy, and Operations Expert. In this role, they were the lead epidemiologist for the Department of Defense COVID Task Force, developing and maintaining COVID-19 transmission models and leading the development of epidemiological analyses and data visualization tools.

Before joining Booz Allen Hamilton, Dr. Mekaru worked at Boston Children's Hospital from 2009 to 2020, holding various positions. Sumiko served as a Faculty Research Associate, leading daily operations, overseeing projects, and supervising a team in the Computational Epidemiology Group. Sumiko also worked as a Surveillance Epidemiologist, conducting research and analysis on potential health threats and presenting surveillance methods to public health specialists.

In 2015, Dr. Mekaru briefly served as a Vice President at Epidemico, likely contributing to the company's work in disease surveillance.

Dr. Mekaru's work experience includes their time at Boston University School of Public Health, where they worked as a Co-Instructor, Graduate Student Researcher, and Teaching Assistant from 2006 to 2009.

Their career in veterinary medicine started at Amherst Animal Hospital, where they worked as an Associate Veterinarian from 2003 to 2005, providing general and emergency medicine and surgery services for small animals.

Dr. Mekaru's work experience demonstrates their expertise in public health, epidemiology, and veterinary medicine, as well as their leadership and research capabilities.

Sumiko Mekaru, DVM, PhD has a diverse educational background. Sumiko holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Epidemiology from Boston University. Prior to that, they earned a Master's degree in Veterinary Preventive Medicine (MPVM) with a specialization in Epidemiology from the University of California, Davis. Sumiko also received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Tufts University, focusing on veterinary medicine.

In addition to their scientific training, Sumiko Mekaru obtained a Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS) degree from San Jose State University, specializing in information management. Sumiko also holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Asian Studies from Dartmouth College.

Throughout their career, Sumiko Mekaru has acquired additional certifications to expand their skill set. In 2003, they became a licensed veterinarian in the State of New Hampshire through the Board of Veterinary Medicine. In 2019, they completed a course in Data Science 5K Fundamentals at General Assembly.

Sumiko Mekaru's educational journey reveals a strong foundation in epidemiology, veterinary medicine, and information science.