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Alumni Spotlight: Kate Priester Manning '19

Current Role: Virginia Electronic Disease Surveillance System Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health
Location: Richmond, Virginia

Kate's Journey

After earning her MPH in Epidemiology from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2021, Kate joined the Virginia Department of Health as the VEDSS (Virginia Electronic Disease Surveillance System) Coordinator under the Office of Epidemiology. In this role, she oversees all VEDSS operations—a CDC-owned NBS product provided to states and territories to manage reportable diseases. The system integrates multiple data sources to help public health professionals identify and track disease cases over time and supports direct, aggregate reporting to the CDC. Her work ensures that Virginia’s disease surveillance is both comprehensive and responsive to public health needs. 

Impact of the Center

“My involvement with the Roanoke Valley Community Healthy Living Index was the catalyst for my journey into public health. Developing community surveys, analyzing diverse perspectives, and translating data into meaningful outcomes was incredibly rewarding. That experience sparked my interest in epidemiology and led me to pursue my MPH. Today, I oversee the data collected by Virginia’s field epidemiologists, implementing disease-specific case investigation criteria—work that mirrors the survey development process I engaged in at the Center. These data help identify barriers, gaps in knowledge, and environmental factors, ultimately guiding community outreach efforts tailored to Virginia’s unique needs.” 

Career Influence

“While my current role is more technical, the foundational skills I gained at the Center for Community Health Innovation, especially in data analysis and community engagement, are central to my work. I see direct connections between the survey work we did and the disease-specific criteria I now implement. The Center taught me how to turn data into action, and that lesson continues to shape how I approach public health challenges.” 

Advice to Students

“Find the niche in public health that truly matters to you. Whether it’s international health, environmental disease, or health policy - pursue what motivates you. Say yes to every opportunity. Public health is a small world with vast possibilities. When you find the corner of it that aligns with your passion, the work becomes deeply fulfilling, because you know you’re making a real impact in your community.”