Staff Bio
Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, (RADM, USPHS, RET) is the Director of the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), and a retired two-star Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service.
Role at ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø
Dr. Mermin leads the nation’s efforts to prevent HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis. These infections affect millions of Americans and cause tens of thousands of deaths each year. NCHHSTP focuses on high impact prevention strategies that are cost-effective, scalable, and grounded in the latest research. These strategies save lives, save money, reduce health disparities, and protect the health of all Americans.
Previous experience
Dr. Mermin served as the Incident Manager for ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's Mpox response for six months, where he led the agency's efforts to bring accurate information, testing, vaccination, and treatment to communities affected by Mpox, and worked to decrease health inequities associated with the virus. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he served for several months as Acting Director of the Center for Preparedness and Response.
From 2009-2013, Dr. Mermin directed ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's Division of HIV Prevention, during which time HIV incidence decreased in the United States, due in part to ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø focusing on more effective interventions and distributing resources based on HIV epidemiology. He previously served as Director of ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø-Kenya and HHS Public Health Attaché for the U.S. Embassy from 2006-2009, and as Director of ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø-Uganda from 1999-2006. In Uganda, he oversaw implementation of the first antiretroviral treatment program funded by ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø outside of the United States.
Education
Dr. Mermin began his career at ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø in 1995 as an EIS officer with the Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases Branch. He completed an internal medicine residency at San Francisco General Hospital and a preventive medicine residency at ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø and the California Department of Health Services. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Stanford University School of Medicine and received his MPH from Emory University.
He has co-authored more than 200 scientific articles. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Emory University School of Public Health.