Anne W. Rimoin, Ph.D., M.P.H. is an infectious disease epidemiologist whose research focuses on emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), especially those of animal origin. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at UCLA School of Public Health and trained at Middlebury College (B.A. African History, 1992), UCLA School of Public Health (M.P.H, International Health and Nutrition, 1996), and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Ph.D. International Health, Division of Disease Prevention and Control, 2003).
Dr. Rimoin's methodological expertise is in the design and implementation of disease surveillance programs, epidemiologic studies, and field trials in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2007, she founded Congo BioMed, a foundation created to promote biomedical research, training and sustainable health programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr. Rimoin has extensive experience in disease surveillance and field epidemiology in international settings. Upon graduating from Middlebury College in 1992, Dr. Rimoin spent two years in the Peace Corps as a coordinator for the guinea worm eradication program in Benin, West Africa. After completing her MPH at UCLA, Dr. Rimoin worked for the World Health Organization in India and Nepal, the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Ethiopia and Eritrea implementing disease surveillance and supervising cold chain for the Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) and the Polio Eradication Program. She initiated a collaborative relationship between the US Peace Corps and the World Health Organization where Peace Corps Volunteers supported the National Immunization Days for polio and assist in disease surveillance for EPI and the National Polio Eradication Program. Dr. Rimoin was subsequently hired as a consultant by WHO and the Peace Corps to design a program and training materials for health-oriented Peace Corps volunteers in Africa and Nepal to carry out disease surveillance activities including disease reporting, case investigation, and case verification. Dr. Rimoin has since consulted for various NGOs to design a similar program and training materials for Peace Corps volunteers and non-governmental organizations to use in rural and urban settings in sub-Saharan Africa.