The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s investment in Advanced molecular detection (AMD) is harnessing advancements in next-generation genomic sequencing combined with high-performance computing and epidemiology to study infectious diseases and improve public health response.
CDC AMD Investments
About Us
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
Senior Genomics and Data Scientist
Kelsey Florek, PhD MPH
With a lifelong fascination for infectious diseases and a passion for public health, Dr. Kelsey Florek has dedicated her career to unraveling complex biological questions. Dr. Florek is a Senior Genomics and Data Scientist at the Wisconsin State Laboratory and works towards enhancing the application of data in public health.
Bioinformatics Regional Resource
Christopher Jossart, MS
Christopher Jossart, also known as C.J., is a data scientist in the Communicable Disease Division at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. He holds an MPH from the Yale School of Public Health and completed a year-long bioinformatics fellowship with the Association of Public Health Laboratories at WSLH. C.J. specializes in bioinformatic workflow development, onboarding and validating new pipelines, and submitting data to public databases
Bioinformatics Training Lead
Abigail C Shockey, PhD (they/them)
Dr. Abigail Shockey is a data scientist in the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene’s Communicable Disease Division. They received their postdoctoral degree in Microbiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where their doctoral work focused on the genomics of bacteria at different evolutionary scales. They completed a bioinformatics fellowship from the Association of Public Health Laboratories at WSLH. Dr. Shockey’s work is focused on outbreak investigation using genomic data, bioinformatic workflow development, and bioinformatic training development. They are also a certified Carpentries instructor, and they develop Carpentries style workshops designed to teach practical computational skills to scientists.
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
Genomics Technical Director
Heather Blankenship, PhD
Dr. Heather Blankenship serves as the Genomics Technical Director at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Bureau of Laboratories. She obtained her bachelor’s from George Mason University where she specialized in Biotechnology and Molecular Genetics before completing her PhD at Michigan State University in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics specializing in Genomic Epidemiology. In her role as a senior manager at MDHHS, she provides oversight for next generation sequencing processes, bioinformatics development, genomic epidemiology analyses, and integration of these efforts into public health action. She currently serves on multiple national and international workgroups and committees to provide support and insight on workforce development, quality best practices, and utilization of genomic data. Over the course of her career, she has been cross-trained in microbiology, bioinformatics, and epidemiology, and is passionate about leveraging her cross-training to connect these diverse fields.
Genomic Analysis Unit Manager
Arianna Miles-Jay, PhD MPH
Dr. Arianna Miles-Jay is the Genomic Analysis Unit Manager at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Laboratories, where she leads a team of bioinformaticians and genomic epidemiologists that process and analyze pathogen genomic data to support infectious disease prevention and response efforts in Michigan. She earned her MPH and PhD in Epidemiology at The University of Washington followed by a postdoctoral fellowship focused on the genomic epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections at The University of Michigan. Broadly speaking, Arianna is interested in expanding the implementation of genomic epidemiology within state and local public health through developing sustainable and flexible systems to analyze pathogen sequence data, as well as through teaching the current and future workforce about the power of genomic epidemiology to improve public health.
Bioinformatics Regional Resource
John Chodkowski, PhD
John Chodkowski is a Bioinformatics Specialist within the Genomics Analysis Unit at the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS). He received his doctoral degree in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Michigan State University. His current work focuses on bioinformatic pipeline development within the nextflow framework, particularly with respect to viruses and TB, and serving as a co-bioinformatics regional resource.
Bioinformatics and Laboratory Training Lead
Macy E. Pell, PhD (she/her)
Macy is the AMD Training Lead and Analyst for the Genomics Section at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services – Bureau of Laboratories. She obtained her PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Michigan State University where she received extensive training in genomic sequencing, analysis, and interpretation of infectious diseases. As a seasoned science communicator, Macy focuses on curating and facilitating training resources and events for the public health workforce affiliated with advanced molecular detection efforts (i.e., sequencing, bioinformatics, and genomic epidemiology) in the Midwest region.
Genomic Epidemiology Training Lead
Madison Walton-Franklin, PhD (she/her)
Dr. Madison Walton-Franklin serves as the Genomic Epidemiology Training Lead within the Genomics Section of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories. She earned a graduate certificate in Public Health Practice and a doctoral degree in Microbiology from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI). Madison is an alumna of CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (Class of 2023), where she worked on the front lines of public health with Oregon Public Health Division and Multnomah County Health Department (Portland, OR). She brings her passion for education and scientific communication to the role of Genomic Epi Training Lead along with expertise in microbiology and applied public health. In her current role, Madison is primarily responsible for curating, designing, and implementing genomic epidemiology curriculum for training and workforce development in the Midwest region.
Upcoming Events
2026 Midwest Bioinformatics Training - in-person
May 12-13, 2026 ~ Lansing, Michigan