Career Journeys

We invite you to explore career opportunities at CDC. Whether your dream job is in science, technology, medicine, business, communications, or another area, there is a place for you to start or continue your career journey at CDC. See below for stories from employees who have started or continued their career at CDC.

Alana Laanui, MIA

Asian Pacific Islander

My career journey at CDC started as a 2021 Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) in the Office of Financial Resources (OFR). In my current role, I have the opportunity to grow my knowledge in Emergency Response and Financial Management. This past spring, I had the chance to do a COVID-19 deployment at one of CDC’s Quarantine stations which exposed me to a different aspect of the COVID-19 Response.

CDR Shannon Saltclah

Navajo Nation

Yá’át’ééh, my name is Shannon Saltclah, Navajo, originally from Teec Nos Pos, Az. I am a Pharmacist by trade and worked in Fort Defiance, Az at Tsehootsooi Medical center for 6 years prior to transitioning to a field in Public Health. My career journey at CDC started as a Project Officer with the Healthy Tribes Program, Division of Population Health and I continued my career journey at CDC as a Project Officer and Program Coordinator for the Tribal Practices for Wellness in Indian Country Cooperative agreement with the Healthy Tribes Program.

Angie Willard

Asian Pacific Islander (Hawaiian, Flipino, Portuguese)

My career journey at CDC started as an entry-level grants management specialist, and I continued my career journey at CDC as a Team Lead in the Office of Grant Services (OGS).  Many people like to change positions or move offices every few years. In OGS, we work with all CIOs and partners all over the US and the world.  I have had the opportunity to change without ever leaving.  There is never a dull moment in OGS.

Julianna Reece, MD, MPH, MBA

Navajo Nation

My career journey at CDC started just over a year ago as the Director of Healthy Tribes under the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health. I am an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, born and raised on the reservation but ventured of for school and career ambitions. As a Board-Certified, Family Medicine physician with nearly 20 years of experience in direct Primary Care, the majority of my work had focused in the clinical realm of American Indian and Alaska Native healthcare. I have held multiple administrative, leadership and clinical roles at IHS, Tribal and Private-sector Institutions and have been active with mentoring and teaching opportunities for high school, college and medical students, residents and Special Forces Medics. Prior to my CDC experience I served as the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Service (IHS) Chief Medical Officer as well as the Vice Chair of the Heroin, Opioids and Pain Efforts (HOPE) Committee, a national initiative through IHS. My current position with CDC has allowed me to culminate my Clinical & Public Health skills, as well as my Tribal experience to improve overall health and wellbeing of American Indian and Alaska Native people. I am so honored to be a part of the magnificent work happening here!

Kim Douglass, MPA

Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

My Career at CDC started as a Public Health Prevention Service fellow (PHPS) and I continued my career journey at CDC as a Public Health Advisor and Project Officer with the Division of Injury Prevention – Preventing Violence Affecting Young Lives (PREVAYL) project officer.