Guinan, Mary | back

Dr. Guinan is a physician and scientist who was employed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in various scientific and administrative positions for over 20 years. Dr. Guinan participated in the worldwide smallpox eradication program assigned to India in 1975, was a member of the first CDC AIDS Task Force that investigated the emerging AIDS epidemic in 1981. Her work is described in the book and movie “And the Band Played On.”

In 1995 Dr. Guinan led the CDC initiative to develop Urban Research Centers (URC) to promote the health and improve the quality of life of inner city disadvantaged urban residents. In 1998 Dr. Guinan became the Nevada State Public Health Officer and led the State’s public health system. She convened a national panel of experts to aid in the investigation of a cluster of cases of childhood leukemia in Fallon, Nevada.

Most recently Dr. Guinan has served as the Executive Director for the Nevada Public Health Foundation. She joined UNLV as Founding Dean of the new School of Public Health in 2004. In January 2009 the school was renamed The School of Community Health Sciences.