In celebration of Women’s History Month, throughout March, we will highlight some of the Case Western Reserve women whose accomplishments helped shape the university—and beyond.
Julie L. Gerberding (WRC ’77, MED ’81) made history in 2002 as the first woman to be appointed director of the Center for Disease Control. She was director through 2009.
In her previous position, during the anthrax attacks in 2001, Gerberding helped develop the CDC’s response as the acting deputy director of the National Center for Infectious Disease.
Gerberding joined Merck & Co. Inc. in 2010 as president of Merck Vaccines. She now is executive vice president and chief patient officer of strategic communications, global public policy and population health.
She also is a trustee of Case Western Reserve University.