Preventing, predicting, and controlling the spread of infectious diseases are very complex and challenging tasks. Mathematical models can generate insights and support these complex decisions, particularly when the resources needed for interventions are scarce or there are varying levels of compliance with public health interventions or recommendations. In this presentation we will provide examples of the modeling work of our research team at Georgia Tech across a number of infectious diseases including Covid-19, Cholera, Guinea Worm. Depending on the disease, research questions, or the decision-support needs in practice, different modeling approaches (such as SEIR, agent-based, or integer programming) are utilized.
Pinar Keskinocak is the William W. George Professor and Chair in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She is the co-founder and Director of the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems at Georgia Tech. Her main research areas include infectious disease modeling (including Covid-19, malaria, Guinea worm, pandemic flu, polio), evaluating intervention strategies, and resource distribution; process improvement for healthcare delivery; disaster preparedness, response, recovery; logistic and supply chain management. She has collaborated on projects with companies, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and healthcare providers, including American Red Cross, CARE, Carter Center, CDC, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, and Task Force for Global Health. She is and INFORMS Fellow and served as the 2020 president of INFORMS. She has also served on the editorial boards of several journals.