Departmental Affiliations
Affiliated
Meghan McGinty, PhD '16, MPH/MBA '08, studies crisis decision making and risk communication during epidemics and disasters.
Research Interests
Public health emergency preparedness; Disaster management; Resilience; Healthcare emergency preparedness; Risk communication; Public health policy; Public health practice; Workforce development; Governmental Public Health
Additional Links
Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
PhD
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2016
MBA
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
2008
MPH
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2008
BA
Georgetown University
2004
Overview
Dr. McGinty is a disaster researcher and public health emergency responder. Her research examines health sector resilience, hospital preparedness, allocation of scarce resources during disasters, risk management and communication, and workforce development for public health and healthcare. Her dissertation thesis examined hospital evacuation and shelter-in-place decision making during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Dr. McGinty previously directed Continuity of Operations Planning at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She was responsible for developing and implementing plans to sustain essential public health services in the event of a disaster or pandemic. She has also supported preparedness and response initiatives of the U.S. National Response Team, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. McGinty received the US Surgeon General’s commendation in 2008 for her work providing force readiness and deployment training for the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Most recently, Dr. McGinty served as deputy director of the Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) at the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), a forum for the leaders of America’s largest metropolitan health departments to exchange strategies and jointly address issues to promote and protect the health and safety of the 56 million people they serve. Dr. McGinty has responded to disasters and public health emergencies including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, Zika and Corona virus (COVID-19).
Dr. McGinty previously directed Continuity of Operations Planning at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She was responsible for developing and implementing plans to sustain essential public health services in the event of a disaster or pandemic. She has also supported preparedness and response initiatives of the U.S. National Response Team, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. McGinty received the US Surgeon General’s commendation in 2008 for her work providing force readiness and deployment training for the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Most recently, Dr. McGinty served as deputy director of the Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) at the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), a forum for the leaders of America’s largest metropolitan health departments to exchange strategies and jointly address issues to promote and protect the health and safety of the 56 million people they serve. Dr. McGinty has responded to disasters and public health emergencies including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, Zika and Corona virus (COVID-19).
Honors & Awards
Lipitz Public Health Policy Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2013-2014)
New York City Distinguished Service Award (2011)
United States Public Health Service Surgeon General’s Service Commendation (2008)
New York City Distinguished Service Award (2011)
United States Public Health Service Surgeon General’s Service Commendation (2008)
Select Publications
Selected publications from the last 10 years:
- Decision Processes and Determinants of Hospital Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place During Hurricane Sandy
- A Community Checklist for Health Sector Resilience Informed by Hurricane Sandy
- Epidemiology Workforce Capacity in 27 Large Urban Health Departments in the United States, 2017
- Legal Preparedness for Hurricane Sandy: Authority to Order Hospital Evacuation or Shelter-in-Place in the Mid-Atlantic Region
- Cost Comparison of 2 Mass Vaccination Campaigns Against Influenza A H1N1 in New York City
Projects
A Community Checklist for Health Sector Resilience Informed by Natural Disasters