Her areas of interest include vaccine-preventable diseases, preparedness and the epidemiology of infectious diseases. She has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Public Health to incorporate population health principles into the medical student and residency curricula. Prior to joining the faculty at the Brody School of Medicine, Dr. Simeonsson worked as a medical epidemiologist with the NC Department of Health and Human Services from 2003–2007. Her primary responsibilities included surveillance, control, and prevention of communicable diseases as well as pandemic influenza planning. She received her doctorate in medicine from the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as her master in science degree in public health. She is board certified in pediatrics.