National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP)

Role at CDC

As acting director of NCHHSTP, Dr. Ellington leads the nation’s efforts to prevent HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis. These infections affect millions of Americans and cause tens of thousands of deaths each year; however, investments in effective prevention efforts saves money and saves lives.

Previous experience

Dr. Ellington began her career in HIV prevention in 2003. She served as public health administrator for the Illinois Public Health Corrections and Community Initiative, a Chicago Department of Public Health's CDC/Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Corrections demonstration project. In this role, she was responsible for the management and development of programs associated with continuity of care and treatment services for persons who were HIV positive and formerly incarcerated.

In 2005, Dr. Ellington joined CDC as a project officer in the Division of HIV Prevention (DHP). In 2009, she became DHP's community-based organization program lead, and in 2015, the associate deputy director of DHP prevention programs, serving as the lead for the development of the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative (EHE) Notice of Funding Opportunity.

In April of 2020, Dr. Ellington became the DHP deputy director of program management and operations, where she was responsible for programmatic and operational management, including administrative oversight, personnel management, workforce development, and budget planning and fiscal oversight.

Dr. Ellington joined the NCHHSTP center leadership team in 2024 as the deputy director for Management, Operations, Communications, and Policy. In this role she served as the principal advisor to the center director for management, communications, and policy issues.

Education

Dr. Ellington holds a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master of Science degree in Education, with a specialization in community health education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in public policy and administration from Walden University, specializing in community health.