The Virgin Islands Department of Health’s Epidemiology Division, this month, received national recognition at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, one of the nation’s premier public health conferences.
Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion congratulated the team on their achievements.
“I am extremely proud of the entire Epidemiology Team for representing the Virgin Islands so well on the national stage,” said Commissioner Encarnacion. “Their work have consistently helped us better understand and respond to public health challenges while ensuring that the people of the Virgin Islands benefit from the latest tools, data, and best practices in public health.”
Among the highlights of the conference was the recognition of Dr. Hannah Cranford, a VI Department of Health’s epidemiologist and data scientist, who received the highly competitive CSTE Rising Leader Award. Each year, the award is bestowed upon only one emerging public health professional who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and has impacted the field of epidemiology.
The recipient is chosen from a large pool of candidates from across the US and its territories. The Rising Leader Award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves through service, scientific excellence, and contributions to public health practice.
Commissioner Encarnacion congratulated Dr. Cranford on a “well-deserved award that is a testament to her expertise and commitment to advancing public health in the Virgin Islands.”
Dr. Esther Ellis, the department’s Territorial Epidemiologist, added that, “This award reflects Dr. Cranford’s dedication to protecting and improving the health of Virgin Islanders through data-driven public health action. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and the outstanding work being done by our entire Epidemiology Division, the entire division came together to nominate her for his award.”
