BioAward Category - Policy Influencer: Dr. Jernigan is responsible for strengthening CDC’s scientific foundation by working across the Office of Science, the Office of Laboratory Science and Safety, the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, and the National Center for Health Statistics. His focus has been on identifying innovative ways to support the State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial public health departments in their digital health transformation, while leading the CDC's internal data modernization efforts. He has been outspoken in his work on standards-based interoperability, and the need to incorporate public health infrastructure modernization into the overall health IT plans for the country.