Arizona State University expert directory

Dave Engelthaler is an expert in the state of public health research and application. He currently is the Executive Director of the ASU Health Observatory and the Director of TGen North. 

His work includes leading a team to coordinate the statewide SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing of the first year of the pandemic and conducting clinical testing for tens of thousands of underserved Arizonans, particularly in rural and tribal communities. Additionally, he manages multiple pathogen research groups and oversees the provision of genomic services to CDC, state, local and tribal health departments and healthcare institutions.

Engelthaler has previously served as the Arizona State Epidemiologist, where he was responsible for coordinating outbreak investigations and research activities statewide. He has also served as the State Biodefense Coordinator, coordinating state-wide activities regarding public health emergency preparedness and response, such as the suspicious powders that were seen following the anthrax letter attacks in the early 2000s. Before that, he was a biologist for the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he conducted research on highly infectious diseases like plague and tularemia.