From her roots on a Florida farm to the front lines of global disease elimination at USF’s College of Public Health, Dr. Kristi Miley has carved a path in public health. With three USF degrees — a PhD in global communicable diseases, an MSPH in global communicable diseases and a BS in biomedical sciences— Miley has transformed her lifelong connection to animals and the natural world into a career devoted to infectious disease research, medical entomology and public health education.
Though born in Nashville, Tenn., Miley traces her roots deep into Florida soil. “The legacy of my family history has been credited as some of the first settlers to set up communities in Florida, forging a path for many American settlers to establish residence in the Sunshine State,” she explained.
Miley added that although much of that lifestyle has diminished over the past 200 years, her family still maintains a small plot of land where horses and cattle continue to be a part of their lives.
Miley said farm life was a large motivator for she is today. (Photo courtesy of Miley)
Her early career in veterinary medicine spanning 18 years offered her firsthand insight into the critical intersections of animal and human health.
“I realized the importance of the “One Health” perspective, the idea that the health of people, animals and the environment are closely linked. Solving public health challenges often requires cooperation across these areas,” Miley said.
This realization would propel her into a pursuit of knowledge and a shift toward infectious disease research.
“The knowledge that zoonotic mosquito-borne diseases in Florida had the potential to infect humans and horses with debilitating illness that could lead to lifelong health complications or even death led me to focus my career efforts on medical entomology and parasitology.”
Today, Miley serves as a research associate, where she blends her work in research, teaching and mentorship. As a medical entomologist, she said her primary research centers on the parasite Onchocerca volvulus, the cause of river blindness, a neglected tropical disease targeted for elimination in Africa and Latin America.
Kristi Miley, PhD, MSPH. (Photo courtesy of Miley)
“These research efforts include evaluation of current diagnostic tools, development of novel testing techniques and quality control efforts,” Miley said. She also acts as a liaison between the Center for Onchocerciasis Diagnostics and global multidisciplinary research teams. “The center provides laboratory training and assistance in validation of results for regional onchocerciasis surveillance,” she added.
In addition to her international work, Miley has also contributed significantly to mosquito-borne illness research in Florida, especially with viruses like Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV) and West Nile Virus.
Mosquito identification using a dissecting microscope. (Photo courtesy of Miley)
“There are several viruses in the state of Florida that are known to transmit disease to humans via the bite of an infected mosquito,” Miley explained. Her knowledge supports the Florida Department of Health’s (FDOH) sentinel surveillance programs, which guide mosquito reduction and public health messaging.
Beyond research, Miley is a passionate educator who ensures her students leave the classroom with more than just theoretical knowledge. She teaches two graduate-level courses — Public Health Parasitology and Vectors of Human Disease — that incorporate extensive hands-on learning.
Insects are collected in the field and brought into the lab for identification and mounting in an insect collection box, followed by determination of whether the insect has the potential to transmit disease and if so, what diseases can they transmit. (Photo courtesy of Miley)
“In the parasitology course, the class is split into a lecture section followed by a lab session that offers hands-on training in microscopic and morphological identification of the parasites,” she said. The vectors course goes even further, taking students into the field to collect and identify insects using Centers for Disease Control light traps, sweep nets and other commonly used trapping methods. “It’s a real-world ‘Bugs Life’ expedition,” Miley said.
She said this experiential approach doesn’t just enhance learning; it opens doors to employment.
Sentinel Chicken Coop – Mosquito Control District, Citrus County, Florida. Blood samples are collected weekly from chickens to test for West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus and others for disease surveillance. (Photo courtesy of Miley)
“Health departments and mosquito control districts across the United States are always looking for skilled biologists that have some experience in vector borne illness,” she noted. “Hands-on training can create opportunities for students to pursue fellowships at the FDOH and local Mosquito Control Districts (MCD), which may open the door to a future job opportunity.”
Miley has already seen these opportunities come to life. She shared the story of a former student who volunteered in her lab, honing skills in mosquito identification through EEEV-related research.
“This mentorship led to a summer fellowship with Manatee Mosquito Control where my student made a real impression,” Miley said. “They offered her a job upon graduation and she quickly rose to senior biologist, in part due to her acquired skills from the hands-on training she received during her master’s program.”
Public health remains at the heart of Miley’s career, but it’s her commitment to teaching and mentorship that she sees as a legacy in itself. “I like to think that the passion I have towards student success will have a ripple effect that continues to open doors for public health advocates of the future,” Miley said.