Dr. Desma Walkes
Medical Director and Health Authority for Austin Public Health (APH) in Austin-Travis County
Co-Principal Investigator with the CDC Center for Forecasting and Analytics
Dr. Desmar Walkes is the Medical Director and Health Authority for Austin Public Health (APH) in Austin-Travis County and a Co-Principal Investigator with the CDC Center for Forecasting and Analytics. With over three decades of experience in public health leadership and healthcare systems, she focuses on advancing community resilience and preparedness in the face of environmental and climate-related threats.
Her work with the UT Flood Modeling (Flodismod) group centers on understanding the impacts of flooding on vector surveillance and the risk of vector-borne disease transmission. She contributes to the integration of GIS mapping and predictive modeling to identify vulnerable areas and guide data-driven public health interventions.
Dr. Walkes collaborates closely with academic researchers, emergency management professionals, policymakers, and community partners to translate scientific insights into practical strategies for preparedness and response. A key focus of her work is strengthening cross-sector coordination to ensure equitable, timely, and effective public health actions that protect communities from the health impacts of extreme weather events.