Jodi Fiorenzano M.S., Ph.D.

Education

Doctorate of Philosophy, Entomology, University of Florida
Master of Science, Entomology, University of Florida
Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Central Florida

Biography

Lieutenant Commander Jodi Fiorenzano is an active duty U.S. Navy Medical Entomologist who has served the military for 16 years. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Vector Biology and Medical Parasitology in the Department of Preventive Medicine & Biostatistics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

LCDR Fiorenzano started her military career as an Intelligence Analyst in the US Army National Guard, serving for 8 years, during which time she deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A native of Florida, LCDR Fiorenzano graduated from the University of Central Florida, earning a Bachelor’s Degree of Science. She went on to earn a Master’s Degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology from University of Florida, studying an invasive ant species, Nylanderia fulva (Mayr), previously mistaken as Nylanderia pubens (Forel), to determine control methods through ant baiting strategies and a novel mosquito control method, attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSB), for control of mosquitoes and their effects on non-target insects, respectively. While pursuing her PhD, LCDR Fiorenzano was accepted into the Navy’s Health Services Collegiate Program, allowing her to obtain a commission in the Medical Service Corps upon graduation in May, 2016. LCDR Fiorenzano’s experience in preventive medicine includes mission planning, Global Health Engagements (GHE), and medical research. LCDR Fiorenzano served as the Division Officer of the Entomology Department at the Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit Six (NEPMU-6), Oahu, HI. As Division Officer, she conducted GHE in Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Sri Lanka, and Timor Leste, and facilitated a comprehensive mosquito surveillance program in support of Hawaii Department of Health spanning three Hawaiian Islands. She also served as the Lead Medical and Preventive Medicine Planner for Sri Lanka and Malaysia, Pacific Partnership 2018, an annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Following Pacific Partnership, LCDR Fiorenzano served as Department Head of Expeditionary Preventive Medicine Department at NEMPU-6 managing mission development, mission logistics, and deployment of NEPMU-6 operational assets for 20 missions throughout CENTCOM, SOUTHCOM, Pacific islands and Oceania areas in support of 7th Fleet, CENTCOM, SOUTHCOM, and CTF-73 GHE missions. Following her tour at NEMPU-6, LCDR Fiorenzano was assigned to the Naval Medical Research Unit TWO (NAMRU-2) in Singapore as the Head of the Entomology Division, in the Emerging Infections Department. Her duties there included leading medical research and disease surveillance, with emphasis on infectious tropical diseases of critical military importance to the United States and its regional partners within the United States Indo-Pacific Command’s area of responsibility. LCDR Fiorenzano led and executed sixteen joint, collaborative research projects in four Asian countries coordinating 12 international, host nation, civilian, and military institutes worth over $3M+ in grant funding. Current research interests focus on vector bionomics, surveillance of vectors and pathogens, and vector control. LCDR Fiorenzano is married with one child, and two cats. Her interests include spending time with her family, traveling, and enjoying nature.

Representative Bibliography

Hustedt J, Prasetyo DB, Fiorenzano JM, von Fricken ME, Hertz JC. 2022. Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) and Sand Fly-borne Pathogens in the Greater Mekong Subregion: A Systematic Review. Parasites Vectors. 15: 355. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071- 022-05464-8.

Vongphayloth K, Apanaskevich DA, Lakeomany K, Phommavanh N, Nam VS, Fiorenzano JM, Hertz JC, Sutherland IW, Brey PT, Robbins RG. 2022. The Genus Haemaphysalis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Laos: An Update of Species Records and a Review of Taxonomic Challenges, Journal of Medical Entomology. tjac075. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac075.

Altantogtokh  D, Lilak AA , Takhampunya  R, Sakolvaree  J, Chanarat N , Matulis G, Poole-Smith  BK, Boldbaatar  B, Davidson S , Hertz  J, Bolorchimeg  B, Tsogbadrakh  N, Fiorenzano  JM, Lindroth  EJ, von Fricken ME. 2022. Metagenomic Profiles of Dermacentor Tick Pathogens from Across Mongolia, Using Next Generation Sequencing. Frontiers of Microbiology. 13: 946631. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.9466.

Chaorattanakawee S, Wofford RN, Takhampunya R, Poole-Smith BK, Boldbaatar B, Lkhagvatseren S, Altantogtokh D, Musih E, Nymadawa P, Davidson S, Hertz J, Fiorenzano J, Gray GC, von Fricken ME. 2022. Tracking Tick-borne Diseases in Mongolian Livestock Using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Ticks and Tick-borne Disease. 13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101845.

Vu NS, Hertz JC, Martin NJ, Tran TC, Fiorenzano JM, Tran PV, Nguyen HV, Dang AD, Tran DN, Motoki MT. 2021. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from Villages and Forest Areas of Rural Communes in Khanh Hoa and Binh Phuoc Provinces, Vietnam. Journal of Medical Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab106.

Traore MM, Junnila A, Revay EE, Kravchenko VD, Lahti A, Fiorenzano JM, Qualls WA, Kline DL, Schlein Y, Beier JC, Xue R-D, Muller GC. 2019. Control of Adult and Larval Aedes albopictus with Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (Active Ingredient: Cinnamon-sesame Oil) in Northeastern Florida. Journal of Florida Mosquito Control Association. 66: 20-26.

Harwood JF, Fiorenzano JM, Gerardo E, Black T, LaPointe DA, Hasty J. 2018. Seasonal Surveillance Confirms the Range Expansion of Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae) to the Hawaiian Islands of Oahu and Kauai. Journal of Asia Pacific Entomology. 21: 1366-1372.

Fiorenzano JM, Koehler PG, Xue R-D. 2017. Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSB) for Control of Mosquitoes and its Impact on Non-target Organisms: A Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14: 398, Epub.

Scott-Fiorenzano JM, Fulcher AP, Seeger KE, Allan SA, Kline D, Koehler P, Müller GC, Xue R-D. 2017. Evaluations of Dual Attractant Toxic Sugar Baits for Surveillance and Control of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Florida. Parasites & Vectors. 10: 9, Epub.

Scott JM, Seeger KE, Gibson-Corrado J, Müller GC, Xue R-D. 2016. Attractive Toxic Sugar Bait (ATSB) Mixed with Pyriproxyfen for Control of Larval Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Through Fecal Deposits of Adult Mosquitoes. Journal of Medical Entomology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjw133.