Robyn M Atkinson
Company: TN Department of Health
Title : Director, Knoxville Regional Laboratory Deputy Director, State Laboratory

Dr. Atkinson came to Tennessee Department of Health Laboratory Services in 2007 as Director, Knoxville Regional Laboratory via Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health. Dr. Atkinson is the recipient of a B.S. From Clemson University in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Pathology from the University of Tennessee, Health Sciences Center, Memphis. Following her graduate studies, she completed a post-doctoral study at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis followed by a Clinical Fellowship in Medical and Public Health Microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. Through her years in public health microbiology, she has gained a particular interest in tracking food-related outbreaks and issues related to food safety.
In 2008, Dr Atkinson was appointed a member of the Association of Public Health Laboratory's Food Safety Committee whose mission is to "spearhead the development of novel projects and studies to increase the visibility and capabilities of food safety laboratories, develop the competency of their staff and improve laboratory facilities.