Tara C. Smith

Smith has a Bachelor of Science in biology from Yale University.{{Cite web|url=http://www.peoplebehindthescience.com/dr-tara-smith/|title=186: Dr. Tara Smith: Resistance on the Rise: Researcing the Arms Race of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Potential Transfers from Livestock to Humans - People Behind the Science Podcast|website=www.peoplebehindthescience.com|date=28 November 2014|language=en-US|access-date=26 July 2018|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054848/http://www.peoplebehindthescience.com/dr-tara-smith/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.self.com/contributor/tara-smith|title=Tara C. Smith, Ph.D. Latest Articles|website=SELF|language=en|access-date=2020-02-28|archive-date=2020-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054802/https://www.self.com/contributor/tara-smith|url-status=live}} She earned her PhD in microbiology at the University of Toledo, where she investigated Streptococcus pyogenes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eagleson.org/conferences/cdc-international-biosafety-symposium/speakers|title=Speakers {{!}} The Eagleson Institute|website=www.eagleson.org|language=en-US|access-date=26 July 2018|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054811/https://www.eagleson.org/conferences/cdc-international-biosafety-symposium/speakers/|url-status=live}} She completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Michigan.

In 2004 Smith joined the University of Iowa College of Public Health.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kent.edu/publichealth/profile/tara-c-smith-phd|title=Tara C. Smith, Ph.D. {{!}} Kent State University|website=www.kent.edu|language=en|access-date=26 July 2018|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054858/https://www.kent.edu/publichealth/profile/tara-c-smith-phd|url-status=live}} She has received over $3 million in research funding, primarily from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, United States Department of Agriculture and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.{{Cite web|url=http://www.taracsmith.com/grants-and-projects.html|title=Grants and Projects|website=Tara C. Smith, PhD|language=en|access-date=26 July 2018|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054901/http://www.taracsmith.com/grants-and-projects.html|url-status=live}}

Smith identified that 45% of pig farmers and 49% of hogs farmers carried Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/opinion/12kristof.html|title=Opinion {{!}} Our Pigs, Our Food, Our Health|last=Kristof|first=Nicholas|work=The New York Times |date=12 March 2009 |access-date=26 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054822/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/opinion/12kristof.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-ticker/pig-farm-workers-greater-risk-drug-resistant-staph|title=Pig farm workers at greater risk for drug-resistant staph|last=Mole|first=Beth|date=8 May 2015|work=Science News|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054916/https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-ticker/pig-farm-workers-greater-risk-drug-resistant-staph|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/health/hog-farmers-more-likely-to-carry-drug-resistant-bacteria-study-says/|title=Hog farmers more likely to carry drug-resistant bacteria, study says|date=4 May 2015|work=Fox News|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US}} She went on to identify that almost 40% of people with MRSA contain the strain associated with livestock.{{Cite news|url=https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/breeding-bacteria-on-factory-farms/|title=Breeding Bacteria on Factory Farms|last=Bittman|first=Mark|work=Opinionator|date=9 July 2013 |access-date=26 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054823/https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/breeding-bacteria-on-factory-farms/|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal|last1=Smith|first1=Tara C.|last2=Gebreyes|first2=Wondwossen A.|last3=Abley|first3=Melanie J.|last4=Harper|first4=Abby L.|last5=Forshey|first5=Brett M.|last6=Male|first6=Michael J.|last7=Martin|first7=H. Wayne|last8=Molla|first8=Bayleyegn Z.|last9=Sreevatsan|first9=Srinand|date=2013|title=Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pigs and farm workers on conventional and antibiotic-free swine farms in the USA|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=8|issue=5|pages=e63704|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0063704|issn=1932-6203|pmc=3646818|pmid=23667659|bibcode=2013PLoSO...863704S|doi-access=free}} The work was described as one of the most comprehensive investigations into the spread of MRSA by the journal Nature.{{Cite journal|last=Mole|first=Beth|date=24 July 2013|title=MRSA: Farming up trouble|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=499|issue=7459|pages=398–400|doi=10.1038/499398a|pmid=23887415|bibcode=2013Natur.499..398M|issn=0028-0836|doi-access=free}} She is distinguishing the Staphylococcus aureus strains around Iowa City, by characterizing the DNA around several places in the genome. She compared strains related to ST398, a sequence type that is associated with livestock but not expected to cause infection, from around the world.{{Cite journal|last1=Price|first1=Lance B.|last2=Stegger|first2=Marc|last3=Hasman|first3=Henrik|last4=Aziz|first4=Maliha|last5=Larsen|first5=Jesper|last6=Andersen|first6=Paal Skytt|last7=Pearson|first7=Talima|last8=Waters|first8=Andrew E.|last9=Foster|first9=Jeffrey T.|date=1 March 2012|title=Staphylococcus aureus CC398: Host Adaptation and Emergence of Methicillin Resistance in Livestock|journal=mBio|language=en|volume=3|issue=1|pages=e00305–11|doi=10.1128/mBio.00305-11|issn=2150-7511|pmc=3280451|pmid=22354957}} She found that meat that is sold with the claim it contains no antibiotics contains the highest levels of the garden-type of S. aureus.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/31766160/ns/health-food_safety/t/concerns-growing-over-superbugs-our-food/#.W1ohY9hKjys|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125180628/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/31766160/ns/health-food_safety/t/concerns-growing-over-superbugs-our-food#.W1ohY9hKjys|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 25, 2016|title=Concerns growing over superbugs in our food|date=15 July 2009|work=msnbc.com|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en}} Her research has been covered by The New York Times. Smith has also studied and written about vaccine hesitancy.{{Cite web|url=https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3747-1116|title=Tara C. Smith (0000-0003-3747-1116)|last=ORCID|website=orcid.org|language=en|access-date=2020-02-28|archive-date=2020-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054824/https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3747-1116|url-status=live}}

She joined the Kent State University College of Public Health in 2013 as an associate professor. In 2015 Smith was appointed an American Society for Microbiology Distinguished Lecturer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.asm.org/images/Membership/ASMDL/ASMDLPastLect18.pdf|title=American Society for Microbiology Distinguished Lecturers: 1992 - Present|website=American Society for Microbiology|access-date=26 July 2018}} In 2017 she became a full professor at Kent State. Her light-hearted Christmas contribution{{Cite journal|last=Smith|first=Tara C.|date=2015-12-14|title=Zombie infections: epidemiology, treatment, and prevention|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h6423|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=351|pages=h6423|doi=10.1136/bmj.h6423|issn=1756-1833|pmid=26668070|s2cid=28216574|access-date=2020-02-28|archive-date=2020-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054853/https://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h6423|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} to the British Medical Journal on the likelihood of a Zombie apocalypse was covered extensively in the mainstream media.{{Cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2015/12/16/zombie-epidemics-are-a-looming-threat-science-journal-warns-5569666/|title=Zombie epidemics are a 'looming threat', science journal warns|date=16 December 2015|work=Metro|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054824/https://metro.co.uk/2015/12/16/zombie-epidemics-are-a-looming-threat-science-journal-warns-5569666/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/zombie-infections-are-still-very-poorly-understood-phenomena-according-study|title=British Medical Journal Releases Study Revealing How To Stop A Zombie Virus Outbreak|work=IFLScience|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054819/https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/zombie-infections-are-still-very-poorly-understood-phenomena-according-study/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.ktrh.com/articles/houston-news-121300/podcast-dr-tara-smith-joins-houstons-14218516|title=PODCAST: Dr. Tara Smith Joins Houston's Morning News {{!}} KTRH|work=KTRH|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/more-funding-research-needed-prevent-zombie-apocalypse-406617|title=More Research Needed to Prevent 'Zombie Apocalypse'|date=17 December 2015|work=Newsweek|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054921/https://www.newsweek.com/more-funding-research-needed-prevent-zombie-apocalypse-406617|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/medical-journal-publishes-study-zombie-outbreak-article-1.2467581|title=The British Medical Journal publishes report on the risk of a zombie outbreak - NY Daily News|last=Liotta|first=Paul|work=nydailynews.com|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054820/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/medical-journal-publishes-study-zombie-outbreak-article-1.2467581|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/zombie-apocalypse-study-makes-top-scientific-journal-194016913.html|title=Zombie apocalypse study makes top scientific journal|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054808/https://news.yahoo.com/zombie-apocalypse-study-makes-top-scientific-journal-194016913.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.rtbf.be/info/insolites/detail_suis-je-en-train-de-me-transformer-en-zombie-le-british-medical-journal-le-dit?id=9165633|title=Suis-je en train de me transformer en zombie? Le British Medical Journal répond|date=15 December 2015|work=RTBF Info|access-date=26 July 2018|language=fr-FR|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054855/https://www.rtbf.be/info/insolites/detail_suis-je-en-train-de-me-transformer-en-zombie-le-british-medical-journal-le-dit?id=9165633|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/zombie-apocalypse-are-we-prepared-experts-call-more-preventative-action-1533330|title=Are we prepared for the Zombie apocalypse? Experts call for more preventative action|last=Martin|first=Sean|date=14 December 2015|work=International Business Times UK|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054831/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/zombie-apocalypse-are-we-prepared-experts-call-more-preventative-action-1533330|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://asunow.asu.edu/20160421-solutions-apocalypse-now-zombies-teachers|title=Apocalypse now: Zombies as teachers|date=21 April 2016|work=ASU Now: Access, Excellence, Impact|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054822/https://asunow.asu.edu/20160421-solutions-apocalypse-now-zombies-teachers|url-status=live}}{{Excessive citations inline|date=November 2020}} Following the Zika virus outbreak, Smith wrote several articles to provide advice for members of the public.{{Cite news|url=http://thescientificparent.org/update-zika-and-pregnancy-what-you-need-to-know/|title=UPDATE: Zika and Pregnancy - What You Need To Know {{!}} The Scientific Parent|date=21 March 2016|work=The Scientific Parent|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054831/https://www.familywise.com/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/82194/scientists-get-closer-zika-vaccine|title=Scientists Get Closer to a Zika Vaccine|date=28 June 2016|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054911/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/82194/scientists-get-closer-zika-vaccine|url-status=live}} She went on to use zombies to demonstrate how diseases were spread.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/01/zombies_go_academic_as_kent_state_university_prof_explains_how_infectious_diseases_spread.html|title=Zombies go academic as Kent State University prof explains how infectious diseases spread|work=cleveland.com|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054832/https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2017/01/zombies_go_academic_as_kent_state_university_prof_explains_how_infectious_diseases_spread.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.popsci.com/scientific-research-zombie-epidemic-apocalypse|title=Why are scientists so obsessed with studying zombies?|work=Popular Science|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054935/https://www.popsci.com/scientific-research-zombie-epidemic-apocalypse/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.kentwired.com/latest_updates/article_475642ca-0121-575f-bfcf-36b4ad73a246.html|title=Zombie outbreak infiltrates health professor's lesson plan|last=Winternitz|first=Abigail|work=KentWired.com|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054922/http://www.kentwired.com/latest_updates/article_475642ca-0121-575f-bfcf-36b4ad73a246.html|url-status=live}} Smith has written books on Ebola virus, Streptococcus pyogenes and S. agalactiae.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/streptococcusgro0000smit|title=Streptococcus|last1=Smith|first1=Associate Professor Tara C.|last2=Heymann|first2=David|date=1 August 2007|publisher=Chelsea House Publications|isbn=9780791092439|editor-last=Ph.D|editor-first=Edward I. Alcamo|location=New York|language=en|url-access=registration}}{{Cite book|title=Streptococcus|last1=results|first1=search|last2=Heymann|first2=David|date=1 June 2010|publisher=Chelsea House Pub|isbn=9781604132519|edition= 2nd|location=New York, NY|language=en}}{{Cite book|title=Ebola and Marburg Virus|last1=results|first1=search|last2=Heymann|first2=David L.|date=1 November 2010|publisher=Chelsea House Pub|isbn=9781604132526|editor-last=Hilary|editor-first=M. D. Babcock|edition= 2nd|location=New York|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/ebolas-message|title=Ebola's Message|website=The MIT Press|language=en|access-date=27 July 2018}}

In late February 2020 the Wall Street Journal called her "a prominent infectious-disease specialist" when reporting on her tweet{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/aetiology/status/1233092794320711681|title=Not good at all. I understand government workers often have to go through layers of approval, but 1) this is an urgent situation and 2) they know way more than Pence.|last=Smith|first=Dr Tara C.|date=27 February 2020|website=@aetiology|language=en|access-date=28 February 2020|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054834/https://twitter.com/aetiology/status/1233092794320711681|url-status=live}} criticizing the White House's attempt to control messaging about the novel coronavirus outbreak.{{Cite news|last1=Armour|first1=Stephanie|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-wants-signoff-on-coronavirus-messaging-11582832832|title=White House Wants Signoff on Coronavirus Messaging|date=27 February 2020|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=28 February 2020|last2=Restuccia|first2=Andrew|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227223319/https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-wants-signoff-on-coronavirus-messaging-11582832832|url-status=live}}

Smith takes part in several initiatives to improve the public understanding of science.{{Cite news|url=https://abc10up.com/2014/10/31/michigan-tech-hosts-zombies-symposium/|title=Michigan Tech hosts zombies symposium - ABC 10/CW 5|date=31 October 2014|work=ABC 10/CW 5|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054907/https://abc10up.com/2014/10/31/michigan-tech-hosts-zombies-symposium/|url-status=live}} She writes a regular column for Self. She started the science blog Aetiology in 2005.{{Cite web|url=http://aetiologyblog.com/|title=Aetiology – Infections, public health, zombies, and other stuff|website=aetiologyblog.com|language=en-US|access-date=27 July 2018|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054834/http://aetiologyblog.com/|url-status=live}} Her research has appeared in the popular science books Pig Tales: An Omnivore's Quest for Sustainable Meat and Superbug: the Fatal Menace of MRSA.{{Cite book|title=Pig Tales: An Omnivore's Quest for Sustainable Meat|last=results|first=search|date=4 May 2015|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company|isbn=9780393240245|edition=1st|language=en|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/pigtalesomnivore0000esta}}{{Cite news|url=http://superbugthebook.com/|title=SuperBug - Maryn McKenna|work=Maryn McKenna|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054907/https://marynmckenna.com/books/superbug/|url-status=live}} She has featured on podcasts, including Science for the People, Talk Nerdy and the Meet the Microbiologist podcast of the American Society for Microbiology.{{Cite news|url=https://www.asm.org/index.php/podcasts/meet-the-microbiologist/item/6870-mrsa-in-agriculture-and-zombie-epidemiology-with-tara-c-smith-mtm-67|title=MRSA in agriculture and zombie epidemiology with Tara C. Smith - MTM 67|last=Wolf|first=Julie|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-gb}}{{Cite news|url=http://carasantamaria.com/podcast/tara-smith|title=Episode 181 - Tara Smith|work=Talk Nerdy.|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054927/https://www.carasantamaria.com/podcast/tara-smith|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/what-can-i-do/|title=What Can I Do? - Voices For Vaccines|date=14 September 2017|work=Voices For Vaccines|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054822/https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/what-can-i-do/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.scienceforthepeople.ca/episodes/big-chicken|title=#438 - Big Chicken: Science for the People|website=www.scienceforthepeople.ca|access-date=26 July 2018|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054823/http://www.scienceforthepeople.ca/episodes/big-chicken|url-status=live}} She has been interviewed by Gizmodo, New Statesman and the Los Angeles Times.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2017/08/zombie-studies-scientists-taking-living-dead-seriously|title=Zombie studies: The scientists taking the living dead seriously|website=www.newstatesman.com|date=3 August 2017|language=en|access-date=26 July 2018|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054825/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2017/08/zombie-studies-scientists-taking-living-dead-seriously|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-zombie-apocalpyse-bmj-christmas-20151218-story.html|title=What zombies can teach us about infectious diseases|last=Greene|first=Sean|website=Los Angeles Times|date=18 December 2015|access-date=26 July 2018|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054854/https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-zombie-apocalpyse-bmj-christmas-20151218-story.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/reminder-wave-pools-are-filthy-pits-of-despair-1796453858|title=Reminder: Wave Pools Are Filthy Pits of Despair|last=Paoletta|first=Rae|work=Gizmodo|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229054826/https://gizmodo.com/reminder-wave-pools-are-filthy-pits-of-despair-1796453858|url-status=live}}

• Ebola's Message (2016), co-edited by Maia Majumder and Nicholas Evans{{Cite book|last1=Evans|first1=Nicholas|title=Ebola's message : public health and medicine in the twenty-first century|last2=Smith|first2=Tara C.|last3=Majumder|first3=Maimuna S.|publisher=MIT Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-262-33619-2|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts|oclc=960448151}}
• Ebola and Marburg Viruses (2010){{Cite book|last=Smith, Tara C., 1976-|title=Ebola and Marburg viruses|date=2011|publisher=Chelsea House|isbn=978-1-4381-3577-9|edition=2nd|location=New York|oclc=698105724}}
• Streptococcus (group A) (2010){{Cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Tara C.|title=Streptococcus (group A)|last2=Babcock|first2=Hilary|publisher=Chelsea House|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4381-3288-4|edition=2nd|location=New York, NY|oclc=650088855}}
• Streptococcus (group B) (2007){{Cite book|last=Smith|first=Tara C.|title=Streptococcus (group B)|date=2007|publisher=Chelsea House|isbn=978-0-7910-9243-9|location=New York|oclc=84900446}}

Smith lives with her partner and three children in rural Ohio.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Tara C. |author-link=Tara C. Smith |date=2022-04-27 |title=What Happens When We Give Animals Our Diseases? |url=https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-happens-when-we-give-animals-our-diseases-20220427/ |website=Quanta Magazine |language=en}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Tara C.}}

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:American women epidemiologists

Category:American epidemiologists

Category:Kent State University faculty

Category:Yale College alumni

Category:University of Toledo alumni

Category:University of Iowa faculty

Category:21st-century American scientists

Category:21st-century American women scientists

Category:21st-century American academics