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Joann McDermid received her Bachelor of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta in 1990, and became a registered dietitian in 1991 after completing a specialized clinical dietetic internship at The Kingston General Hospital in Kingston, Ontario. Her Master of Science degree in Dietetics and Human Nutrition and her Post-Graduate Diploma in Epidemiology and Biostatistics in 1996 and 1998 were obtained from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. In 2007, Joann received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Epidemiology and Population Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London) in London, England. She became an Assistant Professor of Global Health and Nutrition in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University in 2008.

Joann investigates the role of nutrition and gene-nutrient interactions in infectious diseases. At this time, the focus is to model host iron status and human genes involved in iron metabolism (SLC11A1 and Haptoglobin) as determinants of infection susceptibility or outcome in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis within a global context. This work will inform decisions regarding defining best practice for anemia prophylaxis and treatment in areas with high infectious burdens.  Elucidating determinants of tuberculosis will assist in refining clinical alogarithms for disease diagnosis and identifying HIV determinants may reveal alternative surrogate markers useful in monitoring and guiding clinical practice of HIV infection within an economically-challenged setting.

• PhD, 2007 - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Epidemiology & Population Health
• Postgraduate Diploma, 1998 - McGill University, Epidemiology & Biostatistics
• Master of Science, 1996 - McGill University, Dietetics & Human Nutrition
• Graduate Internship, 1991 - Kingston General Hospital, Clinical Dietetics
• Bachelor of Science (First Class Honors), 1990 - University of Alberta, Foods & Nutrition