Deborah Markenson currently serves as a project specialist for select Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services initiatives. She has 29 years of public health experience in program planning, administration, implementation, and evaluation for nutrition and chronic disease programs. She has been directly involved with a broad range of statewide strategic planning efforts that have addressed risk factors for the leading causes of death in Missouri (nutrition, physical activity and tobacco) and chronic disease prevention and control (including diabetes, heart disease and stroke, cancer and arthritis).
Ms. Markenson previously held a number of positions with the Department, including Administrator for the Section of Chronic Disease Prevention and Nutrition Services, Bureau Chief for the Nutrition and Child Care Programs, nutrition specialist and program manager for several programs. She worked at the University of Missouri Medical Center as a clinical dietitian in her early career. Her education includes a Master and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia and she is a registered dietitian. She has held a variety of leadership positions in state and national organizations including the Missouri Dietetic Association, National Association of Child and Adult Care Food Program, National USDA Integrity Board and the National Chronic Disease Directors Association.