Elizabeth Unger

Elizabeth (Beth) Unger, MD, PhD, is the Chief of the Chronic Viral Disease Branch (CVDB), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. CFS research falls under her department. She has worked at the CDC since 1997 and replaced Dr. William Reeves as Chief of CVDB in 2010.

In 2005, the CDC published a case definition of CFS, commonly called the Reeves criteria, which has garnered much criticism for not being specific enough to exclude patients which other illnesses. In particular, there is no mention of post-exertional malaise. Dr. Unger is listed as one of the ten authors.

Education
Dr. Unger received an undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA and her PhD and MD in the Division of Biologic Sciences at the University of Chicago. Her residency and fellowship was completed at Pennsylvania State University Medical Center.

Notable studies

 * 2016, CDC Multi-site Clinical Assessment of CFS
 * 2016, Methods of applying the 1994 case definition of chronic fatigue syndrome - impact on classification and oberved illness characteristics, © 2016 Unger et al.
 * 2005, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – A clinically empirical approach to its definition and study.
 * 2003, Prevalence and Incidence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Wichita, Kansas, © 2003 American Medical Association

Talks & interviews

 * 2016, CDC Grand Rounds. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Advancing Research and Clinical Education
 * 2014, Interim Results of a Multi-site Clinical Study of ME/CFS
 * 2014, CDC CFS Patient-Centered Outreach and Communication Activity (PCOCA) Conference Call Audio Recording
 * 2010, 8 - Dr. Unger - CFSAC May 2010
 * 2010, 7 - Dr. Unger - CFSAC May 2010
 * 2010, Dr. Elizabeth Unger describes the CDC's Mind-Body connection view of CFS at CFSAC October 2010
 * 2010, CFSAC Oct2010 Day 3 CDC Q&A part 2 of 3
 * 2010, CFSAC Oct 2010 Panel Members ask Questions

Online presence

 * PubMed - Elizabeth Unger

Learn more

 * 2014, CDC Multi-site Study – An interview with Beth Unger
 * 2011, Who is CDC CFS Research Chief Dr. Elizabeth Unger?
 * 2010, New Chronic Viral Diseases Branch Chief