Spent 10 years navigating infectious disease fronts from origin investigation to quarantine policy, education, and research

Gyeongsangbuk-do announced that Lim Min-ah, an official in the Public Health Division of the Welfare and Health Bureau, received the 3rd Field Epidemiologist Award at the "2026 Fall Conference of the Korean Society of Epidemiology" held on Friday, September 18.

Official Lim Min-ah was appointed as an epidemiological investigator for Gyeongsangbuk-do in March 2017, and has dedicated nearly 10 years to infectious disease surveillance, epidemiological investigation, and on-site response, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, she also carried out quarantine duties during major disasters and large-scale international events, such as the massive wildfires in Gyeongbuk and the APEC Summit.

In particular, she was recognized for her continuous efforts in field-centric epidemiological investigations that scientifically identify the causes and transmission pathways of infectious disease outbreaks, connecting investigation results to quarantine measures, institutional improvements, education, and research.

The Field Epidemiologist Award is presented by the Korean Society of Epidemiology to discover and encourage field epidemiologists who have achieved outstanding results in field epidemiological investigations and community public health. Winners are selected through a comprehensive evaluation of epidemiological investigation achievements, policy and educational contributions, expertise, leadership, problem-solving capabilities, and academic activities.

Official Lim Min-ah stated, "I believe this award is not just an individual achievement, but the result of the collective efforts of colleagues and city/county health center personnel who ran alongside me in the field of infectious diseases. Moving forward, I will continue to be an epidemiological investigator who finds answers in the field, creates practical changes based on scientific evidence, and protects the lives and health of provincial residents."

Yoon Sun-gyun, Head of the Public Health Division at Gyeongsangbuk-do, remarked, "This award is a meaningful achievement that acknowledges Gyeongbuk's field-centric infectious disease response capacity and expertise. We will continue to strengthen professional training and on-site response capabilities to further solidify our infectious disease response system that protects the health of our residents."