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Dennis Makau, DVM, MSc, PhD

Assistant Professor | Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences Department
Overview

Dr. Dennis Makau is an epidemiologist and applied data scientist whose research examines health risks across interconnected human, animal, and environmental systems. He combines epidemiology, data science, genomics, and computational approaches to study infectious disease dynamics, antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity, and surveillance. His work focuses on developing and applying data-driven methods to improve disease detection, risk assessment, and decision-making. Dr. Makau is committed to advancing population health through interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and mentorship.

Research Focus

Anticipatory epidemiology and predictive surveillance using genomics, phylodynamics, machine learning, and immunology to understand pathogen transmission, evolution, and emerging population health risks.

Teaching Focus

Epidemiology, biostatistics, health data science, and One Health risk analysis, with an emphasis on developing the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists and public health professionals.

Outreach Focus

Translating epidemiologic evidence into decision-support tools, surveillance systems, and biosecurity strategies through partnerships with academic, governmental, industry, and international stakeholders.

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
CEM 504 - Descriptive and Applied Epidemiology
3 credit hour(s)

Principles of epidemiology as well as historic and modern applications to human and animal diseases. Host-agent relationships, measurement of disease frequency, disease monitoring and control in human and animal populations, field investigations, animal health economics and production.

Semesters Offered: Fall
CEM 507 - Epidemiology of Vector-Borne, Bacterial, and Viral Zoonotic Diseases
3 credit hour(s)

Emphasis is placed on understanding the host, agent, and environmental factors that determine the distribution of selected diseases of importance to both human and animal populations. Selected topics include vector-borne zoonoses, rabies, brucellosis, and psittacosis. This is an online course.

Recommended Background: Public health, veterinary medicine, nursing courses, or students in these programs.
Comment(s): Graduate or professional veterinary students at UTK and personnel employed by the Tennessee Department of Health and enrolled in the Applied Epidemiology Certificate Program.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
CEM 515 - Current Topics in Comparative and Experimental Medicine
1 - 6 credit hours

Specialized experience in comparative and experimental medicine.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 12 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Sultana, Hameeda | Collar, Elizabeth Marie | Lord, Jennifer Elizabeth | Dhar, Madhu S | Lear, Andrea Sketch | Mulon, Pierre-Yves

Semesters Offered: Spring
CEM 609 - One Health Risk Analysis
3 credit hour(s)

Seeks to equip students with the ability to effectively apply a risk analysis framework and risk assessment tools towards the management of complex problems at the human-animal-environment interface (HAEI). It will include a deep dive into both qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, exploring the application of both deterministic and stochastic models in the accurate assessment of risk along the HAEI. Students will learn how to deploy appropriate programming platforms such as R or @Risk when addressing risk estimation problems.

Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level - graduate.

Other Instructors: Mahero, Michael

Semesters Offered: Summer
PUBH 593 - Directed Independent Study
1 - 3 credit hours

Individual identification and study of health/wellness or health promotio problem/issue. Specific proposal must be presented to instructor before registration.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit or letter grade.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Okafor, Chika C | Lord, Jennifer Elizabeth | Mahero, Michael

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
PUBH 693 - Independent Study
1 - 3 credit hours

Individual study of selected issues.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit or letter grade.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Lord, Jennifer Elizabeth | Okafor, Chika C | Mahero, Michael

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Picture of Dennis Makau, DVM, MSc, PhD

dmakau@tennessee.edu

ORCID: 0000-0002-1802-2545
Elements (Faculty.utk.edu)
Google Scholar
A149B Veterinary Medical Ctr
2407 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Education and Training
  • PhD, Epidemiology, University of Prince Edward Island, 2019
  • MS, Veterinary Epidemiology & Economics, University of Nairobi, 2014
  • DVM, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, University of Nairobi, 2012
Lab Members
Md Khademul Islam
Job Ronoh
Sumon Ghosh
Web Presence
Population and Epidemiology Data Innovation Lab

Dennis Makau, DVM, MSc, PhD

Assistant Professor | Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences Department
Picture of Dennis Makau, DVM, MSc, PhD image

dmakau@tennessee.edu

ORCID: 0000-0002-1802-2545
Elements (Faculty.utk.edu)
Google Scholar
A149B Veterinary Medical Ctr
2407 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Education and Training
  • PhD, Epidemiology, University of Prince Edward Island, 2019
  • MS, Veterinary Epidemiology & Economics, University of Nairobi, 2014
  • DVM, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, University of Nairobi, 2012
Overview

Dr. Dennis Makau is an epidemiologist and applied data scientist whose research examines health risks across interconnected human, animal, and environmental systems. He combines epidemiology, data science, genomics, and computational approaches to study infectious disease dynamics, antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity, and surveillance. His work focuses on developing and applying data-driven methods to improve disease detection, risk assessment, and decision-making. Dr. Makau is committed to advancing population health through interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and mentorship.

Research Focus

Anticipatory epidemiology and predictive surveillance using genomics, phylodynamics, machine learning, and immunology to understand pathogen transmission, evolution, and emerging population health risks.

Teaching Focus

Epidemiology, biostatistics, health data science, and One Health risk analysis, with an emphasis on developing the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists and public health professionals.

Outreach Focus

Translating epidemiologic evidence into decision-support tools, surveillance systems, and biosecurity strategies through partnerships with academic, governmental, industry, and international stakeholders.

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
CEM 504 - Descriptive and Applied Epidemiology
3 credit hour(s)

Principles of epidemiology as well as historic and modern applications to human and animal diseases. Host-agent relationships, measurement of disease frequency, disease monitoring and control in human and animal populations, field investigations, animal health economics and production.

Semesters Offered: Fall
CEM 507 - Epidemiology of Vector-Borne, Bacterial, and Viral Zoonotic Diseases
3 credit hour(s)

Emphasis is placed on understanding the host, agent, and environmental factors that determine the distribution of selected diseases of importance to both human and animal populations. Selected topics include vector-borne zoonoses, rabies, brucellosis, and psittacosis. This is an online course.

Recommended Background: Public health, veterinary medicine, nursing courses, or students in these programs.
Comment(s): Graduate or professional veterinary students at UTK and personnel employed by the Tennessee Department of Health and enrolled in the Applied Epidemiology Certificate Program.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
CEM 515 - Current Topics in Comparative and Experimental Medicine
1 - 6 credit hours

Specialized experience in comparative and experimental medicine.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 12 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Sultana, Hameeda | Collar, Elizabeth Marie | Lord, Jennifer Elizabeth | Dhar, Madhu S | Lear, Andrea Sketch | Mulon, Pierre-Yves

Semesters Offered: Spring
CEM 609 - One Health Risk Analysis
3 credit hour(s)

Seeks to equip students with the ability to effectively apply a risk analysis framework and risk assessment tools towards the management of complex problems at the human-animal-environment interface (HAEI). It will include a deep dive into both qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, exploring the application of both deterministic and stochastic models in the accurate assessment of risk along the HAEI. Students will learn how to deploy appropriate programming platforms such as R or @Risk when addressing risk estimation problems.

Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level - graduate.

Other Instructors: Mahero, Michael

Semesters Offered: Summer
PUBH 593 - Directed Independent Study
1 - 3 credit hours

Individual identification and study of health/wellness or health promotio problem/issue. Specific proposal must be presented to instructor before registration.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit or letter grade.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Okafor, Chika C | Lord, Jennifer Elizabeth | Mahero, Michael

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
PUBH 693 - Independent Study
1 - 3 credit hours

Individual study of selected issues.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit or letter grade.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Lord, Jennifer Elizabeth | Okafor, Chika C | Mahero, Michael

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Lab Members
Md Khademul Islam
Job Ronoh
Sumon Ghosh
Web Presence
Population and Epidemiology Data Innovation Lab