Clayton Named New State Epidemiologist

Dr. Joshua Clayton will serve as South Dakota’s next state epidemiologist. Clayton replaces Dr. Lon Kightlinger who retired earlier this month after serving 20 years with the Department.

Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon made the announcement today (Thurs.).

Clayton, a South Dakota native joins the Department from the Indiana State Department of Health where he served as deputy state epidemiologist and director of the state’s Epidemiology Resource Center. Dr. Clayton received his undergraduate degree from South Dakota State University and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor.

Prior to joining the Indiana Department of Health, Clayton served with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer assigned to the state of Tennessee. Earlier in his career, he spent five years at the South Dakota Department of Health working in the disease prevention and public health preparedness programs.