- Faculty Queensbury
Holly Ahern
- Associate Professor of Biology/Microbiology
"Microbes play various roles in all ecosystems, including the human body. While some cause disease, most are beneficial and even essential to sustaining all other groups of living things on earth. Teaching these concepts, and sharing the good (and sometimes bad) things microbes do is what inspires me as an educator."
Biography
Holly Ahern is an award-winning professor of microbiology at the State University of New York at Adirondack (SUNY Adirondack), where she teaches courses in biology and microbiology, and mentors community college students interested in pursuing science-related degrees and careers in undergraduate research. As a result of her family’s personal experience with Lyme disease, Ahern provides education on tick-borne diseases and advocates on behalf of the Lyme disease patient community to improve health care options and improved access to care. Ahern serves as scientific advisor for the Focus on Lyme Foundation, initiating and managing research projects directed at improving the state of diagnostic testing for Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. As a scientist and advocate, she was appointed to serve on the state and federal advisory groups, including the HHS Tick Borne Disease Working Group and the NYS Tick Borne Disease Working Group. She remains actively involved in NYS and federal legislative initiatives to improve access to care for “long-hauler” Lyme disease patients and people with other chronic illnesses.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, University at Albany; Master of Science in Molecular Biology, University at Albany