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Jake McKenzie
Jeff Drifmeyer, writing as "Jake McKenzie," holds master’s and doctoral degrees in environmental science from the University of Virginia, and a master’s in public health from Johns...view moreJeff Drifmeyer, writing as "Jake McKenzie," holds master’s and doctoral degrees in environmental science from the University of Virginia, and a master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins. He served on active duty for over two decades in the Army Medical Service Corps, overseas twice and throughout the U.S. including duty at Fort Monroe. He’s written many scientific articles and was an award-winning research professor at the military’s medical school, Uniformed Services University of Health Science. He was a division chief at the founding of the National Center for Medical Intelligence bringing homeland health protection issues to the forefront. He was working at the Veteran’s Affairs hospital in Hampton, VA when diagnosed with rare, neuroendocrine cancer. During this ongoing health struggle, he’s reinventing himself as an author.
Under the pen name, Jake McKenzie, his first book, “When Pigs Flu…” (ISBN 978-1-4520-7797-0) is a fast-paced military thriller. A ‘what if…’ scenario – inadvertent release of pathogenic viruses from U.S. laboratory control, is based on real events. The ensuing recovery mission becomes frantic before vials fall into the wrong hands, or disease outbreak occurs in a most unlikely place. (Available in paperback or e-book, from www.authorhouse.com)
His pending release, Civil War Comes Home, a work of narrated nonfiction, chronicles what it was like to live in a small, sleepy Southern town, Williamsburg, Virginia when the Civil War arrives on the doorstep. As the author lives here and has first-hand knowledge of the locations –from town to college to battlefield, the diverse perspectives of slaves, students, soldiers, and townspeople are told in authentic detail. Theirs are stories are of sacrifice and hardship, yet hope and perseverance. They provide insight about our predecessor’s determination and fortitude in the aftermath of pitched battle, Emancipation of slaves, and lengthy Federal occupation –events of 150 years ago.view less