Dr. William Atkinson is a Medical Epidemiologist in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. He has worked for CDC for 23 years, with most of this time spent in immunization-related activities. His current principle responsibility is the development of technical and training materials for immunization providers - he teaches doctors and nurses how and when to give vaccines.??He practiced his skepticism in solitude for more than 20 years. This all changed after a chance encounter with Maria Walters at his first Amazing Meeting in July 2010.??Bill will be discussing the "Hug Me, I'm Vaccinated" promotion - how and why it started, and it's first big project: a pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination clinic at Dragon*Con 2010. Come see Angels and Enchanters (and Maria and DJ and Matt and a host of others) get protected from pertussis!??[ Slides of Dr. Atkinson's presentation are available at http://podcasts.abruptmedia.com/AtlantaSkeptics/asitp-0012.pdf ]