The development and support of the Integrated Pest Management Approach to Public Health Pest Management – Elmer W. Gray The University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension Service is a strong supporter and educator of the benefits of a scientifically based approach to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) focusing on public health pests. Mosquitoes and ticks are widely recognized for their ability to transmit disease causing pathogens and reduce the quality of life. The UGA Cooperative Extension Service was the driving force in creating a stand-alone category for commercial pesticide applicators in Georgia focusing on mosquito biology, surveillance and control. Over 1,400 applicators have been licensed in this category with over 2,000 training manuals sold, and over 20,000 views of a dedicated training video. In addition, the Public Health Extension Specialist has had an estimated “reach” of over 500,000,000 people each of the last two years in an effort to educate the broader public about IPM based public health pest management. These efforts focus on the biology of the pests encountered and the best scientifically based practices that can be used to suppress their populations and reduce the risk of disease transmission. This work helps to encourage personal responsibility while reducing pest populations prior to any pesticide applications. This practice saves resources and reduces the risk to pollinators while helping to preserve pesticide susceptibility in the targeted pest populations. Elmer W. Gray, Public Health Extension Specialist ewgray@uga.edu