A memo from USA Today's Carol Stevens announced today that the paper has hired the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Alison Young as a new health reporter.

Alison is the president of "Investigative Reporters and Editors" and has worked for the Detroit Free Press, Knight Ridder Washington Bureau, Arizona Republic and Dallas Times Herald.

Memo after the jump.

I'm happy to announce Alison Young has joined the News Department as a health reporter.

Alison comes to us from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has spent the last year writing a weekly investigative column about local issues. Previously, Alison covered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her CDC coverage won a National Headliner Award in 2008.

Alison is the president of Investigative Reporters and Editors. Before working at the AJC, she worked for the Knight Ridder Washington Bureau, the Detroit Free Press, The Arizona Republic and the Dallas Times Herald. Alison is a University of Kansas graduate.

Alison will join the National Desk where she is assigned to Rachel Smolkin's team. Please stop by her desk (next to Owen) and introduce yourself.

Thanks

Carol