2026 Immunization Champion Award Winners

Brian McMahon, MD, is a clinical hepatologist and the scientific program director at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, AK. He has worked for many years on the problem of widespread hepatitis B, including the resulting and often chronic illness and highly lethal liver cancer. Dr. McMahon was also involved in the testing, wide application, and evaluation of hepatitis B vaccine. [EM1.1]While his work continues in this field, Dr. McMahon has been a very strong proponent for vaccination in general, most recently by serving on the Alaska Immunization Guidance Workgroup in 2025 and 2026. He has also been highly influential in the Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin No. 26 “Reaffirming the Hepatitis B Vaccine Birth Dose,” on December 29, 2025, as well as the February 3, 2026, State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin reaffirming almost all of CDC’s vaccine recommendations as they were until early 2025.

Brianne Spaeth, pharmacist at Desert Life Pharmacy, collaborates daily with her team to provide high-quality immunization care to patients. She volunteers as a preceptor with the University of Arizona to help pharmacy students gain valuable immunization experience by participating in off-site health fairs for high-risk communities throughout the Tucson area. She provides vaccinations in areas that lack regular medical providers and can communicate the importance of vaccinations to all ages and backgrounds, even using translators when necessary. Dr. Spaeth teaches pharmacy students to go through each patient’s age-related vaccine recommendations based on the patient’s personal history and age-related CDC guidelines for preventative vaccine schedules as part of the clinic workflow. She collaborates with many other community groups and leaders to provide vaccine clinics at long-term care facilities, schools, workplaces, and rural areas throughout Arizona. Dr. Spaeth is a strong advocate for vaccines and pharmacy legislation and has provided testimony at both the state and national capital about the importance of the role a community pharmacy can have to support patient care in Arizona and nationally. Her strong immunization presence has led to her pharmacy administering almost 50,000 vaccines in the six years that it has been open.

Megan Repp, MD, pediatrician at the Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic, serves as both the president of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AR AAP) and the chapter immunizations representative. She leads the largest professional organization of pediatricians in her role with AR AAP and has focused on advocacy for childhood immunizations. She launched the AR AAP “Booster Club” to provide both social and financial support to the pediatricians of Arkansas who support childhood immunizations and hosted its inaugural event at her home in March 2026. Dr. Repp has gone to Washington, DC, to meet directly with Arkansas’ senators to advocate for the importance of childhood immunizations, especially the Vaccines for Children program. She has been a frontline communicator translating the current recommendations for childhood immunizations, including both written and video interviews, for providers and the general public. She wrote an article in the Healthcare Journal of Arkansas, was featured in multiple articles in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, and was interviewed by local television station KATV communicating about the importance of vaccines and high case rates of vaccine-preventable diseases (including pertussis).

Daniel Brennan, MD, is a pediatrician at Sutter Health. He founded the “Strive for 95” Community Immunization Initiative, a coalition uniting Sansum Clinic, Cottage Health, Santa Barbara County Public Health, and County Office of Education in response to declining vaccination rates in Santa Barbara County. As a result, Santa Barbara County kindergarten vaccination rates increased from 92.1% to 96.5%. Dr. Brennan spearheaded a broad outreach campaign that included town hall symposiums, school engagement, print and digital media, television and radio advertising, and the creation of StriveFor95.org to provide vaccine education and local resources. To encourage parent-to-parent advocacy, he also created “Strive for 95” vaccine stickers modeled after “I Voted” campaigns. Within Sutter Health, Dr. Brennan currently leads pediatric immunization quality improvement efforts across multidisciplinary teams. Through workflow redesign, population health outreach, metric transparency, and physician engagement, his team improved childhood immunization rates by 28.9% and adolescent immunization rates by 53.4% in less than one year. Beyond the numbers, Dr. Brennan has strengthened vaccine confidence through physician mentorship, community education, statewide advocacy, and public communication efforts that continue to protect vulnerable children and families.

Thomas D. Huggett, MD, physician at Lawndale Christian Health Center, champions community needs and regularly connects with the Chicago Department of Public Health to discuss immunization strategies. He is a key contributor and a public health leader in Chicago, especially in the immunization space. On several occasions, Dr. Huggett leveraged his relationships with other service providers in the area to lead a “united front” in support of public health initiatives, such as outbreak response and other large-scale efforts. He was a strong pillar during measles response; no job was too big or too small. Dr. Huggett’s presence during large-scale immunization events made public health collaboration smoother and a more focused process. Dr. Huggett is a communicative, organized, and cooperative partner, who motivates his staff to support public health involvement and champions immunizations year-round, especially for Chicagoans who regularly experience barriers to care. Dr. Huggett is a voice of advocacy for Chicagoans who are unhoused, uninsured, underinsured, and who face a wide range of barriers to accessing care.

Although Kathy Lancaster’s official role is finance administrator, her influence extends far beyond budgets and spreadsheets. Kathy has become a bridge between the clinic and the community, helping ensure that essential services reach the people who need them most. Her volunteer work at off‑site vaccine clinics has expanded the clinic’s reach into neighborhoods that might otherwise face barriers to care. By showing up consistently setting up stations, guiding families, and supporting staff, she helps create smooth, welcoming experiences that encourage residents to return for future services. Her efforts to recruit nurses for home‑based vaccinations have been especially impactful. Many older or disabled residents would simply go without protection if not for the home‑visit program she helps sustain. Kathy’s coordination ensures that these individuals remain connected to the clinic and protected from preventable illness. Her belief in protecting the community through vaccination is unwavering, and she encourages friends, coworkers, and neighbors alike to stay up to date on their shots. During pediatric clinics, she steps in with a calm presence—holding a child’s hand, offering comfort, or simply being a reassuring voice during a tough moment.

Michael Do, MD, is the Department of Pediatrics chair at Commonwealth Healthcare. He demonstrates strong collaboration between the immunization program and the clinical/hospital teams to help increase vaccination rates within the community, particularly among children and adolescents. He actively promotes vaccine education and awareness to his patients and consistently encourages team members to offer vaccinations to community members, helping to improve immunization uptake and public health outcomes. He demonstrates advocacy on overall vaccinations and recently with RSV vaccination for babies by pushing for RSV vaccinations for babies and recommending the vaccine to parents to provide protection and prevent hospitalization and death in infants. There is continued and committed coordination between him and the immunization program to ensure stock is available for him and his team to offer the vaccine as needed.

Katherine Noble, MD, founded Sound Beach Pediatrics, an independent private practice serving Stamford, CT. For many years, Dr. Noble has promoted health education, including education on immunizations, through public speaking engagements and as a contributing author for Serendipity Magazine. In 2020, she was appointed as the medical advisor for the Greenwich Public School System, where she was an outspoken advocate for keeping children in school and activities throughout the pandemic. Beyond her local community, Dr. Noble also serves the broader Connecticut community. She is an appointed member on the Advisory Committee to Advise the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner, where she helps to guide the Commissioner on matters related to recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including vaccines, using evidence-based data from peer-reviewed literature. Her collaboration on this committee demonstrates her commitment to ensuring the best care in public health and immunization guidance is provided to the residents of Connecticut.

David Esquith serves as the director of policy, planning, and strategic initiatives within the Division of Health and Wellness at the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). He led the district’s work to ensure that pediatric immunization requirements are upheld across DC schools. David provided school leaders with a clear compliance process, comprehensive training, and ongoing monitoring to support adherence to district laws and regulations. His efforts included establishing recommended procedures for verifying immunization certification for all enrolled students as well as outlining protocols for the temporary exclusion of non-compliant students in pre-K, kindergarten, 7^th grade, and 11^th grade. David’s leadership and steadfast dedication to student well-being have played a pivotal role in strengthening the district’s school immunization program. Under his direction, schools received clearer processes, stronger support, and consistent accountability measures that helped foster a culture in which the importance of vaccination is understood, prioritized, and actively championed.

Eliaser Johnson, MD, is a public health physician advisor at Pohnpei Department of Health and Social Services who demonstrates innovative advocacy skills among peers. As a team lead, he creates an open environment of communication to promote cohesiveness with his peers and stakeholders. He is a great promoter of primary health care for children and strongly promotes immunization activities whenever possible. He is a true advocate for public health outreach services. His goal is to reach every child where they live and promote public health equity, ensuring essential health care for hard-to-reach populations. Dr. Johnson led Pohnpei State Public Health during the ongoing pertussis outbreak and continues to push immunization catch-up campaigns to increase coverage for vulnerable children and high-risk populations. He has been involved in several collaboration meetings and workshops beyond the health sector, such as education community engagements, church groups, women’s groups, non-governmental organizations, traditional leaders, village leaders, and other stakeholders, to distribute ownership of public health and foster champions in their own communities.

Paige Lightsey is the immunization and perinatal hepatitis B program coordinator at Coastal Health District. Paige’s commitment to her role is evident in her passion for immunizations. She recognizes and values public health’s critical function as the sole provider of vaccines in some underserved areas. In addition to creatively participating in school-based flu clinics and the HPV Challenge to increase vaccination rates, Paige’s advocacy for vaccine education through social media campaigns, media interviews, presentations to health care providers, boards of health, and civic organizations, along with direct outreach to parents and caregivers, has helped strengthen Georgia’s immunization program. Under her leadership, the school-based flu program in coastal Georgia is thriving while similar initiatives in other areas of the state are in decline. During the 2024-25 school year, 1,293 students in coastal Georgia received their flu vaccine at school, surpassing the other 12 public health districts that offer the same program.

Kelly Go, RPh, Molokai native, is the pharmacist-in-charge at Molokai Drugs, a rural pharmacy started by her late grandfather in 1935. She created and implemented the immunization program at Molokai Drugs from scratch. For many years, vaccinations were only performed at a hospital and a few private providers. These providers were mainly open from 9 am-4 pm Monday through Friday and closed on the weekends and holidays. With the start of her immunization program, patients were able to receive their vaccinations six days per week. Kelly has impacted accessibility of immunizations for the population on Molokai, which has the highest percentage of Native Hawaiians. She has traveled to homes to vaccinate homebound patients, vaccinated patients in their cars in the pharmacy parking lot, and started a workplace immunization program where she traveled to worksites to provide vaccinations to staff during their workday. When the Department of Health stopped giving flu shots in public schools, she helped train pharmacy staff to become nationally certified pharmacy technicians (CPhTs). As a result, her pharmacy has seven full-time and part-time employees who can vaccinate. As a way of rewarding patients for coming to Molokai Drugs for their vaccinations, Kelly created an innovative marketing campaign: “Come to Molokai Drugs for your shot, get a free scoop of Dave’s Hawaiian Ice Cream!”

As a medical assistant supervisor at Airline Children’s Clinic, Elizabeth Trevino has developed strong workflows to maximize the use of the immunization information system (IIS) and ensure patients are reviewed both before their appointment and after vaccine administration to maintain accurate and timely reporting. Elizabeth leads by example and mentors her staff by sharing knowledge gained through Vaccines for Children (VFC) trainings and ensuring her team stays informed on current immunization requirements and best practices. She takes pride in building a strong team culture where everyone succeeds together, not just individually. Her leadership has helped create a clinic environment focused on accountability, efficiency, and quality patient care. Her dedication to VFC compliance is evident through her consistent year-round preparedness. During the clinic’s most recent VFC compliance site visits, zero deficiencies were identified. She proactively addresses concerns before they become issues, maintains organized vaccine management practices, ensures timely reporting, keeps data loggers updated, and closely monitors vaccine inventory, including the use of soon-to-expire vaccines to minimize waste.

Lisa Robertson is the executive director of the Indiana Immunization Coalition. Under her direction, the coalition has expanded its reach, strengthened partnerships, and implemented innovative strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination rates in diverse communities. Lisa’s strategic vision has helped ensure that evidence-based information, high-quality services, and collaborative solutions remain at the forefront of Indiana’s statewide immunization efforts. Under her guidance, the coalition made a pivotal shift from primarily advocacy-driven work to becoming a direct service provider, ensuring that Hoosiers have practical, accessible opportunities to receive lifesaving vaccines. This strategic transition has allowed the organization to directly address barriers to care, expand vaccination access, and respond rapidly to emerging public health needs. Through Lisa’s direction, the coalition has grown into one of Indiana’s largest Vaccine for Children (VFC) providers, significantly increasing the availability of free vaccines for eligible children. This achievement reflects her dedication to equity, her ability to build impactful partnerships, and her commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of circumstance, can stay protected against preventable diseases.

As a clinical associate professor and clinical pharmacist at the University of Iowa, Laura Knockel, PharmD, integrates immunization advocacy into every dimension of her work. Her teaching, practice, service, and public engagement make her one of the institution’s most visible and influential immunization champions. Within pharmacy education, Dr. Knockel ensures all graduates are prepared for vaccination responsibilities by coordinating and teaching required laboratory courses that include hands-on immunization administration training, vaccine schedule interpretation, and timely vaccine updates. Her teaching not only equips students with technical skills but also builds communication confidence, ensuring future pharmacists can effectively counsel patients and address hesitancy. Since 2015, she has trained more than 1,200 student pharmacists, shaping the competency of nearly every graduate of the program. Dr. Knockel extends her impact by assessing pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, evaluating more than 400 learners since 2021, and helping expand high-quality immunization services throughout the workforce. She has served in key roles within the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) immunization community, contributed to policy and education teams, and delivered high-impact continuing education across professional organizations. She is regularly invited to speak at national and state meetings, sharing best practices and elevating clinical standards.

Nandhini Sehar, MD, pediatrician at Common Spirit Pediatrics, demonstrates leadership, innovation advocacy, and collaboration through her commitment to improving immunization access and health outcomes both within her practices and throughout western Kansas. She goes beyond providing immunizations in a clinical setting by identifying barriers to care and creating opportunities to connect underserved families with education, health care resources, and preventative services. Recognizing the challenges faced by immigrant and underserved population, Dr. Sehar partnered with the Finney County Health Department to develop and implement a community baby shower focused on serving families and strengthening connections to health care services, including immunizations. This innovative initiative created a welcoming environment where families could engage with providers, receive education on the importance of vaccinations, and build trust with local health care systems. The event successfully reached more than 60 families and impacted 186 individuals within the community.

Steve Davis, MD, medical director at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to improving immunization access and education across rural and central Kentucky. In addition to providing primary care, he has served as medical director for multiple health departments, helping lead community-wide vaccination efforts and public health initiatives. Dr. Davis organized and participated in community education efforts, delivered presentations, and gave interviews to address vaccine misinformation and increase public understanding of disease prevention. Recognizing that many patients face obstacles such as transportation limitations, financial hardship, or uncertainty about vaccines, Dr. Davis has worked tirelessly to ensure these barriers do not prevent individuals from receiving care. By serving both rural and central Kentucky communities, Dr. Davis has helped bridge gaps in health care access and education for underserved populations. His leadership within multiple health departments strengthened local immunization programs and supported public health efforts to reduce preventable illness. He has been an educator, mentor, collaborator, and resource for others in health care.

Sherri Cherman, PharmD, president and CEO of Elements Pharmacy, has systematically embedded her pharmacy within the public health infrastructure of Los Angeles County and the state of California. As California’s largest provider of mobile vaccination clinics in long-term care, Elements serves over 500 facilities statewide, directly reducing transmission risk in settings where vaccine-preventable illness carries the highest mortality burden. For children, Elements’ Vaccines for Children (VFC) participation with extended walk-in hours has measurably reduced access barriers for low-income families, eliminating the scheduling delays and missed school days that result in coverage gaps among Medi-Cal-eligible children. Dr. Cherman’s collaborations with over 250 community organizations, such as shelters, schools, and street medicine programs, have brought vaccines directly to populations with the lowest rates of engagement with traditional health care. Securing access to 317-funded hepatitis A vaccines positioned Elements Pharmacy as an active responder to an LA County outbreak, directing limited public health resources where epidemiological need was greatest. The aggregate result is over 150,000 vaccines administered annually, not through a single high-volume clinic setting, but distributed across long-term care facilities, community events, schools, shelters, and underserved neighborhoods throughout California.

Maura Lockwood is the field epidemiologist for Aroostook County. She was involved with identifying religious communities with vaccine hesitancy in Aroostook County and worked with a trusted provider, the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention respiratory disease clinical advisor, vaccine preventable disease subject matter expert epidemiologist, as well as health educators, to bring vaccine information, communication, and vaccine to these communities. Maura also worked with area providers to bring adult vaccine to the area by connecting providers who had not previously had a relationship with the Maine immunization program. She has made a tremendous impact on the immunization rate of Amish children and adults during the measles outbreak. During the pandemic, she assisted with vaccination communication, advocacy, and adherence. In the past two years, she has worked on vaccinating previously unvaccinated or vaccine hesitant groups on her region.

Machrina Leach consistently went far beyond the expectations of her formal roles to strengthen immunization practices across Arizona, most notably in her work with The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI). She designed and implemented TAPI’s Training on Immunization Practice Strategies (TIPS) program, an innovative, statewide training model. Machrina traveled extensively throughout Arizona to support clinics, provider offices, and community partners, delivering hands‑on guidance in vaccine management, storage, handling, and effective immunization workflow practices. Even after retiring, Machrina continues to provide support, mentorship, and historical knowledge to ensure the program remains strong. Her work created a foundation that continues to operate and evolve long after her formal retirement, reflecting a legacy built on service, expertise, and selfless advocacy. One of her most significant contributions was helping identify opportunities for Maricopa County to expand its role in supporting Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers. Her insight and leadership helped inform the foundation for Maricopa County’s application to become a new VFC jurisdiction, a milestone completed shortly before her retirement. She still works with the statewide immunization coalition, supporting coordination and statewide education efforts in ways that naturally strengthen the work of the new MCDPH jurisdiction. Her continued engagement provides valued continuity and reflects her ongoing commitment to improving immunization systems across the state.

Jill Sweet is a nurse at the Tri Town Health Department. Through her collaboration with the Southern Berkshire County school district, Jill identified a vaccine documentation issue. Students who had received vaccines at their provider office occasionally did not have those vaccines reflected in the school electronic health record. Jill worked with other stakeholders to secure the information needed and update school records. As Jill worked with vaccine stakeholders, she identified a second issue; long wait times for vaccine appointments in a rural area of Massachusetts. Through Jill’s leadership, Tri Town Health expanded vaccine access by becoming a Vaccine for Children (VFC) provider. Jill set up clinics with local schools to catch students up on vaccines. In addition, Tri Town Health created and promoted a community schedule where adults and children who could not get a timely vaccine appointment could get vaccinated. Through Jill’s leadership, Tri Town Health also expanded vaccine services to residents who are homebound. Due to her outstanding work in Southern Berkshire County, the Pittsfield Health Department sought support from Jill when they changed from a flu-only site to a specialty site that offers adult and childhood vaccines. Jill regularly meets with other Berkshire County Boards of Health to increase vaccine access in their community.

Farah Jalloul, PharmD, chief pharmacy officer at Michigan Pharmacists Association, became a trusted authority during the height of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in 2025. Pharmacists across Michigan faced rapidly evolving guidance regarding legal authority, operational requirements, reimbursement, documentation, and patient safety. Recognizing the urgent need for clarity, Farah organized and led a statewide town hall. This collaborative forum provided pharmacists with critical guidance on how to administer COVID-19 vaccines and ensured consistent implementation throughout the state safely and legally. Farah has continued to serve as an educator, mentor, and spokesperson for immunization initiatives by translating complex regulatory and clinical information into practical guidance pharmacists can use in real time. She routinely supports pharmacists through trainings, policy interpretation, advocacy efforts, and direct consultation, helping expand vaccine access in both urban and underserved communities. Her leadership has strengthened pharmacist confidence, improved immunization delivery infrastructure statewide, and reinforced the pharmacist’s role as a frontline immunization provider.

Mary Langworthy, health services coordinator for the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District, demonstrates exceptional leadership in immunization practices across one of Minnesota’s largest school districts, serving approximately 29,000 students. She led a renowned district-wide focus on immunization compliance, going far beyond routine expectations to create a comprehensive and standardized system across 35 school buildings. Mary spearheaded the development and implementation of a consistent process for tracking immunization status and enforcing compliance with Minesota school immunization laws. She revised the district’s administrative regulations to improve clarity and accessibility for both families and staff, ensuring expectations were clearly communicated and consistently applied. Her collaborative leadership was critical in organizing 14 on-site immunization clinics in partnership with local agencies, significantly reducing barriers to access for families. In addition, she developed and delivered ongoing staff training, equipping school nurses with tools, resources, and confidence to effectively support families through the immunization process.

Anita S. Henderson, MD, is a pediatrician at the Pediatric Clinic in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She has served as a spokesperson regarding vaccine legislation as well as legislation to extend postpartum coverage for Medicaid eligible mothers across the state. She has been a leading voice in defending public health and immunization coverage across Mississippi, primarily focused on defending routine childhood immunization laws, combating pandemic-related declines and misinformation, and advocating for vulnerable patient populations. She advocates regularly for the importance of communication between parents/guardians and pediatricians, especially for those who are vaccine hesitant. In her battle against vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, she emphasizes localized, trusted communication, strongly advocating for clinicians to engage directly with hesitant parents who may just be looking for more information. Dr. Henderson has highlighted structural gaps in Mississippi health care, pointing out that more than half of the state’s counties lack a pediatrician or OB-GYN, which make trusted medical conversation less accessible.

Ashley Coussens oversees the vaccination services for all of University Health, which includes two labor and delivery units. Ashley ensures all physicians, pharmacists, and nursing staff are educated in vaccine programming as well as promoting vaccination rates. Ashley has created a training over Vaccines for Children (VFC) program requirements that is presented during new hire orientation. Ashley has also created resources for staff to reference when determining eligibility to ensure the correct vaccine supply is being utilized. Ashley manages all ordering, stocking, and accountability of all vaccines for all University Health clinics and develops educational materials for University Health for staff and patients. During the 2025-26 RSV season, Ashley worked very closely with the labor and delivery physicians within University Health to ensure that 1,272 infants were vaccinated against the disease. Ashley also collaborated with clinics throughout the state of Missouri to utilize 103 soon-to-expire RSV doses, saving $42,719 from potentially being wasted. Ashley also assisted in transporting these doses to all her clinics to ensure that they were utilized before expiring.

David Wuest is the executive secretary of the Nevada Board of Pharmacy. He is an authority on immunization and pharmacist immunization policy development, as well as a spokesperson for the Board of Pharmacy. He is at the core of state immunization partnerships, uses innovative strategies to promote immunization, and addresses challenges to immunization in the state to ensure access. David develops key statewide policy to ensure vaccine access and works in policy across numerous levels of state government. In his role at the Board of Pharmacy, he was instrumental in providing clarity and ensuring access to vaccine during the last COVID-19 season when delays in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals caused confusion on pharmacist ability to administer these vaccines. During the entire COVID-19 response, David was a crucial partner in the statewide response and partnered with the Nevada state immunization program to ensure access to vaccines statewide.

As a population health project manager, Bryan L’Heureux has taken on a system-level role supporting immunization work. Recognizing barriers faced by uninsured adults, he championed applying for the Adult 317 Program, helping expand access to free vaccines for individuals who may otherwise have gone without protection. Brian leads Dartmouth Health’s vaccine planning meetings, bringing together hospitals, clinics, and partners across the health system to ensure teams receive consistent information and plan in a coordinated way. He was also instrumental in the successful HL7 interface between the New Hampshire immunization information system (NHIIS) and Dartmouth Health, improving vaccine documentation, reporting, and continuity of care. Recognizing the need for trusted vaccine guidance, he helped established and named the Vaccine Integrity Partners (VIP), a collaborative group that helps Dartmouth Health thoughtfully navigate an increasingly uncertain vaccine landscape. To improve access to reliable information, Bryan created and named a Vaccine Information and Resource Access Library (VIRAL), an intranet page that provides staff system wide access to vaccine resources in one central location, including resources for patient conversations about vaccines. Beyond the health system, Bryan actively expands vaccine access through partnerships with local senior centers, the Upper Valley Public Health Network, and the Geisel School of Medicine, helping bring more than 1,200 vaccines to rural populations.

Doug DeStefano, PharmD, corporate vice president of pharmacy operations for RWJ Barnabas Health, has demonstrated exceptional leadership in implementing the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program across the RWJ Barnabas Health system. His innovative strategies to integrate VFC into RWJ Barnabas birthing hospitals, along with his determination to address challenges posed by differences between health care system workflows and VFC requirements, are a testament to his dedication to promoting lifesaving vaccinations in New Jersey communities. Doug’s leadership has helped ensure that VFC-eligible newborns have access to RSV monoclonal antibodies, protecting them from serious illness. He continues to work closely with other New Jersey hospitals with hopes of increasing participation in the VFC program statewide. Doug successfully implemented one of the first birthing hospital/VFC partnerships in New Jersey, significantly increasing access to RSV products for VFC-eligible newborns across the state. His efforts led to the participation of eight RWJ Barnabas birthing hospitals in the VFC program. He has dedicated substantial time, expertise, and energy to streamlining workflows and ensuring that VFC vaccines reach the eligible populations within the health system.

Anna Rutins, senior program manager at Presbyterian Community Health, has partnered with the New Mexico immunization program to include the mobile vaccine team on providing influenza vaccine access to the community. During the past three years, over 100 mobile vaccine clinics have collaborated to assist underserved communities ranging from homeless shelters, transportation stations, faith-based centers, school, tribal health centers and pueblos, community-based organizations, food depots, consulates, community health fair events, farm workers sites, and more. Anna developed a pilot program where hair stylists were trained to communicate the importance of vaccine information and debunk myths. Multiple counties have been part of the vaccine confidence efforts coordinated by Anna that have increased acceptance of vaccinations among New Mexicans. Anna brought a different approach to trusted voices in the community by leveraging the trust and familiarity methods.

Steven Blatt, MD, a professor of pediatrics at Upstate Medical University and medical director of Upstate Pediatric and Adolescent Center (UPAC), has been an advocate for childhood immunization for more than 35 years. During the pandemic, he developed frequent webinars focused on COVID-19 and vaccines for pediatricians and other health care professionals. Building on this network and recognizing there was not sufficient infrastructure to administer COVID-19 vaccines to school-aged children, Dr. Blatt mobilized hospital leadership and two local pharmacies to provide COVID-19 vaccine clinics in 17 school districts in Onondaga County. Although UPAC serves underserved populations, including international refugees, immunization rates in the clinic exceed county and New York State averages. Dr. Blatt leads a group of more than 20 faculty in delivery of exceptional care to patients and educates more than 100 trainees annually in immunization delivery. Dr. Blatt is the physician Vaccines for Children (VFC) champion for UPAC, one of the largest VFC offices in New York State.

Saul Feldman, MD, is a pediatrician at Kensington Pediatrics in a neighborhood with a documented history of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, including measles. In his clinic, Dr. Feldman implemented a walk-in, skip-the-line policy which eliminated the most cited logistical obstacle to same-day immunization. He erected a dedicated outdoor vaccination tent on the curb outside his office, staffed by a physician with hours specifically scheduled before and after the school day to accommodate working parents and school-aged children. This innovative approach serves both families with scheduling constraints and those who fear exposure to illness by entering a medical office. His practice also conducts proactive outreach calls to under-immunized families identified through the Citywide Immunization Registry (CIR), including patients who have left the practice. As a result of these initiatives, vaccination rates in his practice have increased steadily. During the height of the previous measles outbreak in the community, his practice mobilized a dedicated caller to contact every unvaccinated patient identified through the CIR.

Renae Henderson, director of nursing at the Rolette County Public Health District, works tirelessly to bring vaccines directly to the people who need them most, recognizing that transportation, distance, and other barriers can prevent individuals from accessing important preventive care. Whether serving rural communities, underserved populations, or families facing difficult circumstances, she approaches every interaction with kindness, respect, and a genuine desire to improve health outcomes. One of Renae’s most recent and impactful initiatives was her participation in a community baby shower designed to support expecting and new parents. During this event, she helped provide vaccines, reliable health-related education, and essential baby supplies to families in need. Her involvement helped create a welcoming environment where families could access critical preventive services and trusted information while also receiving practical support. Renae understands that education and accessibility are key components of successful immunization efforts, and she takes the time to provide accurate, evidence-based information in a way that is approachable and supportive.

Darla Fickle, outreach relations manager at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, worked on a National Cancer Institute (NCI) opportunity entitled Partnerships to Improve HPV Vaccination in Ohio. This project included an environmental scan and surveys of parents, which demonstrated the need for a collaborative effort to address HPV vaccination uptake among parents, community members, and health care providers. As part of the Ohio Partners for Cancer Control (OPCC), Darla agreed to chair an HPV vaccination workgroup to address the priority in the Ohio Cancer Control Plan to increase HPV vaccination in Ohio. In 2021, Darla agreed to chair OPCC’s Vaccine For Cancer Prevention/HPV-Associated Cancers Workgroup. This workgroup collaborates to increase HPV vaccination among adolescents and young adults and addresses the disparity of HPV-associated cancers incidence rate in Appalachian Ohio. The OPCC’s Vaccine For Cancer Prevention-HPV Associated Cancers Workgroup collaborates to increase HPV vaccination among adolescents and young adults. The workgroup drafted and distributed an HPV vaccine provider letter that was shared with over 15,000 health care providers and dental professionals throughout Ohio about the importance of HPV vaccination, along with educational resources.

Valerie Ritter, DO, is a pediatrician at Ritter Pediatrics. Her clinic participates in the Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers (IQIP) program with the Oklahoma State Department, and they have been leveraging Oklahoma’s immunization information systems (IIS) to identify children and teens who need immunizations and clean up the IIS data regularly. She and her clinic work together to ensure that patients get immunized before leaving the clinic. Dr. Ritter and her team provide a strong presumptive vaccine recommendation for all vaccines at every appointment visit. She begins the HPV vaccine discussion, administers beginning at nine years old, and focuses on all teen vaccines. When she encounters vaccine-hesitant parents, she spends time answering questions and sharing the importance of vaccinating. Dr. Ritter and her staff have maintained a 100% coverage rate for the up-to-date combined childhood 7 series completed by 24 months of age. They have also increased the coverage rate for up-to-date HPV vaccine by 13 years of age to 85% along with maintaining 100% coverage for Tdap and MCV4 vaccines.

Sharon Wardlaw is the director of clinical operations at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Community Pediatrics (CCP). Under her leadership, CCP consistently prioritizes quality improvement strategies for immunizations. She constantly reviews the immunization data to identify target areas for improvement. Once target areas are identified, she and her team develop and implement strategic and thorough plans that can be implemented at the office and/or organization level. Sharon promotes a strong immunization culture within her offices and values being a trusted source of vaccine information for her patients. Sharon collaborates with the Bureau of Immunization to conduct an organization-wide Immunization Quality Improvement Plan (IQIP) that includes her 56 offices. Some examples of their strategies include: evening/weekend hours, dedicated flu clinics, parent/child flu shots, self-scheduling portal for flu shots, office vaccination policies, frequent social media postings about immunizations, dedicated care coordination group that provides vaccine-specific reports to individual offices, infant RSV recall list listing infants born April-September and sent to offices, calling parents to schedule RSV immunization, reviewing and offering due immunizations at every appointment type (including sick visits), extensive vaccine-related education during new hire/onboarding process, dedicated improvement specialists that routinely visit offices to observe workflow and assess the implementation of presumptive language techniques, offering HPV starting at age 9, and routine Meningitis B education for older teens.

Sharifah Garvin, clinical nurse at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving immunization rates and protecting vulnerable youth living with HIV throughout her 20 years at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every patient receives recommended vaccines and preventive care. Sharifah personally reviews patient charts to identify missed or overdue immunizations, helping to close gaps in care for a population at increased risk for vaccine-preventable illness. She plays a critical role in making sure that all youth living with HIV, as well as youth at risk for HIV receiving prevention services, are appropriately vaccinated and revaccinated against Hepatitis B when indicated. Sharifah oversees vaccine ordering and management for the clinic, ensuring vaccines are consistently available and accessible to patients and staff. She leads annual staff influenza vaccination efforts and plays a critical role in promoting a culture of prevention and safety within the clinic. She trains all medical assistants in proper vaccine administration, storage, and documentation, ensuring high standards of care and adherence to best practices.

Edna M. Lopez Sanfeliz, PharmD, pharmacist at Farmacia Yarimar, actively participated in special vaccination clinics across various strategic community locations, bringing vaccines to populations facing access barriers and ensuring no one was left unprotected. Under her leadership and proactive approach, she facilitates vaccine access for pediatric and adolescent populations through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Vaccines for Adults (VFA) programs, as well as for adults and private patients. She utilizes her social media platforms as highly impactful educational tools to dismantle myths and mobilize citizens toward vaccination. As president of the Association of Community Pharmacies of Puerto Rico, she has institutionalized a proactive service model, significantly elevating the standard of preventative care through immunization. Dr. Lopez has given interviews to major media outlets where she has educated thousands of people on the vital importance of keeping their vaccination schedules up to date to prevent diseases.

Courtney Paquin is a family and community engagement specialist for the Head Start Program in Woonsocket, RI. She actively collaborates with the Department of Health and other community partners to strengthen immunization education and ensure families receive consistent and accurate information. Courtney’s work enhances immunization compliance among vulnerable children by strengthening family education, trust, and follow-up. She collaborates with the Department of Health and families to reduce barriers to care and support timely vaccination. Her consistent outreach increases awareness of the importance of immunizations, improves communication between families and health care providers, and promotes completion of recommended immunization schedules. She consistently reinforces the importance of immunizations during family interactions and encourages caregivers to prioritize preventive health care for their children. Through her routine engagement with families, she promotes a clear understanding of the role immunizations play in protecting both individual children and the broader community.

Maritere Nazario, MD, pediatrician at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Children’s Health Northwoods, has taken the lead for vaccines in her clinic, overseeing the Vaccines for Children (VFC) license, vaccine ordering, troubleshooting vaccine-related issues, communicating clinic needs to leadership, and serving as the liaison between VFC and the clinic. As co-director of the student-run Community Aid, Relief, Education, and Support (CARES) clinic, she oversees pediatric nights, which are largely focused on vaccinating children who may otherwise have barriers to care. Dr. Nazario also leads the HPV mobile van unit, improving vaccine access in the community, and coordinates vaccine clinics with local schools every few months. Her scholarly work to improve vaccination rates by delivering vaccines to children under sedation during other procedures is a creative and patient-centered approach to overcoming immunization barriers. Dr. Nazario is also a strong advocate for Hispanic/Latino families, making her an exceptional immunization champion for her community. Dr. Nazario has been an amazing force in increasing access to immunization for the most at-risk children. In MUSC Northwoods, a large clinic serving >90% Medicaid and >70% first-generation American patients, she has improved the clinic’s system for vaccination.

Ashley Sands, MD, is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Sanford Children Specialty Hospital. She is a trusted authority in immunization practice, but her impact extends far beyond clinical care into statewide systems, policy, and public engagement. Recognizing a gap in provider representation in vaccine advocacy, Dr. Sands took initiative to strengthen the medical voice in policy discussions. Through her leadership with Immunize South Dakota and South Dakota Families for Vaccines, she significantly expanded provider participation in Vaccine Advocacy Day at the Capitol. In the past year alone, she recruited and mobilized more than 20 physicians, residents, and medical students—ensuring legislators heard directly from credible, local medical experts. She regularly serves as a media spokesperson, engages legislators with clear, evidence-based guidance, and presents to health care professionals through organizations such as the South Dakota State Medical Association. Within Sanford Health, Dr. Sands co-leads the Enterprise Immunization Committee, guiding vaccine strategy across a large, predominantly rural, health system and ensuring equitable access to evidence-based immunization practices. Through her leadership in Vaccine Advocacy Day and ongoing government relations efforts, she has helped build a more robust network of clinician advocates across the state.

Gail Jarnigan, clinical risk manager at River Valley Health, leads her nursing team through daily communication, guidance, and support. More than 150 clinical support staff have direct access to her cell number for a quick consultation when needed. She regularly provides vaccine updates to the medical leadership team and serves on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee where vaccines remain a standing agenda item. Gail serves on her local county health council, where she speaks about her role, represents the organization, and promotes vaccine advocacy. Gail has created numerous resources to support our clinical staff in making informed decisions. She has created workflows to reduce vaccine-related errors and improve consistency in care. Through her leadership and support, Gail has strengthened the nursing staff’s confidence in all aspects of vaccination practice. Gail is the face of River Valley Health’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, demonstrating her deep commitment to protecting children from preventable diseases. Her passion for immunization is evident in her dedication to ensuring every patient receives appropriate coverage against vaccine-preventable illnesses. In addition, she has collaborated with the University of Tennessee’s pediatric department to develop a clinical decision-making tool.

Ronette Nesbitt is a certified clinical medical assistant at Frederiksted Healthcare, Inc. She takes the time to personally educate families about the importance of vaccines, answers questions, and addresses concerns in a caring and respectful manner. Her ability to build trust helps families make informed decisions about their children’s health. As a leader, she encourages her colleagues to prioritize immunization. Ronette stays up to date on recommended vaccines and works to remove barriers that may prevent families from receiving care. Whether through outreach, follow-up calls, or patient education, her education and advocacy help improve immunization rates and strengthen confidence in vaccines. Ronette consistently works to ensure that patients receive their recommended vaccines on time and understand the importance of staying up to date with their shots. She takes time to educate parents and address concerns, helping families feel informed and confident about health care decisions.

Caitlyn Jasumback, immunization advocacy coordinator at Utah Public Health Association (UPHA), has consistently exceeded professional expectations by transforming reactive advocacy into a proactive, statewide strategic movement. During a critical leadership transition, she assumed the role of interim director for the Utah Public Health Association without hesitation, ensuring organizational continuity while simultaneously managing a rigorous legislative session as the immunization advocacy coordinator. In 2024, she recognized a critical gap in organized advocacy and re-established the UPHA Immunization Advocacy Coalition. By 2026, she had shaped this diverse group, ranging from health care providers to community advocates, into a cohesive, evidence-based voice for immunizations. Throughout the 2026 legislative session, she served as an authority for vaccine policy in Utah, mentoring fellow health professionals on effective communication strategies for high-stakes legislation. She designed and implemented the strategies used to communicate with policy makers and facilitated one-on-one meetings with legislators to deliver data supported arguments. Her ability to shape public opinion is further evidenced by her contribution of six op-eds in a single year, including solicited expert commentary for the Salt Lake Tribune.

Tracy Tyson, MD, pediatrician at Monarch Maples Pediatrics, currently serves as president of the Vermont Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, where she has provided strong, effective leadership in advancing evidence-based immunization practices across the state. She has guided pediatric providers and public health partners in promoting vaccine confidence and ensuring that accurate, science-based information reaches those who need it most. Her leadership is marked by integrity, clarity, and a deep commitment to child health. Dr. Tyson worked collaboratively with health care professionals, public health officials, educators, and community organizations to strengthen immunization efforts statewide. Through her participation in community town halls and public forums, she created spaces for open dialogue, helping to build trust and shared understanding. Her collaborative approach brought together diverse stakeholders to support a common goal: improving vaccine uptake and protecting public health.

Louisa Johnson goes above and beyond to meet the needs of students in Williamsburg-James City. She reached out to the School-Based Health Alliance of Virginia (SBHAVA) to secure partners for providing vaccinations to rising 7th-grade students. Through this partnership, Louisa has developed relationships with Sentara, SBHAVA, local health departments, and community partners to plan for accessibility to vaccinations for all students at a community event. Through her efforts, students will have access to Tdap, meningococcal, and HPV vaccinations.

As the director of quality and patient engagement at Neighborcare Health, Alyssa Caucci has demonstrated outstanding leadership, collaboration, and innovation in advancing childhood immunization efforts and vaccine equity throughout the community. She leads Neighborcare’s Vaccine Steering Committee, a multidisciplinary and cross-functional group that brings together executive leaders, providers, nurses, medical assistants, and operational staff to strengthen immunization practices across the organization. She is highly skilled at bridging gaps between leadership and frontline teams, fostering collaboration and shared accountability to improve vaccination rates and equitable access to care. Using a data driven approach, Alyssa consistently analyzes immunization data to identify populations with lower vaccination rates and disparities in care. She continually asks how strategies can be tailored to meet the unique needs of low income, immigrant, and historically underserved families. She has implemented innovative strategies to improve patient engagement and vaccine confidence. She developed vaccine reminder fridge magnets for families and created a declination tracking project within the electronic health record to better understand why patients decline vaccines, identify opportunities for education and follow up.

Sheray Wallace is the founder and director of Meadowood Health Partnership. Under her leadership, Meadowood Health Partnership hosts community suppers and educational table talks where they offer group support on the importance of immunizations and wellness promotion. If there are patients who cannot afford the vaccinations, she plans for Fitchburg Pharmacy to administer the vaccines with no cost to the patient. The health, wellness, and prevention educational programs offer learning opportunities to empower individuals to make informed health decisions and improve their quality of life. She and her team provide personalized support services from violence prevention, health education to housing assistance, and access to health care. Every program and service they offer is driven by their commitment to uplifting the community. She works with other local partners such as the Meadowridge Library, Today Not Tomorrow, Inc-Project Babies, Meadowood Neighborhood Center, Neighborhood Connectors, physicians, and other health care workers to find the right resources to help the community.

Darcey Cowardin, nurse at Converse County Public Health, was instrumental in initiating vaccinations during COVID-19 by working to ensure that anyone was eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. She planned, prepared, and executed drive-through clinics in innovative locations, including horse barns and a maintenance shop. Darcey provides education and guidance to the country commissioners regarding the importance of vaccines and the need for diligence to offer vaccines to all ages. She has worked with the local hospital staff as a liaison between their staff and public health to coordinate vaccines in her community. Darcey agreed to have the public health staff provide all the vaccines for all the infants and children from 0-18 years old when the local medical provider was no longer able to provide vaccines to this age group. She has coordinated the public health staff’s schedule and ordered an increased amount of inventory to ensure that this age group will receive the vaccines that they need. She plans vaccine clinics in nursing homes and schools to ensure access to underserved communities.