AIM, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hosts a Learning Collaborative to increase the capacity of jurisdictions to equitably protect infants from serious illness and death due to RSV infection. Through understanding the challenges to birthing hospital participation in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and sharing promising practices, the collaborative hopes to increase birthing hospital participation in the VFC program and help to ensure that every newborn has the opportunity to be protected from RSV disease. Speakers at the fifth session of the Birthing Hospitals and VFC: A Learning Collaborative to Protect Infants from RSV on March 12 included:
- Kerry Olmsted, MPH, is a CDC health scientist in the Immunization Services Division of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease (NCIRD). She serves as the scientific coordinator for the Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers program (IQIP) and the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program. Ms. Olmsted previously worked on the immunization delivery science team at CDC’s Global Health Center. Prior to joining CDC, Ms. Olmsted worked in state and local public health for nine years, as the community health director and deputy health officer for the Flathead City-County Health Department in Montana. She also worked for the state of Wyoming as an epidemiologist and for the University of Illinois as a project coordinator. Ms. Olmsted holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago.
- Doug DeStefano, PharmD, is a distinguished health care executive with extensive experience in pharmacy operations and system integration. As corporate vice president of pharmacy operations at RWJBarnabas Health, he oversees innovative strategies across 25 pharmacy divisions, managing a $650 million annual drug spend. Dr. DeStefano’s leadership has driven cost-saving initiatives while enhancing patient safety and access to care. His expertise in regulatory compliance, operational efficiencies, medication safety, and strategic planning positions him as a leader in advancing pharmacy enterprise excellence.