morning keynote
COVID-19 Vaccine Myths | And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'
Paul A. Offit, MD, Director of The Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Dr. Offit is the Director of The Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology and Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. As an expert in the fields of virology and immunology, Dr. Offit co-invented RotaTeq®, a rotavirus vaccine recommended by the CDC and the WHO for universal use in infants. He’s currently a member of the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) and a former member of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
afternoon guest speakers
Heather Simpson & Lydia Greene, LPN
Heather Simpson, Co-Owner, Back to the Vax (left in pic)
Heather Simpson is the co-founder of Back to the Vax, a group where former anti-vaxxers can find a safe space to ask questions and get support. Simpson advocates for vaccination, speaking at seminars and blogging on the subject as much as possible. She is passionate about speaking with medical professionals on how to approach anti-vax patients in a way that can build trust and hopefully persuade them to vaccinate. She has a 6-year-old daughter who also recognizes the importance of vaccines!
Lydia Greene, LPN, Consultant, Back to the Vax (right in pic)
Lydia is a married mother of 3, who lives in the Alberta Rockies. She was an antivaxxer for over a decade and recently finished nursing school to fight vaccine hesitancy on the front lines. She co-founded Back to the Vax to help support parents who wish to start vaccinating their children after being antivax or vaccine hesitant. She shares her story with healthcare workers to help them understand how a parent becomes antivax and gives hope that people can change.
presenters
Amy L’Abbe, NHIIS Education and Training Coordinator, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
John Beland, PHEP Coordinator, Winnipesaukee Public Health Network, Partnership for Public Health
John Beland, PHEP Coordinator, Winnipesaukee Public Health Network, Partnership for Public Health
Amy is the NHIIS Trainer and Education Coordinator for the New Hampshire Immunization Program. She has an extensive background in the clinical setting, having collaborated with staff in hospitals, clinics, laboratories and outpatient care for over 15 years. Prior to working for the State of New Hampshire, she was a credentialed trainer
Amy is the NHIIS Trainer and Education Coordinator for the New Hampshire Immunization Program. She has an extensive background in the clinical setting, having collaborated with staff in hospitals, clinics, laboratories and outpatient care for over 15 years. Prior to working for the State of New Hampshire, she was a credentialed trainer for Epic, specializing in the Beaker application for Beth Israel Lahey Health’s EHR system. Amy is proud to have been a paramedic preceptor for over 10 years and continues to bring her passion and enthusiasm for healthcare training to the State.
John Beland, PHEP Coordinator, Winnipesaukee Public Health Network, Partnership for Public Health
John Beland, PHEP Coordinator, Winnipesaukee Public Health Network, Partnership for Public Health
John Beland, PHEP Coordinator, Winnipesaukee Public Health Network, Partnership for Public Health
John is responsible for all areas of emergency preparedness and training and works closely with area town officials, health officers, emergency management directors, fire/rescue workers, police, and schools to limit illness and death, preserve continuity of government/business, minimize social disruption, and minimize economic loss. As
John is responsible for all areas of emergency preparedness and training and works closely with area town officials, health officers, emergency management directors, fire/rescue workers, police, and schools to limit illness and death, preserve continuity of government/business, minimize social disruption, and minimize economic loss. As PHEP Coordinator, he received the Lakes Region Community Services “Outstanding Community Partner Award” and Central NH VNA (now Granite VNA) “Alida Millham Leadership Award.” John served with the Gilford Fire-Rescue Department for 30 years, retiring as Chief of the Department in 2011, and is currently a Senior Staff Instructor at the NH Fire Academy.
Benjamin Chan, MD, MPH, NH State Epidemiologist, NH DHHS
John Beland, PHEP Coordinator, Winnipesaukee Public Health Network, Partnership for Public Health
Ashley Desrochers, Adult and Emergency Response Vaccine Coordinator, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
Dr. Chan is an infectious disease physician and has served as the State Epidemiologist for the NH Department of Health and Human Services since 2014. Dr. Chan received his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and his Master of Public Health degree from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Pr
Dr. Chan is an infectious disease physician and has served as the State Epidemiologist for the NH Department of Health and Human Services since 2014. Dr. Chan received his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and his Master of Public Health degree from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. He is board certified in the fields of Infectious Disease and Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
Ashley Desrochers, Adult and Emergency Response Vaccine Coordinator, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
Ashley Desrochers, Adult and Emergency Response Vaccine Coordinator, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
Ashley Desrochers, Adult and Emergency Response Vaccine Coordinator, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
Ash joined the NH Immunization Program in 2023 as the Adult and Emergency Response Vaccine Coordinator. Prior to working for NHIP, she held leadership roles on the Pandemic Incident Management Team for Strafford County’s Public Health Network. Ash organized community-based vaccination clinics and other public health programs. She has a B
Ash joined the NH Immunization Program in 2023 as the Adult and Emergency Response Vaccine Coordinator. Prior to working for NHIP, she held leadership roles on the Pandemic Incident Management Team for Strafford County’s Public Health Network. Ash organized community-based vaccination clinics and other public health programs. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire.
Lori Nash, MPA, Director of Compliance, Privacy & Security, Granite VNA
Ashley Desrochers, Adult and Emergency Response Vaccine Coordinator, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
Rachel Welsch, MPA, Vaccine Quality Specialist, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
Lori Nash has 20 years of experience working in Homecare and Hospice. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Business Administration degree with a focus on Emergency Management. She has 26 years of information technology experience, most of which has been in healthcare and has held director roles in Operati
Lori Nash has 20 years of experience working in Homecare and Hospice. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Business Administration degree with a focus on Emergency Management. She has 26 years of information technology experience, most of which has been in healthcare and has held director roles in Operations, Compliance, Privacy, Security, and Emergency Management. In her role as Emergency Manager under Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice, she received the “Home Care & Hospice Service Award” for her part in a COVID-19 Vaccine Pilot program for homebound patients.
Rachel Welsch, MPA, Vaccine Quality Specialist, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
Ashley Desrochers, Adult and Emergency Response Vaccine Coordinator, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
Rachel Welsch, MPA, Vaccine Quality Specialist, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
Rachel joined the NH Immunization Program in 2020 as the Vaccine Accountability Specialist, but recently took on the role of Vaccine Quality Specialist on the Quality Assurance team. She is excited to continue her work with proper vaccine management in a different capacity in her new position. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Arts degree i
Rachel joined the NH Immunization Program in 2020 as the Vaccine Accountability Specialist, but recently took on the role of Vaccine Quality Specialist on the Quality Assurance team. She is excited to continue her work with proper vaccine management in a different capacity in her new position. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work and Counseling from Franklin Pierce University and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of New Hampshire.
JoEllen Wolicki, BSN, RN, Nurse Educator, Centers for Disease Control
JoEllen Wolicki, BSN, RN, Nurse Educator, Centers for Disease Control
JoEllen Wolicki, BSN, RN, Nurse Educator, Centers for Disease Control
JoEllen travels throughout the U.S. to educate healthcare providers on immunization. Before joining CDC in 2010, she served for 14 years as a Nurse Consultant with the Michigan Department of Community Health Division of Immunization. JoEllen serves as a committee member of several work groups for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Pra
JoEllen travels throughout the U.S. to educate healthcare providers on immunization. Before joining CDC in 2010, she served for 14 years as a Nurse Consultant with the Michigan Department of Community Health Division of Immunization. JoEllen serves as a committee member of several work groups for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), contributes to the Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook (the Pink Book), and works on many immunization training and educational materials and programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Detroit/Mercy.
Jayden Stack, NH DHHS, NH Immunization Program
JoEllen Wolicki, BSN, RN, Nurse Educator, Centers for Disease Control
JoEllen Wolicki, BSN, RN, Nurse Educator, Centers for Disease Control
Jayden Stack is a recent graduate from the University of Rhode Island, holding a Bachelor of Science in
Health Studies with a focus on Health Promotion, complemented by a minor in Business. She is a 2023
CDC Public Health Associate assigned to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services,
working as a Data Analyst for the New Ha
Jayden Stack is a recent graduate from the University of Rhode Island, holding a Bachelor of Science in
Health Studies with a focus on Health Promotion, complemented by a minor in Business. She is a 2023
CDC Public Health Associate assigned to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services,
working as a Data Analyst for the New Hampshire Immunization Information System (NHIIS). Jayden is
adept in various healthcare settings, having served as an EMT in clinical environments and as a protocol
scheduler at Dana-Farber. She is excited to improve community health outcomes through public health
initiatives while working for the State of New Hampshire.