Vermont Public Health Association

06/05/2026

Today is the last day of Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth MPH candidate Hannah Ross's spring internship with VtPHA.

Hannah, also a University of Vermont Public Health alum, has been working with the Vermont Public Health Association to explore how affordability and the cost of living impact health equity across Vermont. As her project evolved, Hannah focused on the social isolation of older Vermonters and developing concrete program proposals for how VtPHA can engage more meaningfully on this important issue.

Read more about Hannah’s work and passion for advancing health equity at the link below, and thank you Hannah!
https://vtpha.org/intern-spotlight-hannah-ross-dartmouth-mph-26/

06/03/2026

As the school year wraps up with graduation celebrations, farewells, and bold steps towards a first job or additional studies, VtPHA would like to take a moment to recognize and thank the 17 students who shared research posters at our 2026 Annual Meeting.

Held at University of Vermont Health’s Red Clover Room in South Burlington, this student poster session was our largest - and an absolute highlight of the evening. With students from Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, the University of Vermont, Saint Michael's College, and Vermont high school students representing Project All Together Now, our student presenters had the opportunity to share their work with over 100 public health professionals and community champions.

This sharing and dialogue creates a critical bridge between Vermont’s academic and professional public health ecosystems, connecting new research and analysis to the professionals leading our state’s public health institutions. It also creates invaluable networking opportunities for soon-to-be young public health professionals learning how to navigate the transition from school to the public health workforce.

Please join me in recognizing the hard work and tremendous contributions of our student research poster presenters.

Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
• Claire Alford - Implementation of a medication algorithm for agitated delirium at the end of life in rural New Hampshire
• Trisha Badjatia - Community Resilience on Clinical Outcomes: An Ecological Analysis Using FEMA’s Community Resilience Challenges Index (CRCI)
• Snehal Gupta - Pathways to Smiles: Building an Oral Health Workforce Pipeline in New Hampshire
• Abbygale Karlen - Does Dwell Time Increase Lead Concentrations in Drinking Water? Insights from Vermont’s Lead in Schools and Child Cares Drinking Water Program
• Shahed Khudaier - A Scoping Review of Dental Care and Cancer Treatment: Reforming Medicare Parts A and B to Address Dental Coverage Gaps
• Praburaman Mohan and Sahil Shuaib - Effectiveness of Non-Pharmacological Interventions on Pain Intensity in People with Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• Colleen Sherry – Underpowered: Policy Recommendations for Post-COVID Executive Emergency Governance

Saint Michael's College
• Damascene Niyongere – Social Capital Stories in Political Speech: Assessing Effects of Vermont COVID-19 Policies on incarcerated people
• Isabella Pierie - The Anti-Vaccine Ecosystem: A Political, Social, and Digital Landscape Analysis

University of Vermont
• Nora Bartlett and Emily Stetson - Combatting Childhood Hunger: Preserving Vermont’s Universal School Meals Act
• Ainsley McKay - Mapping Home: How Place Shapes Well-being in Housing First
• Olivia Seiler - Federal food assistance programs and health outcomes among older adults in the United States: a systematic review

Project All Together Now
• Ella Lavoie, Jada Dostal and Abrum Alexander – Youth Mental Health and Substance Use

06/01/2026

It’s Monday, and VtPHA can’t think of a better way to start the week than by celebrating one of Vermont’s very own public health leaders.🎉 In fact, we like this idea so much that we’re going to do it every Monday in June😊.

At our 2026 Annual Meeting, VtPHA named Ian Speers, MPH, CPH, MedLog, CEO of Pacto Medical, as our 2026 Public Health Champion (Individual Category). The Public Health Champion Award recognizes individuals who use innovative, collaborative, and equity-driven approaches to protect and improve community health.

Ian earns this spotlight for his incredible work bridging global health infrastructure with local community advocacy. From advancing sustainable medical supplies to supporting local initiatives like the Vermont Department of Health's Medical Reserve Corps, All Brains Belong VT, Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community, and the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), his dedication to building resilient health systems is inspiring.

If you don’t want to until next Monday to learn more about our 2026 Awardees, check out this blog (https://vtpha.org/2026-public-health-awardees/) for the full list, and congratulations to Ian and all of the 2026 honorees for their tireless work keeping our communities safe, healthy, and supported! 👏

05/08/2026

A little Vermont-styled music education and activism from our friends at Waves of Adrenaline.

Thank you, Bridget, for being a VtPHA member. Music and art are such an important part of connection, community, and activism.

And plus.... sock puppets! Need I say more?

Have a great weekend everyone.

Waves of Adrenaline is an acoustic trio from Vermont. The Waves heard this parody song by the Marsh Family -- and it touched a chord with us since Bridget sp...

04/28/2026

The Vermont Public Health Association has announced its 2026 Lifetime Achievement and Public Health Champion award winners. They are:

• Dr. Harry Chen: Lifetime Achievement Award
• Ian Speers, MPH, CPH, MedLog: Public Health Champion - Individual
• Vermont Medical Reserve Corps (a program of the Vermont Department of Health): Public Health Champion - Group

Please join us to celebrate these awardees at VtPHA's Annual Meeting. In addition to our presentation of awards, the evening will feature a moderated panel titled "Meeting The Moment: Reimagining Regional and Local Networks for Public Health Resilience."

Attendees will also get an update on the health and priorities of the Association and visit with community partners and public health students sharing research posters.

🕤May 6, 2026 - 4:15-7:00pm

📍South Burlington, VT

➕Click the link below for complete event details.

We hope to see you there.

Join us at VtPHA’s 2026 Annual Meeting! Date: May 6, 2026Time: 4:15pm – 7:00pmLocation: UVM Health’s Red Clover Room, 40 IDX Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403Food: Catering by City MarketPrice: Members – $30; Students – $20; Non-Members – $45Membership: Not a VtPHA member? Join before yo...

03/27/2026

The 2026 Vermont legislative session is advancing key public health proposals, including measures to regulate toxic heavy metals in baby food (H.536), mandate mental health literacy in schools (H.817), and restrict the herbicide paraquat (H.739).

This legislative update is authored by Olivia Teare, a UVM Legislative Intern, highlighting the Vermont Public Health Association's commitment to tracking policy and fostering future public health leaders through its partnership with the University of Vermont.

For more details, visit the Vermont Public Health Association's legislative update here:

[Intern dispatch by Liv Teare, UVM Legislative Intern ’26] The 2026 session in Montpelier is seeing a range of public health-related proposals advance through committees or garner attention as they move through the House and Senate. While legislators are balancing priorities such as education and ...

03/11/2026

⏳ Tomorrow: Finding Awe and Connection in Public Health Nursing

Calling all Vermont Public Health Nurses! Our monthly virtual meetup is happening tomorrow at 6:00 PM.

In the fast-paced world of public health, how do we sustain our passion? Tomorrow evening, Katherine Daniels from UVM Health - UVM Medical Center will lead a special session on “spiritual wonder.” We’ll discuss the kindness and courage that fuels our work and how to find sustainment in the small moments of awe.

Come for the professional updates, stay for the inspiration.

📅 When: Tomorrow, March 12th
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Where: Virtual

Don’t miss this chance to gather with your peers. Register today!
https://vtpha.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F36100

03/10/2026

🏆 Help us recognize Vermont’s Public Health Champions!

Public health thrives in every space where Vermonters gather—from our local school halls to the heart of our community organizations.

The Vermont Public Health Association is seeking your nominations for our annual Public Health Champion Award. We want to honor the individuals and collaborative groups whose innovative and inclusive work ensures a healthier future for all Vermonters.

Do you know a team or a leader making a tangible difference in the Green Mountain State? Now is the time to share their story and ensure their hard work is recognized

Submit your nomination for an Individual or Group today!

https://vtpha.org/call-for-nominations-vtphas-public-health-champion-awards/

Save the Date: Awardees will be celebrated at our Annual Meeting on May 6th.

Deadline: Submissions are accepted through April 3rd.

The Vermont Public Health Association (VtPHA) is excited to open our call for nominations for our annual Public Health Champion Award. Our Public Health Champion Award recognizes individuals and groups who have made extraordinary contributions to public health within the state. This award was create...

03/09/2026

⏳ Tomorrow: Get the latest update on Flu Season 2026

Flu activity continues to impact our communities, and staying informed is our best defense. Join VtPHA tomorrow at noon for a timely deep dive into the current influenza season.

We are excited to host Andrew Rennekamp, PhD, Senior Medical Science Liaison for Vaccines at CSL, who will walk us through:

📈 Regional Trends: Current U.S. and region-specific epidemiologic data.
🔬 Strain Updates: The impact of H3N2 antigenic drift and strain mismatch.
🛡️ Vaccine Insights: Observations on how advanced influenza vaccine technologies are working to mitigate these challenges.

Whether you're a clinician, a student, or a public health advocate, this session offers essential takeaways for the remainder of the season and future planning.

Don’t miss out—secure your spot for this free virtual event!

https://vtpha.org/march-lunch-learn-influenza-in-2025-2026-season-update-and-implications-for-public-health/

Event Details:

📅 Date: Tomorrow, March 10, 2026
🕛 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Virtual

VtPHA is excited to host CSL Seqirus’ Senior Medical Science Liaison for Vaccines – Andrew Rennekamp – as the speaker for our March Lunch-and-Learn. Dr. Rennekamp will be providing a timely update on the current influenza season, including U.S. and regional epidemiologic trends and what we hav...

03/05/2026

🩺 Reconnect and Recharge: March Public Health Nursing Meetup

Public health nursing is as much about the heart as it is about the science.

In honor of Florence Nightingale’s birthday (May 12th), the Vermont Public Health Association PHN Section meets on the 12th of every month to advance our profession and support one another.

This March, we are honored to welcome Katherine Daniels, Pediatric Chaplain at the UVM Health - UVM Medical Center. Katherine will guide us through a discussion on “spiritual wonder”—exploring how finding awe in kindness and courage can sustain us both as professionals and as humans.

Join your colleagues to share updates, learn something new, and find a moment of reflection in your busy schedule.

Register now to join the conversation on March 12th!
https://vtpha.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F36100