Vermont Public Health Association

06/12/2026

At the Vermont Public Health Association annual meeting, Public Health Association Executive Director Rebecca Boulos, MPH, PhD, delivered an urgent message to public health leaders: cross-state regional advocacy is no longer optional—it is vital for survival.

Speaking on the panel “Meeting the Moment: Strengthening Regional and Local Networks for Public Health Resilience,” Boulos detailed how the newly launched Healthy States Collaborative is changing the game. The initiative unifies public health associations across more than 30 states to build collective bargaining power and protect critical federal funding.

By coordinating national and regional advocacy strategies, the collaborative equips local networks to fight back against budget cuts and aggressively advance public health priorities. Boulos emphasized that true public health infrastructure requires a united front that treats health equity not as a partisan debate, but as a foundational pillar for economic and community growth.

Read the comprehensive panel recap on the VtPHA Blog here.
https://vtpha.org/meeting-the-moment-how-public-health-leaders-are-building-resilience-from-the-ground-up/

06/11/2026

At the Vermont Public Health Association annual meeting, Vermont Food Security Coalition Manager Becka Warren challenged leaders to stop merely managing hunger and start ending it.

Speaking on the panel “Meeting the Moment: Strengthening Regional and Local Networks for Public Health Resilience,” Warren highlighted how a diverse coalition of stakeholders is shifting focus from temporary crisis intervention to long-term systemic change.

As the driving force behind the state’s Vermont Food Security: Roadmap to 2035, the Coalition is aggressively pushing a proactive legislative agenda. By advancing policy priorities like supporting local food security, Vermont farms, and food producers while also backfilling funding gaps left by federal policy changes, they are tackling the root economic causes of food insecurity.

Treating food security as a core pillar of preventative public health ensures that every Vermonter gains dignified, permanent access to nutrition.

For more about Warren’s talk and the contributions of her fellow panelists (Dr. Umair Malik, Becca Boulos, and Dr. Beth Malow), check out our recap blog here.
https://vtpha.org/meeting-the-moment-how-public-health-leaders-are-building-resilience-from-the-ground-up/

06/10/2026

Many thanks to Dr. Umair Malik, President of South Burlington-based Free Access Health Clinic, for being part of VtPHA’s Annual Meeting panel discussion - “Meeting the Moment: Strengthening Regional and Local Networks for Public Health Resilience.”

During the panel discussion, Dr. Umair Malik outlined strategies for community-led health resilience, emphasizing the positive role of grassroots action that bridges care gaps for uninsured Vermonters.

Dr. Malik argued for the importance of moving beyond traditional clinic walls to integrate services directly into trusted community spaces, ensuring that medical support meets vulnerable populations where they live and work.

By supporting community-based clinic models, health leaders can foster a more equitable, adaptable safety net designed to support patients on their own terms. This proactive, neighborhood-level approach strengthens community trust while addressing the social determinants of health.

Click here (https://vtpha.org/meeting-the-moment-how-public-health-leaders-are-building-resilience-from-the-ground-up/) for more details about this inspiring panel discussion and the contributions of Dr. Malik’s fellow panelists - Becka Warren, Becca Boulos, and Dr. Beth Malow. Thank you, Dr. Malik, and all the volunteers at the Free Access Health Clinic in South Burlington.

06/09/2026

What does it take to build a truly resilient public health system in a fractured world?

At the Vermont Public Health Association annual meeting, moderator Beth Mallow, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a leader with the national bridge-building organization Braver Angels, guided a powerful panel titled “Meeting the Moment: Strengthening Regional and Local Networks for Public Health Resilience.”

Dr. Malow skillfully navigated the intersection of health equity, community action, and regional advocacy, steering the discussion toward real, scalable solutions. She challenged panelists to move past superficial fixes and address the deep structural inequalities that threaten our most vulnerable communities.

Over the next few days, VtPHA will be highlighting the crucial takeaways from the incredible leaders who joined her on stage (Dr. Umair Malik, Becka Warren, Becca Boulos) to unpack what “meeting the moment” truly means.

Catch the full event recap now on the VtPHA Blog. (https://vtpha.org/meeting-the-moment-how-public-health-leaders-are-building-resilience-from-the-ground-up/)

06/08/2026

The Public Health Nursing (PHN) Section of VtPHA hosts monthly virtual meetings for PHNs to gather, learn something new, hear updates from colleagues on issues impacting their work, and share ideas on what’s needed to advance our profession in Vermont.

Our June discussion, led by Sydney W. (Sydney Williamson-White), Newborn Screening Program Coordinator at the Vermont Department of Health, will be a description of Vermont’s nationally recognized Newborn Screening Program system and a review of the more recently developed tests for rare but serious genetic and metabolic conditions.

Date: June 12th, 2026
Time: 12:00pm (noon) – 1:00pm
Location: Virtual

Register for this free event now.
https://vtpha.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F46746

06/08/2026

It’s Monday, which can only mean one thing: time to spotlight another Vermont public health leader. 🎉

At our 2026 Annual Meeting, VtPHA named Vermont Department of Health’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) as our 2026 Public Health Champion (Group Category). Present to accept the award on behalf of the MRC team and pictured below with VtPHA Board Member Rudy Fedrizzi: Heather Rigney, Dan Berkman, and Kate Hammond. (Team member Noah Detzer took the photo - thank you!)

The Public Health Champion Award recognizes groups who use innovative, collaborative, and equity-driven approaches to protect and improve the health of all Vermonters.

The Vermont MRC is a statewide network of 600 medical and non-medical volunteers. They support public health through emergency response—such as flood relief and vaccinations—and innovative community programs like Stop the Bleed. This small but mighty team ensures Vermont remains resilient during both daily operations and major crises.

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 the Vermont MRC and all of the 2026 honorees for their tireless work keeping our communities safe, healthy, and supported!👏

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...