Engaging Communities
Expanding Alliances & Advancing Equity
The National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships (NCICP), formerly known as the National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions, is the only conference solely dedicated to collaboration and partnership as a way to improve immunization uptake, educate our communities, and prevent the spread of disease. The conference is an engine to improve immunizations and public health issues by sharing successful strategies that strengthen the work our coalitions and partnerships do.
The National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships is biennial and the next conference will be planned for 2026.
Join the National Network of Immunization Coalitions for email notifications about the conference.
Conference Archives
The National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships is biennial. Please visit the National Network of Immunization Coalitions to learn more about joining the network and getting the Network News email newsletter for conference announcements and updates.
2024
2022
2019
2017
2016
2014
2012
Past Conference Speakers
Past speakers have included an array of immunization partners and coalitions from throughout the United States. The next call for abstracts will be put out in 2025, for the next conference planned for 2026.
Kristina leads efforts to ensure health-focused products and services create successful health outcomes while developing strategies toward new best practices by leveraging private-public partnerships.
Dorit, a professor of law at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, volunteers as the legal strategic advisor for Voices for Vaccines. She specializes in vaccine law and policy, including exemption laws and tort liability related to non-vaccination.
Richard H. Hughes, IV, JD, MPH, is a nationally recognized vaccine thought leader who has led many efforts to expand access to vaccines and preventive services and improve public health outcomes.
Marlen Ramirez, Program Coordinator at Vaccinate Your Family, is a dedicated Community Health Worker and Instructor in Texas, driven by a mission to promote health equity and education in underserved communities.
Dr. Myra Rutland works for the local Philadelphia coalition at the Hepatitis B Foundation.
Abraham Gutman is a health reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he focuses on the medical workforce and data stories.
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
Dr. Plotkin is the Founder and a Fellow of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. He is also a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, of the International Society for Vaccines, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
Lecia Imbery, Government Affairs Director at Vaccinate Your Family, brings over 20 years of nonprofit advocacy and policy experience, previously serving in various leadership roles in national nonprofits.
Darilyn, with degrees in Natural Sciences and Epidemiology, coordinated studies on cancer prevention, worked as a contact tracer during COVID-19 in Puerto Rico, and promotes vaccination among Hispanics at Penn State.
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
Karen Sharpnack, Executive Director of the Idaho Immunization Coalition since 2012, leverages over 40 years of nonprofit experience to address community needs, build partnerships, and promote vaccination statewide.
Tom McCleaf, with 18 years at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, is currently the Immunization Program Manager, leading AIM as its Chair for 2024, with accolades including the Governor's Award for Excellence.
Meghan Sable, Director of Grants and Central Oregon Programs at Boost Oregon, champions vaccine confidence, leveraging her public health background to establish collaborative education programs and enjoying the local landscape.
Kimberly Chiaramonte is a Senior Project Manager at the National Health Care for the Homeless Council leading the Community Vaccine Ambassador Project funded by the National Association of Community Health Centers by the Centers for Disease Control.
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
Aracely Heredia (is a Program Specialist in Health at UnidosUS, the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S.
Catherine Flores is the Executive Director for the California Immunization Coalition (CIC) based in Sacramento, California and works in partnership with coalitions and professional organizations that support their mission of ensuring that everyone has access to lifesaving vaccines.
Amy, based in Oklahoma, manages day-to-day operations at the Oklahoma Caring Foundation, holding degrees in Speech Communication and Communication, with previous experience in education and volunteer management.
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
Brandi Hight Bank is a strategic communications consultant with more than 15 years’ experience at the intersection of public health, public affairs, and policy.
Amy has spearheaded collaborative initiatives that unite elected officials, community leaders, and representatives from national and local organizations in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
John F. Burrell, Executive Director of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is responsible for managing the daily operations of the international Headquarters staff.
Emily Delikat, Director of Tennessee Families for Vaccines, with a diverse background spanning education, music, and public health, advocates for vaccination, emphasizing the intersection of epidemiology and communication.
Emily Lang is a partner at Price Lang Public Relations, a trusted strategic communications firm
based in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Holding both Doctor of Pharmacy and Juris Doctor degrees, attorney Spreeha Choudhury brings a valuable combination of experience to Epstein Becker Green, where she navigates the complex intersections of health care, pharmacy, and law.
Allie’s passion for vaccine advocacy stems from various interests and experiences, and she combines them all in her role as director of South Dakota Families for Vaccines.
Malwan Johnson is a Senior Wireless Network Engineer and Architect. For the last 15 years, he has worked in both the private and government sectors designing, deploying and troubleshooting wireless networks.
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
Charlotte Moser, a biology and communication expert, pioneers vaccine education at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, co-directing programs and spearheading COVID-19 resources.
Northe Saunders, Executive Director of SAFE Communities Coalition and Action Fund, brings nearly two decades of advocacy leadership to spearhead pro-vaccine political advocacy, establishing state chapters and countering anti-vaccine efforts nationwide.
Dottery Butler-Washington is a highly experienced Supervisor IT Specialist with 35 years of service in the Federal Government.
Haolong Yu is a second-year graduate student at the Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania and has research interests in health communication with a mass media and community-based focus.
Geovannie Gone oversees the development and implementation of IKC coalition and statewide immunization strategies, new business initiatives, addresses Vaccine Equity, and related objectives.
Dr. Catherine Freeland leads the global health efforts and local Philadelphia coalition at the Hepatitis B Foundation.
Amber Tirmal is the Immunization Program Manager for the City of Philadelphia and has held various roles in the program from education coordinator to registry manager.
Brendan Jackson, MD, MPH, (CDR, US Public Health Service) is the Senior Advisor for Preparedness and Response for CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
Karen Ernst is the Director of Voices for Vaccines, a program of the Task Force for Global Health. She is a nationally known expert in building vaccine confidence through peer-to-peer networking and interactions.
Dan Hanfling, MD, leads Private Sector Strategic Partnerships at the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response, bringing extensive experience from In-Q-Tel and in operational medicine, emergency preparedness, and healthcare coalition development.
Karrey Shannon, RN, BSN, Community Health Nurse at Johnson County Public Health, Iowa City, addresses health and vaccine equity, leading vaccination efforts for vulnerable populations and spearheading initiatives to address social determinants of health.
Maria is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and currently works as the health equity coordinator for Pottawattamie County Public Health.
Gisela Medina Martínez is a dedicated professional specializing in health systems research and program evaluation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Grisel Cisneros is Vaccinate Your Family’s Education Coordinator and ensures VYF’s educational programs promote equitable, evidence-based practices.
Aziz is one of the many pioneers who create movements and individual impacts in urban Milwaukee through marketing and media centered on cross-cultural and intergenerational approaches.
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
Erica DeWald is president and founder of Coffeehouse Communications, a strategic communications firm dedicated to finding new solutions to persistent problems.
As a licensed clinical social worker, homeschool mom, and physician spouse, Crystal Rommen brings a diverse background to her position as director of Louisiana Families for Vaccines.
Sarah is a Research Assistant at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, working both under Dr. Melanie Kornides on HPV vaccine hesitancy and under the NIH Community Engagement Alliance grant on the VaxUpPhillyFamilies initiative.
Lina Tucker Reinders, MPH is a results-driven public health leader with international, state, and local policy experience in vaccine agendas, health systems strengthening, and tobacco control.
Antonio Martez Good Health Wins Program manager for Kappa Alpha Psi as well as the Fraternity's International Vice Chairman for Health and Wellness.
Michele Slafkosky, Executive Director of Families Fighting Flu, leverages over 25 years of advocacy experience to protect communities from influenza, emphasizing education, grassroots efforts, and collaboration, while enjoying family time in New England.
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
As the Chief Policy and Government Relations Officer for the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM), Brent monitors the immunization policy landscape and develops resources to support AIM members engaging in effective policy development.
Sawyer Koops is an analytic professional with a passion for turning data into actionable insights.
Brittany Zulkiewicz is a doctoral student at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania studying health communication.
Breyana, Public Health Associate at Voices for Vaccines, utilizes her expertise in community health education to bolster vaccine confidence, drawing from her background in program coordination and a Master's in Public Health.
Elizabeth Faber, MPH is the Coalition Director of Iowa Immunizes, the statewide immunization coalition committed to protecting the health of Iowans through vaccination of children and adults.
Sara Dillard is the Communications Director for the Indiana Immunization Coalition. She has fifteen years of experience in brand messaging, content creation, and marketing, which she uses to promote public health initiatives through digital storytelling.
Lisa Johnson, Senior Program Director at The Dartmouth Institute, with over 25 years in healthcare improvement, leads a Coproduction Laboratory fostering patient-clinician partnerships, focusing on patient-centered care and overseeing a COVID-19 vaccine confidence trial.
Abby Bownas runs the Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (adultvaccinesnow.org) and manages the Infectious Disease Prevention Network (IDPN).
Chelsea Bufalini Research Project Manager at Penn State College of Medicine in the Department of Public Health Sciences.
Daniel Kidder serves as CDC’s Chief Evaluation Officer and is the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit Lead in the Performance and Evaluation Office (PEO).
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
Kamrynn Lawton, Program Manager at the California Immunization Coalition (CIC), collaborates with various organizations to enhance immunization access, reduce barriers, and disseminate crucial information statewide.
Terri Burke, formerly Executive Director of ACLU of Texas, now leads The Immunization Partnership after a distinguished career in journalism and academia, with a focus on nonprofit leadership.
Dr. Marcus Plescia is the Chief Medical Officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). He leads ASTHO’s Atlanta office and serves as the primary liaison to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Danielle Hall, Autism Society's Health Equity Initiative Director brings over 20 years of program management experience, residing in New Jersey with her family.
Dr. Georgina Peacock is the Director of the Immunization Services Division (ISD) in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) at CDC.
Dr. Ruth Little, Associate Professor at East Carolina University, brings expertise from her roles as a nursing home administrator and public health director, contributing to vaccine confidence research with Dartmouth.
Mr. Tate’s career highlights include more than three decades of public sector experience at the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) that includes research, strategic planning, process improvement, policy development, and operations management.
Lena H. Sun is a national reporter for The Washington Post covering health, with a special focus on public health and infectious disease.
Kaizan Kollin, or “Kai” is the Health Program Manager of Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC).
Amy Jessop works for the local Philadelphia coalition at the Hepatitis B Foundation.
Francesca is a health and social justice advocate seeking to address health, racial, and socioeconomic equity in underserved populations and focusing her last three and a half years of work specifically on immunization and vaccine equity.
Sarah Vivo, Adolescent Program Coordinator at the Indiana Immunization Coalition, co-authors vaccination toolkits and manages education modules, holding degrees from Indiana University, and is a parent of two teenagers.
Devin Burghart is president and executive director of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights—a national non-profit organization dedicated to tracking emerging threats to democracy and human rights.
Katie Van Tornhout, mother of four, advocates for vaccinations after losing her baby Callie to pertussis, sharing her story to educate parents, recognized as a CDC Immunization Champion in 2015. She co-founded Callie Cares nonprofit.
Heather Gagliano graduated from Jacksonville State University with her Master of Science in Nursing, specializing in Population Health.
Sheila, a Dominican Republic native and Paterson, NJ resident, advocates for underrepresented communities, managing the Maternal Immunization program at ACOG. She holds an MPH and aims to eliminate health disparities.
Shauvon Simmons-Wright, M.Ed., as Senior Director of Programs & Strategy, leads a team providing technical assistance, training, and resources nationwide to improve youth and family health outcomes. She boasts over 20 years of experience in school and community settings.
Jinny is a community organizer, parent, non-practicing attorney, small business owner, and advocate. She is the Founder and Leader of Immunize Texas, a grassroots network dedicated to supporting vaccines and public health.
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
Paul A. Offit, MD is the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as well as the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology and a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Leah Ferguson, M.Ed. DrPH, Director of Evaluation at The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, leverages over 20 years of community health experience, focusing on substance use interventions and community-based research.
Olivia G. White, Ph.D., retired vice president for student life and dean of students at Hood College, brings over 40 years of experience to her various roles.
NCICP Speaker 2022 Conference
Dr. Shen is a vaccine policy expert and health services researcher with over 25 years of experience, specializing at the intersection of policy and practice in health disparities, access to immunization services, vaccine confidence, barriers to innovation, and global health.
Chelsea Hardin Hensley is a seasoned nonprofit professional with a wealth of experience in project and event management, fundraising, member engagement, and recruitment.
Julissa Soto, founder of Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting, is a prominent advocate for Latino immigrant equality and health equity, notably leading vaccination efforts and COVID-19 response in Colorado.
Alison Buttenheim is a Professor of Nursing and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, where she co-directs the Behavioral Economics and Global Health Insights Lab.
NCICP Program
The NCICP program has focused on engaging communities, expanding alliances, and advancing equity since 2020. See the archives to browse sessions from previous conferences. The next conference program and schedule will be announced in 2025 for the conference in 2026.
The conference is built around three tracks:
Growing & Sustaining Coalitions
During COVID-19, many coalitions received additional federal or state funds for vaccine activities and nearly every community saw new groups willing to help increase vaccine confidence and access. As we move out of the immediate pandemic, how can coalitions maintain their funding, expand their partnerships, and keep new partners at the table? NCICP is welcoming abstracts on these and other topics that will ensure the sustainability of immunization coalitions for years to come.
Advocacy for All
Vaccines have long enjoyed bipartisan, bicameral support. In recent years, however, universal political support for vaccines has declined, particularly among the states. The U.S. is at a critical juncture in which federal and state policy could make or break better access to, and confidence in, vaccinations. NCICP is welcoming abstracts on the policies and advocacy efforts necessary to ensure everyone in the U.S. has the ability to remain safe from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Innovation: New Partnerships & Strategies
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented level of research on which messages and messengers increase a person’s intent to vaccinate. Unfortunately, the politicization of the pandemic also lead to an increase in those who are staunchly opposed to vaccination. NCICP is welcoming abstracts that address vaccine hesitancy, confidence, and the wide spectrum of communication needs in between, with a particular interest in topics that address the effectiveness of trusted messengers and channels.
Thank You Sponsors
Showcase your organization and commitment to community health by participating as a sponsor of the National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships. We will have a sponsorship package posted in 2025 for the next conference in 2026.
Please feel free to contact us and express your interest for supporting the conference in 2026.
National and local organizations have sponsored previous NCICP conferences and we look forward to your support.