North Dakota Immunization Conference

Pathology at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS). Molly has worked in the field of immunizations for the past 20 years. Before working at the NDHHS, she worked as an intern at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department in Nebraska. Molly has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. She is currently a member of the Association of Immunization Managers’ (AIM) executive committee, AIM liaison to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In January 2020, Molly was appointed to the National Vaccine Advisory Committee. Molly has published immunization and infectious disease-related articles in various journals, including the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, and the New England Journal of Medicine. In 2021, Molly received the public health worker of the year award from the North Dakota Public Health Association, the Friend for Medicine Award from the North Dakota Medical Association and the Heritage Award for Citizen Focus from the North Dakota Governor’s Office. In 2022, she received the Natalie Smith Award for Excellence in Immunization Program Management from AIM.

Karen Ernst is a nationally recognized expert in engaging families to counter vaccine misinformation and build confidence. She has been the Executive Director of Voices for Vaccines for over a decade, having previously worked as an educator. She lives in Saint Paul with her husband, sons, and cats.

Dr. Tracie Newman is a board-certified pediatrician, the Health Officer of the City of Fargo, and medical director of Fargo Cass Public Health. At NDSU, she is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Public Health and Associate Director of the Center for Immunization Research and Education (CIRE). She is also an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. Dr. Newman received her medical training at the University of North Dakota and completed a pediatrics residency and obtained a masters degree in public health at the University of Minnesota. She is an elected official and is a current member of the Fargo Board of Education, where she has served as president. She is an elected member to the Executive Committee and serves as Policy Chair for the Council on School Health for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Andrea Huseth-Zosel is an associate professor in the Department of Public Health at North Dakota State University. She earned her PhD in Gerontology from NDSU. Her research focuses on aging, vaccination behaviors and perceptions, rural health, and gender-based health issues. Her immunization-related research has been published in several top journals including Vaccine, the Journal of Community Health, and Aging and Health.

H. Keipp B. Talbot, MD, MPH is a Professor of Medicine and Health Policy within the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. As a dual appointee in Medicine and Health Policy, Dr. Talbot has played a pivotal role in the evaluation of viral respiratory diseases in adults and the evaluation of new and existing vaccines in older adults so as to improve immunization policy and vaccine development. Her goal is to continue to evaluate the use and effectiveness of vaccines, with a focus on prevention of infection and morbidity in adults. Dr. Talbot began her career by investigating the presentation of influenza in hospitalized adults. Her recent work has contributed to our understanding of the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus. Dr. Talbot is the chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and has served as the chair of the ACIP’s Influenza Vaccine Work Group and co-chair of the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical Work Group. She has authored more than 200 manuscripts. Her work has informed national policy on the implementation of enhanced influenza vaccines for older adults, the use of pneumococcal vaccines in the setting of changing epidemiology, and COVID-19 vaccine introduction and use. Dr. Talbot currently co-leads the Tennessee Emerging Infections Program at Vanderbilt, which works to better understand viral respiratory disease epidemiology and inform vaccine policy.

Jenny Galbraith has worked at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services since 2016. She’s worked a variety of roles in the last 8 years. Most recently she serves as the Adult Immunization Manager within the Immunization Unit. This program focuses on ensuring all North Dakotans have access to the immunizations recommended to them.

As a former teacher and current nurse, school nursing has been the dream position for me. With 20+ years of primarily pediatric nursing, healthy kids are my thing! I love to think outside the box to establish new ways to keep kids healthy. My husband and I live in Bismarck with our two rescue dogs. Both of our grown children are teachers!

Mary Woinarowicz is the manager of the North Dakota Immunization Information System at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. Mary has been with the North Dakota Immunization Unit since 2011 and has been working with the NDIIS for more than 12 years. Prior to working at NDHHS, she worked for a private healthcare system as a certified clinical trainer for their electronic health record system. She received her Master of Arts degree in Sociology with a focus in Educational Foundations and Research from the University of North Dakota. Mary is currently the co-chair of the American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA) Standards and Interoperability Steering Committee and Resource Development Recommendations Workgroup and has previously served multiple terms on the AIRA Board of Directors, including two terms as AIRA Board President. Mary has been the lead author and co-author on several papers published in the Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, Public Health, American Journal of Public Health, and the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

Dr. Jonathan Howard is a neurologist and psychiatrist in New York City. He is the chief of neurology at Bellevue Hospital, where he worked during the pandemic. Dr. Howard has been writing about anti-vaccine doctors since well before the pandemic, and continued to document misinformation spread by doctors during the pandemic.

Dr. Tracie Newman is a board-certified pediatrician, the Health Officer of the City of Fargo, and medical director of Fargo Cass Public Health. At NDSU, she is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Public Health and Associate Director of the Center for Immunization Research and Education (CIRE). She is also an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. Dr. Newman received her medical training at the University of North Dakota and completed a pediatrics residency and obtained a masters degree in public health at the University of Minnesota. She is an elected official and is a current member of the Fargo Board of Education, where she has served as president. She is an elected member to the Executive Committee and serves as Policy Chair for the Council on School Health for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Elizabeth Skoy graduate with her PharmD from North Dakota State University and began her career in Iowa as a community pharmacist. Currently, Dr. Skoy is a Full Tenured Professor at North Dakota State University, and the acting Director of the Center for Collaboration and Advancement in Pharmacy (CAP Center). As part of her faculty position, she has a community pharmacy practice site where she continues to engage in routine pharmacy patient care. Dr. Skoy has represented the pharmacy profession through various agencies including those for the FDA, CDC and the American Pharmacist Association. Most recently, Dr. Skoy was named to serve on the ACIP Workgroup for RSV vaccine for adults.

Mary Woinarowicz is the manager of the North Dakota Immunization Information System at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. Mary has been with the North Dakota Immunization Unit since 2011 and has been working with the NDIIS for more than 12 years. Prior to working at NDHHS, she worked for a private healthcare system as a certified clinical trainer for their electronic health record system. She received her Master of Arts degree in Sociology with a focus in Educational Foundations and Research from the University of North Dakota. Mary is currently the co-chair of the American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA) Standards and Interoperability Steering Committee and Resource Development Recommendations Workgroup and has previously served multiple terms on the AIRA Board of Directors, including two terms as AIRA Board President. Mary has been the lead author and co-author on several papers published in the Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, Public Health, American Journal of Public Health, and the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

Mary Woinarowicz is the manager of the North Dakota Immunization Information System at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. Mary has been with the North Dakota Immunization Unit since 2011 and has been working with the NDIIS for more than 12 years. Prior to working at NDHHS, she worked for a private healthcare system as a certified clinical trainer for their electronic health record system. She received her Master of Arts degree in Sociology with a focus in Educational Foundations and Research from the University of North Dakota. Mary is currently the co-chair of the American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA) Standards and Interoperability Steering Committee and Resource Development Recommendations Workgroup and has previously served multiple terms on the AIRA Board of Directors, including two terms as AIRA Board President. Mary has been the lead author and co-author on several papers published in the Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, Public Health, American Journal of Public Health, and the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

I am currently a Business Analyst for ND Medicaid; I have been with NDHHS since 2013. I am also a Certified Professional Coder with over 25 years of coding and reimbursement experience.

Dr. Georgina Peacock is currently serves as the Director of the Immunization Services Division in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at CDC. In this role, Dr. Peacock oversees the U.S. domestic immunization including the Vaccines for Children program, vaccine confidence and demand activities, adult immunization initiatives and immunization research and surveillance. Previously, she served as the Director for the Division of Human Development and Disability (DHDD) in the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). During her 15 years with CDC, Dr. Peacock has been dedicated to developing and implementing public health programs that support children and adults in underserved populations to lead healthy lives and be productive members of their communities. Dr. Peacock served as an integral part of the COVID-19 Response on the Vaccine Task Force. She also served as the Chief Medical Officer for CDC at the Georgia Department of Public Health supporting the state’s vaccination efforts. In addition to her role at CDC, Dr. Peacock sees patients in the Developmental- Behavioral Pediatrics clinic at the Good Samaritan Health Center. Dr. Peacock received her Doctor of Medicine and Master in Public Health from University of Kansas. She completed her Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship at Developmental Disabilities Center at the University of Kansas Medical Center.