MDH Immunization Conference 2026

Alisa has served as a Public Health Nurse in Disease Prevention and Control with Otter Tail County Public Health since 2024. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Nursing from Jamestown College in 1996 and completed her Master of Science in Nursing at Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2017.

With a diverse nursing background spanning multiple specialties, Alisa brings extensive clinical experience to public health practice. Prior to transitioning into public health, she most recently worked in perioperative nursing and has maintained her CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse) credential since 2008.

In her current role, Alisa serves as the Vaccine Coordinator and Perinatal Hepatitis B Coordinator for Otter Tail County. She also works as a Minnesota Vaccines for Children (MnVFC) Site Reviewer for the Minnesota Department of Health. She is passionate about advancing community education on immunizations and addressing vaccine hesitancy through evidence-based outreach and engagement.

Outside of her professional work, Alisa enjoys reading, knitting, traveling, and spending time with her three daughters, loved ones, and pets.

Sheyanga Beecher began her career as a public health nurse in Baltimore, Maryland providing care for mothers and children in transitional housing. She received her Masters of Science in Nursing from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. As a nurse practitioner, Ms. Beecher has lived and worked internationally in Haiti, Ethiopia, South Africa and Tanzania with a focus in maternal child health, community health and health system strengthening. In 2012, she began working at Hennepin Healthcare. In May of 2020, she co-founded the Vaccine Mobile and she now serves as the Medical Director for the Hennepin Healthcare Mobile clinic which provides care for children, prenatal and postpartum families.

In the past few years, Ms. Beecher and the Mobile Health team have presented their work at local, state and national conferences. In recognition of her work with the Mobile Health program, Ms. Beecher has won the Hennepin Healthcare Pandemic Preparedness Award, the BlueCross Blue Shield Trail Blazer Award, the Commissioner’s Circle of Excellence Awards from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Woman’s Health Leadership Trust for Innovation, and Minnesota’s 2025 Immunization Champion award.

Holly Blilie, BSN, RN, PHN, is a Nursing Supervisor at Polk County Public Health in Crookston, Minnesota. With more than 20 years of nursing experience, including over a decade in public health, she is passionate about disease prevention, control, and vaccine advocacy. Holly is committed to helping communities understand the real-world impact of public health efforts, recently leading a multi-organization collaboration to preserve an iron lung as a powerful reminder of the polio epidemic. She believes public health is rooted in education, partnership, and protecting one another across generations.

Taylor Campbell is the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) Engagement Coordinator. She has worked with the MIIC unit since December of 2020 and started out on the MIIC Help Desk. She now assists with provider engagement for MIIC. Outside work, Taylor enjoys going to concerts, watching motorsports, and hanging outside with family and friends.

Carissa Carlson, RN, is the district nurse for the Lake Park–Audubon School District, where she serves students from pre-kindergarten through high school seniors. She is currently in her third year in this role and is the first nurse ever employed by the district. Carissa designed and implemented the district’s first comprehensive school nursing program. Carissa brought five years of prior experience from other healthcare settings into this newly established role. She will graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree this spring.

As the district’s first district nurse, Carissa developed policies, workflows, and community partnerships to standardize health care for students. She is passionate about building trust and meaningful relationships with students and families. Carissa prioritizes classroom-based nursing care whenever possible to support students with ongoing health needs while minimizing disruption to their education. Beginning August 2025, she spearheaded the project to improve her districts' compliance with Minnesota K-12 Immunization Law. Non-compliant student immunization records in her district were nearly fifteen percent prior to her initiative. As a result of her efforts, non-compliant student records were under 1 percent at the end of 2025. Her work reflects her mission as a community nurse: to bridge the gap between healthcare and education.

Outside of school, Carissa stays busy with her family. She and her spouse, Justin, are parents to four children ranging in age from two to fifteen, along with their six-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer. Between sports, extracurricular activities, clubs, and the joyful chaos of raising young children, life is rarely quiet. When she’s not cheering on her kids, chauffeuring them to activities, or wrangling a toddler, Carissa enjoys spending time outdoors at her rural home north of Lake Park, Minnesota.

Ben Christianson is a Senior Epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health. Ben has worked in the in Vaccine Preventable Disease section at MDH for the past 12 years. In his role at MDH, Ben is the lead epidemiologist in the Outreach and Partnerships unit at MDH and works on the school and child care immunization team. He completed his MPH in environmental health at the University of Minnesota, in 2011. Ben’s interests include vaccine hesitancy research and school and child care immunization policy. Outside of work, Ben enjoys running, fishing, and playing with his sons, Kai, and Noah.

In this hands-on workshop, participants explore the core elements of strong communication: active listening, adaptability, presence, and trust. Using accessible improv-based activities and guided reflection, the session builds comfort with thinking on your feet and expressing ideas clearly — even in high-pressure moments. Whether you're managing a team, engaging a client, or trying to have a difficult conversation, this workshop offers tools that make communication more intentional, human, and effective. No performance experience needed — just a willingness to try, laugh, and learn.

Demetre C. Daskalakis, MD, MPH, is an infectious disease physician and public health leader recognized for his expertise in infectious diseases and emergency response, with leadership experience at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the White House National Mpox Response, and the CDC as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. He is currently the Chief Medical Officer of the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center.

Dr. Malini DeSilva is a physician in the HealthPartners Travel & Tropical Medicine department and senior research investigator at HealthPartners Institute. Her research areas of interest include vaccine safety and vaccine effectiveness, refugee and immigrant health, and the integration of public health and clinical medicine. She is also a physician at the St. Paul-Ramsey County Tuberculosis Clinic. She received her M.D. from Mayo Medical School and her master's in public health from the University of Minnesota. She completed a combined residency in Internal Medicine & Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota and was an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Carly Edson is the Immunization Outreach Coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Health. In her current position, she oversees programming for adults, adolescents, and children; specifically focused on addressing gaps in immunization rates in Minnesota. Carly leads outreach efforts in our underserved communities and strives to improve vaccine confidence. She strongly believes in giving community partners the resources so they can be the ones to drive the work. Carly holds a masters degree of Public Health in Community Health Promotion from the University of Minnesota.

Jessica Elofson is a Public Health Nurse for Nicollet County and has been working in Infectious Disease and Emergency Preparedness in South Central Minnesota for 19 years. She has a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota and has extensive experience managing local immunization programs, including during the H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics.

Karen Ernst is the Director of Voices for Vaccines, a parent-led organization that amplifies the voices of families who value vaccines and public health. With a background in community engagement and health communication, Karen focuses on countering vaccine misinformation by centering real stories, credible science, and respectful dialogue. She works to ensure that parents, advocates, and communities have the tools and support they need to make informed decisions about vaccination and to speak up for policies that protect public health.

Regina Gavin, MPH is a Public Health Epidemiologist in the Disease Prevention and Control Unit at Dakota County Public Health. She leads local vaccine-preventable disease investigations and tuberculosis contact investigations in Dakota County. Before joining Dakota County Public Health, Regina was a Newborn Screening Epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health. She is also an alumnus of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Program. Regina earned her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Science from the University of California, Davis. Outside of work, Regina enjoys spending time with her husband and son, reading, biking, playing violin, and walking her dog.

Gail Gustavson is a senior varicella and zoster epidemiologist within the Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health, where she leads surveillance activities related to varicella zoster. Gail received a master’s in public health from the University of California Berkeley and prior to working at MDH was a CDC Global Health fellow in Uganda and worked at the King County Public Health Department and community health clinics in Seattle, Washington. She loves being outdoors, saunas, watching movies, and travelling! Ask her about her cats!

Dr. Krista Hagen is a pediatrician at Southdale Pediatrics in Eden Prairie, MN, where she has practiced for the last 15 years. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota medical school and completed pediatric residency and a chief year at the University of Minnesota. She has been the clinic's medical director since 2020 and has interest in systems-based practice and evidence-based medicine. She loves building relationships with families from infancy through young adulthood, and loves seeing families build confidence in their parenting skills. Dr. Hagen loves hiking and Nordic skiing with her three active children when she is away from the clinic.

Tabitha graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and began her nursing career as a hospital bedside nurse and a home health nurse for pediatric patients. These early roles sparked a lasting interest in preventing illness and injury. She earned both a Master of Public Health and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Minnesota and shifted her focus to the population-level impact of public health nursing. Tabitha has worked in local public health agencies in rural and suburban Minnesota counties, caring for constituents across the lifespan with a primary focus on maternal, child, and adolescent health. She has also served as an adjunct nursing faculty member, licensed school nurse, and Mayo Clinic immunization nurse. She currently serves as the Immunization Program Clinical Consultant at the Minnesota Department of Health.

Cynthia Hiltz MS, RN, PHN, NCSN, FNASN has extensive experience in school nursing and public health and recently rretired from the largest school district in the state as their health service administrator. She has served on both the state and national level school nurse professional organizations. For the National Association of School Nurses she was on their executive board and continues to be their bylaws chairman. For School Nurses of MN she was their president and director to NASN. She has been a member of the National Certification for school nurse board and served as president of that board. Cindy has worked on several nursing advisory boards in MN. She has published articles in several professional journals. After retirement Cindy joined with Anoka County Public Health in a collaborative effort to raise immunization rates in students new to the United States.

Naomi Jiter is an epidemiologist with the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) Operations Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). She has a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Minnesota and has been with the Immunization Program at MDH since September of 2020. She works primarily in data quality and data exchange, conducts data analysis and evaluations, and helps create and maintain data visualizations using MIIC data.

Bob Jacobson is a primary care pediatrician in the Division of Community Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Mayo Clinic and holds joint appointments in the Divisions of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology. He’s worked and lived in Rochester, Minnesota, now nearly 37 years. He serves as the medical directors for the adult and child immunization programs for Mayo Clinic both with Primary Care in Rochester and Kasson and Southeast Minnesota Mayo Clinic Health System. He also serves as a co-chair of the AskMayoExpert Knowledge Content Board for Immunizations and Vaccinations. He conducts research to improve vaccine uptake and has published over 285 peer-reviewed publications. He is passionate about evidence-based medicine, population health science, ethics, and preventive care including and especially vaccines, and he and his spouse Renée have raised four well-vaccinated children.

Chris Lee is a dedicated public safety leader currently serving as the Grants Administrator, Emergency Manager, and Crime Victim Services Coordinator for the Upper Sioux Community in Granite Falls, Minnesota. Having previously held the position of Chief of Police from April 2007 to April 2022, Chris has transformed the Upper Sioux Police Department from a part-time force into a fully operational agency with eight sworn officers. His commitment to Community Oriented Policing fosters positive relationships between law enforcement and community members, enhancing communication and collaboration to effectively address local concerns. Chris’s initiatives include regular community meetings, outreach programs, and a data-driven approach to crime prevention. With extensive training in public safety and emergency management, he is also a certified paramedic and has received multiple accolades, including the DWI All Star Award and the Meritorious Service Award from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. His educational background includes advanced training from the Chief Law Enforcement Officers & Command Academy of Minnesota and the Southern Police Institute. Through his holistic approach to public safety, Chris aims to empower the community while ensuring a safer environment for all.

Hanna Ljungman is the Immunization Coverage Epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health. Her work focuses on assessing vaccination coverage across Minnesota, with a particular emphasis on school and child care immunizations. She collaborates closely with state and community partners, including school nurses, child care providers, and local public health agencies. Hanna holds a Master of Public Health from Lund University in Sweden.

Ruth Lynfield, MD, is state epidemiologist and medical director at the Minnesota Department of Health and co-principal investigator of the Minnesota Emerging Infections Program. She has conducted numerous infectious disease investigations and outbreak responses, developed surveillance systems, and conducted public health research, evaluation, and planning. Her research focuses on emerging infections, antimicrobial resistance, and prevention of infectious diseases, including vaccine effectiveness studies. She was awarded the Weill Cornell Medical College Alumni Association Award of Distinction for her outstanding commitment to supporting colleagues in clinical care, research, and education.

Munira Maalimisaq, FNP, DNP-c, is a Family Nurse Practitioner and CEO of Inspire Change Clinic, where she delivers trauma-informed, culturally responsive primary care. She leads the Pathway to Medicine Fellowship, empowering minority students to pursue healthcare careers, and leads community initiatives like the Motherhood Circle, which addresses vaccine hesitancy, chronic disease, and access barriers. Her expertise spans clinical care, public health, organizational systems, and health equity, informing advisory roles with federal, state, and local agencies to advance policy, systems, and environmental change. In global health and policy leadership, she serves as U.S. Representative for the Office of the Special Envoy for Health and Nutrition for Somalia and is a 2025–2026 Humphrey School Policy Fellow, recognized for her leadership in advancing health equity and improving outcomes.

Alise Mendoza is a Research Assistant at the Midwest Analytics and Disease Modeling Center (MADMC) within the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She is completing a master's degree in Biostatistics and has expertise in applied biostatistics, health outcomes research, and the development of analytic dashboards and decision-support tools for public health practice.

Inari Mohammed, PhD, MPH, is a research project manager in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She works on the Illuminating and Addressing Structural Racism project; a multi-state initiative focused on illuminating the historical roots and modern-day systems and policies that perpetuate structural racism in the healthcare industry. Before her work at the U of M, Inari was a health equity epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health's MIIC Unit for 2.5 years.

Inari is passionate about health equity and centering the voices and experiences of marginalized communities in public health research and practice. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, having attained her MPH in 2019 and PhD in epidemiology in 2024. Her doctoral research focused on assessing vaccine hesitancy and gaps in vaccine coverage among BIPOC Minnesotans.

Dr. Tracie Newman is a board-certified pediatrician at Sanford Health and previously served as Health Officer of the City of Fargo.  At NDSU, she is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Public Health and medical 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 master's degree in public health at the University of Minnesota. She was an elected member to the Executive Committee and served as Policy Chair for the Council on School Health for the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, is Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, a professor in the Technological Leadership Institute, College of Science and Engineering, and an adjunct professor in the Medical School, all at the University of Minnesota. In addition to his role at CIDRAP, Dr. Osterholm has also served as an HHS special advisor and a representative on the interim management team to lead the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. Previously, Dr. Osterholm served from 1975 to 1999 at the Minnesota Department of Health, the last 15 as state epidemiologist.

In early 2025, Dr. Osterholm and colleagues founded the Vaccine Integrity Project, a key initiative dedicated to safeguarding vaccine use in the US. He is also author of the new book, The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics.

Maria Pacheco, DrPH, MPH, is the Lead Epidemiologist for the Pertussis team with the Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health. She holds both a Master of Public Health and a Doctor of Public Health with a concentration in epidemiology. Prior to joining MDH, Maria worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Division of Global Migration Health. She has extensive experience in infectious disease prevention, with a primary focus on vaccine-preventable diseases.

Kirsten Ramirez is a public health nurse from Washington County Public Health & Environment with 19 years of nursing experience. She earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Minnesota in 2007 and recently returned to the University of Minnesota to earn a master’s degree in public health in 2025, with a focus on community health promotion and a minor in climate change. Kirsten has been working in public health for the past 7 years, focusing on infectious diseases through work with vaccine clinics, tuberculosis, and perinatal Hepatitis B. Outside of work, Kirsten enjoys coaching youth softball, gardening, and visiting National Parks and the Great Lakes.

Candi C. Schafer is a Public Health Nurse with over 27 years of experience serving Faribault and Martin Counties. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mankato State University in 1996 and began her career at a rural community hospital in Fairmont before transitioning to public health.  Throughout her tenure, Candi has supported a wide range of programs, including disease prevention and control, maternal and child health, early intervention, WIC, emergency preparedness, and services for dual-eligible senior populations. Her passion lies in immunization, where she has served as the program lead for the past 20 years. In this role, Candi has built strong partnerships to increase vaccine access—collaborating with healthcare providers for onsite clinics, organizing community events at fairs and food shelves, and working with local schools to ensure students meet immunization requirements.

Candi’s dedication to public health reflects her commitment to improving community wellness through education, prevention, and collaboration.

Kelsey Seiler is an Epidemiologist Intermediate with the Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance unit at the Minnesota Department of Health. Throughout her public health career, she has worked with multiple VPDs including COVID-19, influenza, pertussis, varicella, measles, and mumps. In her current role, she supports VPD outbreak responses, investigations, and conducts both clinical and community engagement. Kelsey received her Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from St. Cloud State University. Outside of work, she enjoys playing and watching hockey, reading, and spending time with her dog.

Meghan Sickel is the Metro District Senior Epidemiologist in the Epidemiology Field Services Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health, where she supports regional local public health with infectious disease outbreak response, guidance, and surveillance. Meghan received a master’s in public health from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and prior to working at MDH she served as the public health specialist at the Pepin County Local Health Department. Outside of infectious disease work, she loves to travel, bring her German Shepherd on runs, and watch sports (unfortunately, she is a diehard Minnesota fan).

Sarah Spah is a nurse specialist in the Vaccine Preventable Disease Section at the Minnesota Department of Health. She provides vaccine clinical guidance, consultation, education, and various outreach activities. Sarah completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Viterbo College in La Crosse, WI, and her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Minnesota. She has 30 years of nursing experience, mainly in public health nursing. She has worked in the areas of immunizations, cancer prevention, tuberculosis, health screenings, and was integral in the initiation and partnership of a nurse managed clinic at the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter with Viterbo College. She has served as a nurse manager in public health and in occupational and employee health for the Mayo Clinic Health System. Sarah has a passion for health prevention and promotion which she brings to both her professional and personal life.

Shar Valentine is a pediatrician and physician leader at Essentia Health in Duluth Minnesota and a board member of the Minnesota American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Paul Van Gorp, MD is a family medicine physician in Long Prairie, MN and has over 50 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from University of Minnesota Saint Paul Campus in 1974.

Margo Wheatley is a Senior Researcher at the Midwest Analytics and Disease Modeling Center (MADMC) within the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She has a PhD in Health Services Research and has expertise in decision analytic modeling, economic evaluation, and applied public health research. In addition to managing project implementation and evaluation for MADMC, Wheatley serves as a liaison to partners at the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Electronic Health Records Consortium, Insight Net, and CDC.

Maeve Williams is the Vaccine Education Project Manager for the North Dakota State University Center for Immunization Research and Education (NDSU CIRE). She coordinates clinician-to-clinician vaccine education for medical providers and healthcare professionals to support their confidence addressing vaccine hesitancy. To date, these programs have reached more than 6,000 healthcare professionals through over 70 in-person education sessions and 25 virtual webinars. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and is pursuing a graduate certificate in public health at NDSU.