The Vaccine Advisory Committee (VAC) is a voluntary and not compensated committee that includes representatives with expertise in tribal health, vaccinology, preventative medicine, vaccine-preventable disease management, pediatrics, epidemiology, family practice, naturopathic medicine, school health, health care purchasing, pharmacy issues, internal medicine, perinatal health care, childcare, obstetrics and gynecology, and public health. The State Health Officer chairs this meeting with support from the Office of Immunization.
VAC Members
Chair
Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, MD, MPH, State Health Officer, Washington State Department of Health
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Dr. Alisa Kachikis
American Indian Health Commission for Washington (AIHC)
Jessica McKee, PhD, MPH
Childcare Representation
Jennifer Helseth, MPH
Internal Medicine Organization
Dr. Mary Anderson, Washington Chapter of American College of Physicians
Managed Care
Dr. John Dunn, Kaiser Permanente
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)
Dr. Charisse Gumapas, ARNP, DNP
Naturopathic Medicine
Dr. Mary Alison Koehnke, ND, Washington, Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center
Tam Lutz, Project Director
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Annie Hetzel, MSN, RN, NCSN, School Health Services Consultant
Public Health--Seattle & King County
Libby Page, MPH, Immunization Program Manager
School Nurse Representation
Sarah Kim, MSN, RN, CPN, NCSN
Seattle Indian Health Board
Dr. Maithri Sarangam, Pediatrician
State Agency Healthcare Purchasers
Korrina Dalke, RN, BSN, CPC, Health Care Authority
Student Representation
Vacant
Vaccine Researcher (Clinical Trials & Licensing)
Helen Y. Chu, MD MPH, University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public Health
Washington Academy of Family Physicians (WAFP)
Dr. Gretchen LaSalle
Dr. John Merrill-Steskal
Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WCAAP)
Dr. Francis Bell
Dr. Seema Abbasi
Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials (WSALPHO)
Dr. Amy Harley MD, MPH, Health Officer, Whatcom and San Juan Counties Community Service Departments
Dr. James “Jay” Miller MD, MPH, Health Officer, Tacoma Pierce County Health Department
Juan Gutierrez Jr. BSN, RN, Clinic Operations Manager, Benton-Franklin Health District
Washington State Pharmacy Association
Dr. Jenny Arnold, Pharm.D., Director of Pharmacy Practice Development
Consultants
Dr. Beth Harvey
Dr. Ed Marcuse
Department of Health Support Staff
- Dr. Jamilia Sherls, DNP, MPH, RN, CPN, CDP, Director, Office of Immunization
- Janel Jorgenson, Vaccine Management Section Manager, Office of Immunization
- Dr. Meredith Cook, PhD, Assessment Section Manager, Office of Immunization
- Jeff Chorath, MBA, MHA, Immunization Information System Section Manager, Office of Immunization
- Teri Maitri, Office Manager, Office of Immunization
- Mary Huynh, MPH, MPP, CDC Senior Public Health Advisor, Office of Immunization
- Adriann Jones, EMPA, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Immunization
- Chas DeBolt, RN, MPH, Nurse Consultation Advisor, Vaccine Preventable Diseases Epidemiologist, Office of Health and Science
- Sherry Carlson, Health Education Manager, Health Promotion and Health Education, Office of Public Affairs and Equity