Immunization Champion Award

Alyssa Caucci, MHA
Director of Quality and Patient Engagement – NeighborCare Health—Seattle, WA

Nominated by: Michelle Shin—Assistant Professor, University of Washington

As Director of Quality and Patient Engagement at Neighborcare Health, Alyssa has demonstrated outstanding leadership, collaboration, and innovation in advancing childhood immunization efforts and vaccine equity throughout the community. Alyssa leads Neighborcare’s Vaccine Steering Committee, a multidisciplinary and cross-functional group that brings together executive leaders, providers, nurses, medical assistants, and operational staff to strengthen immunization practices across the organization. Using a data-driven approach, Alyssa consistently analyzes immunization data to identify populations with lower vaccination rates and disparities in care. Through her leadership and commitment to evidence-based best practices, Alyssa has become a trusted immunization champion dedicated to improving health outcomes for children and families across the community.

The impact of Alyssa’s work has been significant across both patients and staff at Neighborcare Health. At a time when federally qualified health centers are facing substantial financial challenges and competing priorities, Alyssa has successfully kept childhood immunizations and vaccine equity front and center within the organization’s quality and population health efforts. Her efforts are already showing measurable impact, with Combo 10 completion rates at the end of Q1 2026 showing a 25% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Through her collaborative leadership and unwavering commitment to equity, Alyssa has strengthened vaccine confidence, improved organization alignment, and helped create healthier outcomes for children and families across the community.

Aaron Richardson DO, MPH
Pediatric Medical Director – Kadlec Medical Group – Pasco, WA

Nominated by: Macie Reynolds – Immunization Promotion Coordinator, Benton Franklin Health District

A big impact this nominee does to show collaboration is with joining a local immunization coalition and making a conscious effort of always being in attendance and working around his schedule as a doctor to make sure he can provide a perspective to the group from the medical side and represent his organization as well. Another way he fosters immunizations in the community is by how he has adapted his practice and implemented strategies on how to work with clients that are vaccine hesitant and has fostered an impact of being a known doctor in the community that people can trust.

Biggest impact he has done is his advocacy work in the community, and really stands out from other providers and uses his voice and has engaged with other community driven initiatives. His impact has really shown through his years and dedication serving this community.

The Bessler Center at Mary Bridge Childen’s, in collaboration with Pierce County School Immunization Collaborative, TPCHD, Acts Pharmacy (Chris Ladish, Rebecca Lazer)

Nominated by: Shallae Hobbs – Director of Health Services, Tacoma Schools

In 2025 the Bessler Center at Mary Bridge Children’s convened a multi sector immunization collaborative in Pierce County, bringing together Acts Pharmacy, Pierce County schools, and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Medical Reserve Corps. This partnership model focused on expanding equitable access to vaccinations for children and families, particularly those facing barriers to preventive care. Through coordinated community and school-based efforts, the collaborative strengthened local immunization infrastructure and advanced illness prevention strategies aligned with population health priorities at a time when funding was lost to the local health department.

Across 2025 the collaborative delivered a substantial volume of vaccinations through both community and school-based settings. In total more than 20 community and school-based clinics were implemented, with events intentionally scheduled during evenings and weekends to maximize accessibility for working families. A core focus of the collaborative was the removal of structural barriers to immunization access. In 2025, seventy percent of vaccines were delivered to children who were underinsured or uninsured, demonstrating targeted outreach to populations with the greatest access challenges.

Carrie Jenner, MD
Pediatric Medical Director – Virginia Mason Franciscan Health – University Place, WA

Nominated by: Samantha Becker – RN Supervisor, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Dr. Jenner goes above and beyond to advocate for immunizations each day. She is our pediatric medical director and leads our pediatric regional meetings. She provides concrete information to help other pediatricians and nurse leader understand new information. She participated in legislative work at our state capitol this year and held a booth at the Washington State Immunization Summit.

Dr. Jenner is a vaccine resource for our providers and staff. Any new vaccines coming out or changes to vaccine schedules, she is spreading the word immediately to educate our team. Dr. Jenner enjoys working with children and promoting health from birth to adulthood. She advocates for all our pediatric patients and takes pride in being a good steward of our VFC program.

Jennifer Maxwell, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Physician – Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic – Yakima, WA

Nominated by: Stephanie Hansen – Physician, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic

Dr. Jennifer Maxwell has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to improving immunization rates through education, collaboration, advocacy, and community engagement. As a family practice physician caring for patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center, preceptor for both the Community Health of Central Washington Family Medicine Residency Program and medical students at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, she is widely recognized as a trusted authority on immunization practices and vaccine communication. Dr. Maxwell created a collaborative forum bringing together our local health department and clinicians from multiple specialties to address vaccine hesitancy, discuss barriers to immunization, and strengthen coordination. This work has fostered meaningful partnerships and improved collaboration throughout the community.

Through clinical care, teaching, public advocacy, and statewide leadership, Dr. Maxwell has made a lasting impact on immunization efforts locally and across Washington State. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Maxwell became a visible and trusted advocate for vaccination ensuring community members had access to reliable information and compassionate care. Through her roles as Public Health Co-Chair for the Washington Academy of Family Physicians, citizen representative-at-large for the county health department, and participant in the statewide respiratory vaccine seasonal implementation workgroup with the Washington State Department of Health, Dr. Maxwell has helped influence immunization planning, policy discussions, and best practices that extend well beyond her individual practice. As both a clinician and educator, Dr. Maxwell is passionate about helping patients, learners, and colleagues understand the importance of immunization in protecting individuals and communities.

Katina Tilghman, BSN
Employee Health Registered Nurse – WhidbeyHealth – Coupeville, WA

Nominated by: Shanna Harney-Bates – Executive Director of Quality and Compliance, WhidbeyHealth

The nominee is the sole member of her department and consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication and leadership. Through her efforts, vaccination compliance across the organization has reached an impressive 95-98% for Varicella, T-dap, Hepatitis B, and MMR vaccines, supporting a workforce of approximately 1,000 employees. She routinely goes above and beyond to accommodate employee schedules, ensuring broad accessibility to required and requested immunizations. Her flexibility and commitment remove barriers to care and significantly improve participation and compliance.

In addition, the nominee regularly rounds with front line staff and senior leadership to strengthen relationships, promote understanding of the Employee Health mission, and increase awareness of available services. The Employee Health Program has successfully passed the last two national audits with no findings. The nominee is deeply passionate about serving her community and is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive service to the staff she supports at WhidbeyHealth. Her dedication reflects a strong sense of responsibility, compassion, and professionalism, making a meaningful impact on both individual and community health.

Kristi Rice, MD
Pediatrician – Providence Medical Group – Spokane, WA

Nominated by: Zachary Springer – Supervisor, Providence Medical Group

Dr. Rice consistently goes above and beyond to promote childhood immunizations through a combination of clinical excellence, patient advocacy, and community outreach. In her daily practice, she dedicates additional time during her visits to provide personalized vaccine education, particularly for families who are hesitant or uncertain. Dr. Rice listens carefully to parental concerns and responds with clear, compassionate explanations. Her respectful approach builds trust and has led many families to confidently move forward with immunizations due to her compassionate explanations supported by current scientific evidence. Through her leadership, education, and unwavering commitment to preventive care, Dr. Rice has meaningfully improved immunization rates while strengthening community trust in pediatric healthcare.

Krisula Brady, BSN
High School Nurse – Bethel School District – Spanaway, WA

Nominated by: Jennifer Waters – High School Health Clerk, Bethel School District

I am pleased to nominate Krisula Brady, RN, for the 2026 Immunization Champion Award for her exceptional leadership, collaboration, innovation, and advocacy in advancing immunization efforts in her community. With over 10 years of service in the district, Krisula has become a trusted authority on immunizations. As a nurse at Bethel High School and a lead nurse trainer for both the Synergy system and the Washington State Immunization Information System (WAIIS), she serves as the primary point of contact for staff. She provides hands-on training, technical support, and mentorship to ensure accurate documentation and adherence to immunization best practices.

Krisula’s work has had a significant and lasting impact on immunization practices and student health across her district. Through her leadership as a nurse and lead trainer for Synergy and WAIIS, she has improved the accuracy and consistency of immunization documentation, ensuring students are appropriately tracked and compliant with state requirements. Her training and mentorship have strengthened staff confidence and competency, resulting in more efficient workflows and fewer missed opportunities for vaccination. By streamlining systems and fostering collaboration between school staff and public health partners, she has helped reduce barriers to care and improve access to vaccines. These combined experiences have driven Krisula to become a dedicated advocate for immunization—focused not only on compliance, but on equity, access, and protecting the health of all students.

Laura Carmichael, RN, ARNP, MBA
Director of Health Services—Issaquah School District – Issaquah, WA

Nominated by: Andie Lyons, Child and Adolescent Immunization Manager, Public health – Seattle & King County

During the 2024-2025 school year, PHSKC's Child & Adolescent Immunizations program worked with Laura and the Issaquah School District to provide in-school vaccine clinics, utilizing a partnership between PHSKC, Bellevue College's Nursing Program, and school districts in King County. After the program came to a close, Laura asked about the possibility of a school district becoming a CVP provider in order to continue providing in-school vaccines for students with the greatest barriers to care. Just a few months later, we received notification that ISD had become a CVP provider. In November 2025, Laura and her team of school nurses began providing direct immunization resources to students at Issaquah schools.

Laura oversees the logistics of the program - including vaccine ordering, inventory, and quality control measures. This program, which has only been functioning since November 2025, has provided 100+ vaccine doses to Issaquah students. More significantly, five of ISD's schools have 100% vaccine compliance (including appropriately filed exemptions) - including all McKinney-Vento students at the school. Providing direct immunizations to students allows them to access important preventative health care while also keeping them in school and connected to education and community resources. Laura is a passionate advocate for public health, and sees the crucial but under-recognized work of school nursing as a key resource in improving health outcomes.

Muktar Mohamed, MPH, PhD
President—Oromo Cultural Center – Seattle, WA

Nominated by: Mohammed Kimo—Board Director, Oromo Cultural Center

Dr. Muktar Mohamed, MPH, PhD, goes above and beyond to promote immunization access and public health education among immigrant and refugee communities in Washington State, particularly within East African communities that often face language, cultural, and healthcare access barriers. Through his leadership at the Oromo Cultural Center in Seattle, Dr. Mohamed has supported culturally responsive vaccine outreach, multilingual health education, interpretation, and community trust-building. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked closely with community organizations and public health partners to provide education on vaccine safety, testing, disease prevention, and healthcare navigation in Afaan Oromo, Amharic, and English. His outreach helped community members better understand public health guidance and increased trust in healthcare systems among populations historically underserved by traditional outreach approaches.

Dr. Mohamed demonstrates leadership, collaboration, advocacy, and innovation through partnerships with Public Health – Seattle & King County, the Washington State Department of Health Community Health Advisory Committee (CHAC), and other community-based organizations. He consistently works beyond the scope of his professional role by volunteering to educate families, connect residents with health resources, support interpretation needs, and strengthen communication between public health agencies and immigrant communities. His work reflects a long-term commitment to equitable access to healthcare, vaccine confidence, and culturally responsive public health engagement. Dr. Mohamed’s leadership has strengthened trust between public health systems and diverse communities, promoting healthier, better-informed, and more resilient populations across Washington State.

Sheryl Gennai, LPN
Immunization Nurse—McChord Medical Clinic – McChord AFB, WA

Nominated by: Molly Oleson—Nurse Manager, McChord Medical Clinic

Serving as our primary clinical mentor and educator, Ms. Gennai developed and delivered comprehensive training to the entire nursing staff on standard immunization protocols and the complex roll out of the new smallpox vaccine. In her daily practice, she is a trusted front line provider, directly administering vaccines to diverse populations spanning pediatric to family medicine patients. Furthermore, she expertly manages and maintains meticulous shot records for a massive 7,500-person empanelment.

A champion of inter-service collaboration, Ms. Gennai spearheaded critical partnerships to increase adult immunization rates and ensure force protection. Through her vital collaboration, she successfully drove the Air Force to an unprecedented 98% compliance rate for both installation-wide flu drives and stringent global deployment immunization requirements. By simultaneously managing a massive patient empanelment, upskilling the entire nursing corps, and forging high-level military partnerships to guarantee total force readiness, Ms. Gennai exemplifies the highest standards of an immunization champion.

Staci Swan, ARNP
ARNP – Shine Pediatrics – Bellevue, WA

Nominated by: Natalie Burleson – ARNP, Shine Pediatrics

Staci Swan, ARNP, exemplifies leadership, collaboration, innovation, and advocacy in advancing immunization efforts in her community. As co-owner of Shine Pediatrics in Bellevue, WA, established in June 2024, she has built a strongly pro-vaccine grounded in accessibility and education. Demonstrating leadership, Staci serves as a trusted authority within her clinic, consistently educating families, mentoring staff, and ensuring that immunization discussions are a standard component of every well-child visit. Through collaboration, Staci has ensured the clinic’s active participation in Washington State’s VFC, CVP, and AVP programs, reducing financial barriers and expanding access to vaccines for all eligible patients.

Staci’s work has had a meaningful and measurable impact on immunization access, acceptance, and uptake within her community. Staci’s individualized approach to working with under-immunized and vaccine-hesitant families has been particularly impactful. Through patient, evidence-based counseling and tailored catch-up schedules, she has helped many families move forward with vaccinations, directly improving immunization rates within her practice. Recognizing that vaccines protect not only individual patients but also vulnerable populations, she has become a strong advocate for increasing immunization rates through education, access, and trust-building. These combined experiences has solidified her role as a committed and compassionate champion for immunization.

Tanya Wilke, MD
Physician – Enumclaw Family Medicine—Enumclaw, WA

Nominated by: Venetta O’Hanlon—RN, Enumclaw Family Medicine

Dr. Wilke has participated in outreach programs to educate, promote, and administer immunizations. She was part of the February 1, 2023-July 1, 2023 HPV-at-9 project Cohort 1 with WCAAP where she worked closely with Sherri Zorn, MD, and Deanna Dudley Pittenger, BSN, RN-CPN. It included running reports, notification campaigns, chart prep and order set changes, hanging posters and handing out education material to our patients and educating our patients with the new data and importance of HPV vaccination starting at 9. The changes we made to our practice have become permanent and we have seen an increase in vaccinations in this age group. For the HPV outreach, the latest report that covers Feb 2023-April 2, 2025 shows that there was a 27% increase in vaccinations for the 9-10 year old range.

During her medical school, Dr. Wilke witnessed a baby who was intubated in ICU from varicella pneumonia and another child who was struggling to breathe and hospitalized for pertussis. Knowing that these both could have been prevented with vaccinations, really impressed on her how important vaccinations are and made her want to be a strong advocate for vaccinations. Through her continuing education and strong determination to continue to meet the most up to date practice standards, she feels very strong and passionate about having her patients up to date on the Washington State recommended vaccinations. She continues to educate and continue to have vaccine conversations at every visit with her vaccine hesitant patients, knowing that it can take a while to build trust in vaccinations.

Tracy White, LPN
LPN – Multicare Maple Valley Pediatrics – Maple Valley, WA

Nominated by: Michelle Jones—CMA, Multicare Maple Valley Primary Care

Tracy makes sure she is up to date on all vaccine updates. Tracy is excellent at updating the office staff regarding important vaccine updates. She is an excellent resource to the clinic. Her knowledge of the vaccine for children program is immeasurable. She is an excellent resource to providers and staff. She helps to ensure accurate and complete vaccinations are available to our patients. She is up to date and very knowledgeable around the MEN B vaccines. She has prevented several vaccine errors with her team.

Tyler Young, PharmD
Pharmacist—Vashon Pharmacy – Vashon, WA

Nominated by: Crystal Bryan— Pharmacist, Cascadia Pharmacy Group

Tyler and the pharmacy team at Vashon Pharmacy provide vaccines to their remote rural island accessible only by ferry. They administer to patients of all ages and have even worked closely with the WSPA and DOH and BOP to become the first pharmacy that is approved and fully set up to bill for the vaccines for children program. Prior to getting this, he worked for grants to be able to provide free vaccines to those children that would have to otherwise go without.

Tyler and the Vashon Pharmacy team have singlehandedly changed the vaccine prevalence on the island of Vashon and thus the health of the entire community. Further he has been a beacon of hope and has helped inspire other pharmacists to provide more vaccines, educate their patient population and improve pharmacy workflows to reduce wait time and other barriers to care. Tyler is from a small town himself and has a heart for remote locations and a powerful sense of patient care. As a father of 5 young girls himself, he hates that access to vaccines can be especially burdensome for children in our state and fought through all the barriers so that his pharmacy could participate in Vaccines for Children and access and care could be improved.

Wil Edwards, PharmD
Head Pharmacist and Owner
SIDS Pharmacy
Pullman, Washington

As the head pharmacist and owner of Sid’s Pharmacy in Pullman, Wil has been a driving force behind increasing immunization rates in Whitman County, especially in rural and underserved areas. His dedication to expanding vaccine access is evident in his seven-day-a-week walk-in immunization services, ensuring community members can receive routine vaccinations conveniently. Additionally, for more than a decade, Wil has operated mobile vaccination clinics, bringing immunization services to schools, long-term care facilities, and local businesses.

Wil’s tireless efforts have helped build trust and confidence within his community, leading to higher vaccination rates and greater healthcare equity. His deep-rooted connection to the area, combined with his expertise, professionalism, and compassion, makes him a trusted leader and a strong advocate for immunization access.

To read Wil’s profile on the AIM website, and to learn more about AIM’s Immunization Champion Award program, please visit Immunization Champion Awards - Association of Immunization Managers.

Jazel Jane M. Bautista
Pharmacist and Owner
Acts Pharmacy and Healthcare Services
Tacoma, Washington

In 2023, Jazel and her five staff supported 51 community vaccination events in partnership with the Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA), the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, and 34 other community-based organization. These collaborations allowed Jazel to reach diverse populations, many of whom have been historically marginalized within the healthcare system.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department relies on Jazel and her pharmacy to support the vaccine management of adult family homes, senior centers, and schools.

As one of the few pharmacies to participate in the Vaccines For Children (VFC) Program, Jazel is working with the WSPA and the Washington Vaccine Association to tackle barriers and improve pharmacy enrollment in the VFC program. Jazel also emphasizes training her staff on vaccine eligibility, patient screening, patient insurance coverage options, and patient enrollment into appropriate programs to eliminate costs for patients.

Mehr Grewal
Founder and Executive Director
Worth A Shot Initiative
Bellevue, WA

Mehr Grewal is a Bellevue High School student who founded the “Worth A Shot” initiative, focused on education and advocacy for COVID-19 vaccines. As a response to vaccine messaging not resonating with members in her community, Mehr and her organization partnered with hospitals, local public health, school districts, and community organizations to host town hall conversations and community vaccination events. Leaning into her existing community relationships and built in trust, Mehr used her voice to advocate to other youth and their families about the importance of vaccination and create educational campaigns to combat vaccine misinformation and build vaccine confidence. Mehr’s efforts to inspire other youth to provide them with the skills to advocate for COVID-19 vaccination in their communities led to increased vaccine confidence across the county and immeasurable positive impacts in the community.