Vermont Public Health Association

07/27/2026

Last Wednesday, VtPHA helped to pilot the American Public Health Association / ecoAmerica Extreme Heat and Health training program in South Burlington.

This event was possible due to a multi-sector and multi-state collaboration between VtPHA and the of Vermont Gund Institute, Osher Center for Integrative Health at UVM, Maine Public Health Association and New Hampshire Public Health Association.

Many thanks to our partners and the 41 participants who 1) spent time learning more about the connections between climate, heat, and health and 2) created new relationships and learned new strategies for how to be better public and clinical health professionals addressing this growing health challenge.

07/24/2026

Come work with us!

VtPHA is seeking a skilled, independent Operations Specialist to provide part-time contractual support across key administrative, financial, and communication functions.

• 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞: Independent Contractor Preferred. Possibility of part-time employment.
• 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 8 hours per week (flexible, remote)
• 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: $35.00 per hour

𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤
The Contractor will provide targeted operational support, focusing on the following core areas:
• 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 & 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Maintain accurate financial accounts in QuickBooks Online. Prepare standard monthly financial reports for Board review.
• 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Monitor the member database, process renewals, and serve as the point of contact for basic member inquiries.
• 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Coordinate digital communications by scheduling email blasts, updating the website calendar, and posting provided content to social media channels.
• 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 & 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:Track grant reporting deadlines, generate invoices, and provide logistical support for virtual and in-person events (e.g., setting up Zoom links, managing registrations).
• 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 & 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Coordinate monthly Board meeting materials and agendas in collaboration with the Board Chair. Maintain organized, secure digital files in Google Workspace/Microsoft Cloud.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 & 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬
• 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:Prior experience with basic bookkeeping, QuickBooks, and membership database management.
• 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: Mastery of Google Workspace, Microsoft Office suite, and standard email marketing/social media platforms.
• 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Experience tracking grant deadlines and managing digital records.
• 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Strong communication skills and comfort working with a remote, diverse Board of Directors.
• 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲: Ability to self-manage tasks effectively within a strict 8-hour weekly budget.

𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
To express interest in this contract, please submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected] with the subject line: VtPHA Operations Specialist. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled.

https://vtpha.org/want-to-work-with-vtpha-operations-support-needed/

07/23/2026

Yesterday, Vermont Public Health Association hosted a training on Extreme Heat. Unfortunately, heat isn't the only health problem associated with climate change.

With hotter weather, mosquitoes and ticks are expanding their geographic reach and are able to stay active for a longer part of each year. These disease-carrying vectors increase the risk for illnesses such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

According to Gill Capper of the American Public Health Association, "...limited funding, lack of knowledge or capacity and other barriers have hindered local vector surveillance and interventions, putting communities at greater risk for exposure to vector-borne diseases."

For more on this growing threat, read Gill's guest article in Public Health Newswire here:

https://www.apha.org/publications/public-health-newswire/public-health-newswire/articles/op-ed-as-mosquitoes-and-ticks-spread,-public-health-must-keep-pace

07/22/2026

Very appreciative of the role plays in keeping our state informed.

Here's the latest on Cyclosporiasis in Vermont....

https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/han-cyclosporiasis-outbreaks.pdf

07/17/2026

A newly proposed rule by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) could fundamentally reshape federal grantmaking.

The proposal would allow political appointees to terminate any federal grant without providing a reason and with no opportunity to appeal. This unprecedented shift threatens to cripple life-saving research, community programs, and public health initiatives nationwide.

Key Impacts:

Zero Accountability: Grants can be canceled arbitrarily without justification.
No Legal Recourse: Recipients have no avenue to appeal a termination.
Politicized Science: Decisions could be driven by ideology rather than merit or data.

Public health relies on stable, objective funding. This naked politicization of the grant process jeopardizes years of scientific progress and community trust.

👇 Read the full analysis from the American Public Health Association (APHA) on how this rule impacts public health:

https://www.apha.org/news-and-media/news-releases/apha-news-releases/omb-proposed-federal-financial-assistance-rule

07/16/2026

Vermont Public Health Association is proud to partner with the American Public Health Association to bring this training to Vermont next Wednesday.

Find all the details on registration here: https://vtpha.org/extreme-heat-training-with-apha-climate-for-health/

Even though extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S. — and kills half a million people globally every year — there is a profound gap between how we perceive this danger and the reality of the threat. Only 37% of Americans recognize heat waves as a serious health threat.

APHA’s Climate Center partnered with ecoAmerica to develop a free training on extreme heat that teaches participants how to communicate effectively about heat and health and advocate for heat protections: https://tinyurl.com/yfnfc8kb

07/07/2026

🌎 Join Our Extreme Heat & Health Training!

VtPHA is helping to host a free, in-person training to help you talk about extreme heat in ways that inspire real action. Whether you're just getting started or already active, you'll gain tools, confidence, and community.

📅 July 22 | 🕒 Noon-4:15pm | 📍 Virtual or In-Person (South Burlington)
🔗 Learn more and register here:
https://vtpha.org/extreme-heat-training-with-apha-climate-for-health/

All participants will earn 3 CE credits for free!

This training was created by the American Public Health Association and Climate for Health and is brought to you in collaboration with the University of Vermont’s Gund Institute for Environment, the Osher Center for Integrative Health at The University of Vermont, the Maine Public Health Association, and the New Hampshire Public Health Association.

We’ll watch short videos, join in small-group discussions, and take part in hands-on activities to:

✅ Understand key climate change basics and how it connects to extreme heat.
✅ Recognize risk factors, symptoms, and treatment for heat-related illnesses
✅ Explore real, practical solutions at clinical and public health levels.
✅ Build confidence in extreme heat communication and advocacy.
✅ Craft your own message for action.

After the training, you’ll be invited to join a national network of nearly 5,000 Climate Ambassadors with access to resources, events, and ongoing support.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

07/04/2026

Intern Spotlight: Emmy Bassler, a recent University of Vermont Public Health graduate who will be continuing her public health studies through UVM’s MPH program, spent her spring semester working with the Vermont Public Health Association as an Education and Communications Intern.

Through her role, Emmy supported public health outreach, educational programming, and advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening health equity across Vermont.

Read more about Emmy’s work and interests in public health here.
https://vtpha.org/intern-spotlight-emmy-bassler/

06/30/2026

Intern Spotlight: This past semester, VtPHA was fortunate to be supported by of two fantastic interns - Nora Bartlett and Emily Stetson. Nora and Emily helped VtPHA explore student engagement opportunities for the American Public Health Association's National Public Health Week. Their internships were part of their University of Vermont public health Senior Capstone project.

An important life lesson for VtPHA and our interns? Not all projects go according to plan! Thank you, Nora and Emily, for your creativity and flexibility as we followed a circuitous path from start to finish.

You can read more about their intended project here.
https://vtpha.org/intern-spotlight-emily-stetson-uvm-26/

06/29/2026

Monday got you down? We’ve got something to lift you up: a celebration of one of Vermont’s true public health leaders.

At our 2026 Annual Meeting, VtPHA named Sally Kerschner as one of two inaugural recipients of a new award: Exemplary Contributions to VtPHA.

Sally has been a central part of VtPHA’s story since our founding in 2002. She is a passionate, organized and innovative PH advocate. Sally is constantly connecting ideas, people, and possibilities to strategies for action. Her enthusiasm and energy are matched by her warmth, kindness, and collaborative spirit.

Outside of her VtPHA commitment, in 2021 Sally retired from the Vermont Department of Health where she worked since 1983 in a variety of supervisory and management positions in programs addressing community health and Maternal and Child Health. Her professional interests include population health planning, systems development, public health policy, and maternal and child health issues such as environmental, periconceptual health, injury prevention, and rural health.

Check out this blog for the full list of VtPHA’s 2026 Awardees, and congratulations to Sally Kerschner and all of the honorees for their tireless work keeping our communities safe, healthy, and supported!

https://vtpha.org/2026-public-health-awardees/