Legacy Council

AIM launched an advisory group called the Legacy Council in April 2023. The Legacy Council is comprised of former and retired immunization program managers who provide high-level guidance to AIM on organizational strategies and awardee program needs.

The 10 Legacy Council members represent 7 regions/8 states.  Collectively, the Legacy Council has over 150 years of experience in immunization. They have vast institutional knowledge, expertise, and passion as former immunization program managers. The Legacy Council helps AIM staff gather member input on organizational activities, resources, and communications, and serves as a platform to preserve institutional knowledge, share wisdom, and offer insights from the unique perspective of previous program managers.

• Advise AIM on the strategic direction of the organization to align with membership needs
• Provide high-level guidance on member activity and program planning
• Provide feedback on AIM positions and statements​
• Guide funding proposals, communications, documents, and resources

The Legacy Council meets regularly and as needed for additional projects. For more information about AIM’s Legacy Council, please contact Julia Donavant.

The Legacy Council strengthens AIM’s engagement with previous program managers,  leveraging their extensive expertise in immunization program operations and environments to better serve AIM members. Below are some examples of the Legacy Council’s impactful contributions:

• Contributed feedback to AIM’s tip sheet on Increasing Equitable Access to Birth Dose Immunizations.
• Provided input into AIM’s toolkit on Communicating the Value of Immunization Information Systems (IIS): A Toolkit for Program Managers.
• Contributed information and provided feedback on the resources in AIM’s Promising Practices to Improve Pediatric COVID-19 Immunization Rates Toolkit.
• Reviewed and contributed to AIM’s Connecting the Dots: Vaccine Confidence Resources guide.
• Provided feedback on AIM’s Coalition Toolkit: Resources for Building, Maintaining, and Sustaining Immunization Coalitions
• Assisted in the development of immunization program manager trainings by reviewing content for COVID-19 learning modules and hosting leadership training webinars on celebrating your team.

Christine Finley served as the Immunization Program Manager at the Vermont Department of Health for over 11 years. During Christine’s tenure overseeing the VT Immunization Program, her greatest accomplishments included planning and implementing the VT Vaccines for Adults program, working collaboratively with the VT American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to eliminate the philosophical exemption and increase childhood immunization rates, conducting research with CDC to assess Tdap effectiveness, and expanding the VT Immunization Program to address needs better.

Christine actively engaged with AIM as an Executive Committee member, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) liaison, and ACIP workgroup representative, and was involved in AIM’s mentor program. Christine also received the Natalie J. Smith, MD Award for Excellence in Program Management. Christine works as an RN in a residential treatment program and as an RN school nurse substitute.

Stacy Stevens Hall served as the Program Director at the Louisiana Office of Public Health Immunization Program for 27 years and has over 40 years of nursing experience. During her tenure, LA increased the HPV up-to-date vaccination rate for 13-17-year-olds from 34.9% in 2015 to 63.9% in 2021, as measured by the National Immunization Survey. Stacy was actively involved with AIM as an ACIP workgroup representative, in AIM’s mentor program, and served on AIM committees and workgroups for Pandemic Influenza and Preparedness, Immunization Promotion, Strategic Planning, and Curriculum Development.

In March 2020, Stacy co-founded the Navigators to enhance the collaboration between pharmacy and public health for the COVID-19 vaccination response. She remains active in this multidisciplinary group as they work to promote health equity and increase vaccination rates. In her retirement, Stacy is an instructor with the LA State University National Center for Biomedical Research & Training, teaching courses designed to help first responders build critical skills to function effectively in mass consequence events. Additionally, she is married with five successful adult children and four beautiful grandchildren who are up to date with their vaccinations.

Brock Lamont served as the Chief of the Immunization Services Division’s Program Operations Branch (POB) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the past 10 years. He recently retired after 34 years of federal service. Brock dedicated his career to supporting state and local immunization programs, specifically immunization program managers. One of Brock’s proudest accomplishments was serving as project lead of the Vaccine Management Business Improvement Project (VMBIP), which created a centralized vaccine distribution process for all publicly purchased vaccines. Every dose of COVID-19 vaccine was distributed via this process. Brock served as the program manager for the city of Houston from 1999-2004.

In 2022, Brock was inducted into the AIM Hall of Fame in recognition of his leadership, commitment, and outstanding contributions to the immunization program manager community and the vision of a nation free of vaccine-preventable disease. He is an original AIM member, has served on AIM’s Executive Committee, and has been involved with several AIM committees and workgroups. Most recently, he served on the planning committee for the Vaccine Access Cooperative (VAC) regional meetings.

In his retirement, Brock enjoys playing golf, learning to play ukulele and guitar, and spending time at the beach.

Lori served as the Director of Immunization Services for the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) until 2019. She was responsible for implementing and directing two statewide initiatives, the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness and 2-1-1 OK. During her tenure, Lori implemented Strategic Planning (SP) and Quality Improvement (QI) training for the immunization program staff. These successes led them to be routinely asked to present at national webinars to encourage SP and QI within an organizational structure.

Lori was actively engaged with AIM in the mentor program and served on committees for Member Engagement, Education and Awareness, and Conference Planning. After leaving the program manager role, Lori joined AIM as Member Services Consultant. She utilizes her passion and experience to onboard new program managers, support members, and provide expertise in program management. She teaches Aqua Zumba and Water Cardio classes in her free time and enjoys spending time with her granddaughter.

Monica Mayer served as the immunization program manager at the Kansas State Department of Health from 1991-1999. During her tenure, Monica achieved several milestones, including the on-time implementation of the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program in 1992, making Kansas one of only 12 states to meet the deadline. She also spearheaded “Operation Immunize,” a statewide mass vaccination campaign that ran for seven years, significantly increasing childhood immunization rates. This effort was coupled with the launch of the Kansas Immunization Information System (KIIS), which captured vaccination records statewide and enhanced immunization tracking and outreach.

In addition to her role as immunization program manager, Monica held several public health positions throughout her career, including health inspector, vaccine-preventable disease investigator, Medicaid policy specialist, public health policy advisor in the private sector, and AIM consultant. Monica has been actively engaged with AIM, contributing her knowledge and experience as a consultant and participating in initiatives to address Medicaid billing issues in pharmacies and advocate for the protection of existing school immunization regulations. Since retiring, Monica has enjoyed the flexibility that retirement offers by sleeping in and volunteering at a no-kill animal shelter.

Saroj Rai, Ph.D., MPH, is Senior Scientific Advisor at the Texas Department of State Health Services, where she served as the Immunization Branch Manager. Saroj has vaccine research and development experience and global vaccination fieldwork.

During her time as Immunization Branch Manager, her proudest accomplishments included leading Meaningful Use, the response to the measles outbreak, a next-generation immunization registry, and an HPV vaccination initiative. Most recently, she supported the TX COVID-19 vaccination rollout.

Saroj was actively engaged with AIM as an Executive Committee member. Currently, she serves as a vaccine subject matter expert (SME) for the state of TX and continues to serve Texans as a Scientific Advisor for the agency.

Beth Rowe-West served as program manager for the immunization program at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services until 2013. During Beth’s tenure overseeing the North Carolina immunization program, her greatest accomplishments included achieving number one nationally in childhood immunization coverage rates.

Beth was actively engaged with AIM as an Executive Committee member, received the Natalie J. Smith, MD Award for Excellence in Program Management, and led AIM’s member services for six years. In 2024, Beth was inducted into the AIM Hall of Fame in recognition of her leadership, commitment, and outstanding contributions to the immunization program manager community and the vision of a nation free of vaccine-preventable disease. In retirement, Beth serves on the AIM Legacy Council and enjoys spending time with her four lovely, fully vaccinated grandchildren.

Laurel Wood served as the immunization program manager for the Alaska Division of Public Health for 16 years and directed the AIDS/HIV Program in Tennessee. Laurel retired from state government service in 2011 after working in public health communicable disease/epidemiology programs for almost 30 years.

During Laurel’s tenure with the AK immunization program, her proudest accomplishments included maintaining a vaccine depot for the distribution of vaccines to all (public and private) providers in the state, establishing and growing VacTrAK (AK’s IIS), and developing a statewide vaccine preparedness program.

Laurel was actively engaged with AIM as an Executive Committee member, was involved with AIM’s mentor program, and served on several committees and workgroups. Laurel received the Natalie J. Smith, MD Award for Excellence in Program Management and AIM’s Bull’s-Eye Award for Innovation and Excellence in Immunization. In 2024, Laurel was inducted into the AIM Hall of Fame in recognition of her leadership, commitment, and outstanding contributions to the immunization program manager community and the vision of a nation free of vaccine-preventable disease. Currently, Laurel serves in a consultant role as Immunize.org’s Director for Public Health and enjoys traveling and spending time with her grandchildren.

Jane Zucker served as Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she managed the Bureau of Immunization for 18 years. Jane is an infectious disease physician with over 26 years of public health experience.

During Jane’s tenure overseeing the NYC Bureau of Immunization, her greatest accomplishments included promoting the importance of IISs, linking VFC and IIS programs and data, contributing to emergency responses for 9/11, the 2018-19 measles outbreak, NYC’s COVID-19 response, and participating in the CDC Ebola vaccine trial in Sierra Leone. Additionally, raising immunization coverage rates overall and reducing racial/ethnic disparities for some infections and vaccines, and building the Bureau of Immunization’s capacity and the commitment of their staff.

Jane was actively engaged with AIM as an ACIP workgroup representative, served on committees for influenza, research, and epidemiology and surveillance, and engaged in AIM’s mentor program. Jane received the Natalie J. Smith, MD Award for Excellence in Program Management and AIM Leading Through Adversity Award. In 2024, Jane was inducted into the AIM Hall of Fame in recognition of her leadership, commitment, and outstanding contributions to the immunization program manager community and the vision of a nation free of vaccine-preventable disease.  In her retirement, Jane enjoys traveling and bird watching. She has set timelines for seeing every penguin and crane species worldwide!

Phil Griffin served as the Deputy Director Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for 10 years, which included overseeing the state immunization program. Phil also served as the KS Tuberculosis Controller, responsible for all prevention and control activities associated with tuberculosis. During Phil’s tenure overseeing the KS Immunization Program, his greatest accomplishments included moving the state’s HPV rate from the very lowest in the country to the middle of the rankings. This effort served to increase all vaccination rates in KS. Phil was actively engaged with AIM through the mentor program, as an ACIP workgroup representative, and on the Conference and Membership Engagement Committees.

In his retirement, Phil moved to his home state of Florida and enjoyed spending time with family and returning to his roots. He remodeled his home and enjoyed canning fresh produce, volunteering, and mentoring youth in his community. He was an active member of AIM’s Legacy Council and shared his expertise and passion for immunization, offering guidance and support to current program managers and AIM initiatives. Phil’s contributions to the immunization community were immeasurable, and his dedication to public health will be deeply missed. Phil will be remembered for his kindness, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to protecting communities through vaccination, which have left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of working with him.

Dan Hopfensperger served as Wisconsin’s immunization program manager for over 15 years before retiring in 2015, but his impact on immunization efforts extended far beyond his tenure. He remained an integral part of AIM as a consultant and Legacy Council member until his passing in October 2023. Dan’s leadership and influence helped shape AIM and the immunization field. He served as AIM Chair-elect, Chair, and Past Chair from 2005-2007, and was a long-standing elected member of the AIM Executive Committee. His dedication to mentoring future leaders was evident in his role as an AIM mentor and Chair of the AIM Registry Committee.

Widely regarded as the “godfather of IIS,” Dan was instrumental in developing the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR), which became a model shared with immunization programs nationwide. Dan’s legacy is one of passion, integrity, and lasting impact. The state of Wisconsin continues to benefit from his work, and his influence lives on in the immunization programs and professionals he mentored. In retirement, Dan found joy in spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, traveling, and continuing to support AIM and give back to the immunization community.