Complete Story
11/26/2025
MHOA December Quarterly Meeting
Epidemiologists in Action: Your Local Health Department’s Secret Weapon
Date: December 18, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Zoom
Description:
The MA Epidemiology Collaborative will present “Epidemiologists in Action: Your Local Health Department’s Secret Weapon" to showcase how quantitative and qualitative data are being used to understand local health challenges, guide decision-making, and improve public health outcomes in local communities.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this training program, participants will be able to:
- Describe at least three core roles epidemiologists play within local health departments/regional teams, including how they contribute to surveillance, outbreak response, communications, and community health assessments.
- Explain how collaboration between public health nurses and epidemiologists can enhance service delivery, strengthen data-driven decision-making, and improve population health outcomes.
Presentation Agenda
Welcome & Introduction
Manizeh Afridi, MPH - Public Health Consultant, BME Strategies
Pooja Shelke, MPH - Regional Epidemiologist, MetroWest Shared Public Health Services Co-Founders, Massachusetts Epidemology Collaborative
Ticked Off: From Surveillance to Solutions in a Community Facing a Tick Crisis
Lea Hamner, MPH - Regional Epidemiologist, Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative
Maternal and Child Health Dashboard: Improving Data Accessibility in Worcester
Aimee Edmondo, MPH - Staff Epidemiologist, City of Worcester Division of Public Health
Leveraging Epidemiology to Close the Postpartum Care Gap: Insights from NSMVP
Steven Kahn, MPH & Laura Nash, MPH – Regional Epidemiologists, North Shore Public Health Collaborative
Tobacco Retail Density in the South Coast Public Health Coalition
Hannah Ragozzino, MPH - Regional Epidemiologist, South Coast Public Health Coalition
Data Visualization and Community Reports
Makayla Petty, MPH - Shared Service Coordinator / Regional Epidemiologist, Greater Boroughs Partnership for Health
Contact hours for continuing education:
1.8 CHO/CPH, MA RS; 1.5 RS/REHS, RN CEUs Pending approval
Cost: Members: $25 | Non-members: $40
