Our Advisory Board
The Vermont Public Health Institute’s advisors are at the center of a network of connections that spans Vermont and the nation. Working with our advisors, the VtPHI assembles teams based on each project’s needs, bringing together the best people available. These experts include scientists, policy experts, health care providers, researchers, and community engagement specialists.
Sally Kerschner, RN, MSN
Advisor
Sally Kerschner, MSN, RN has been involved with the Vermont Public Health Association for over twenty years and served as President 2017- 2020. She recently retired from the Vermont Department of Health as the MCH Injury Prevention Coordinator, Division of Maternal and Child Health. She has worked at VDH since 1983 in a variety of supervisory and management positions for programs addressing community health and Maternal and Child Health. 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. Sally is presently working with the Vermont Public Health Association and the Vermont Public Health Institute on implementing the CDC Health Equity grant deliverables for the Vermont Community Health Equity Project.
Laural Ruggles
Advisor
Laural Ruggles, MBA, MPH was the VP of Marketing and Community Health Improvement at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. Retired from NVRH in 2021, Laural has joined the VtPHI team as a consultant on the CDC Health Equity Grant and the Vermont Community Health Equity Partnership.
JoEllen Tarallo, Ed.D, MCHES, FASHA
Advisor
Dr. Tarallo, Ed.D., MCHES, FASHA, Executive Director of the Center for Health and Learning (CHL), is a senior executive educational, non-profit and public health professional, who specializes in working with educational, health and community organizations, focusing on issues that affect educational attainment and public health concerns. She has expertise in the assessment, implementation and evaluation of curriculum, policy, and professional development. Dr. Tarallo has a Doctorate in Educational Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University from the Graduate School of Education, with affiliations at the Kennedy School of Government and Harvard School of Public Health. She is a state licensed and nationally credentialed Health Education Specialist. Her work has included a focus on school climate, chronic disease prevention, mental health promotion, alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention and suicide prevention, bullying and harassment, HIV prevention and sexual health. She has designed and taught more than 20 graduate-level courses and has published curriculum, provides thought leadership with a focus on systems transformation and innovation, interdisciplinary and diverse partner engagement and has extensive grant writing and management experience.
Heidi Klein
Advisor
Heidi Klein serves as Director of Planning and Health Care Quality for the Vermont Department of Health. She possesses close to 30 years of public health practice, public engagement, and collaborative planning. She worked with leaders at the national, state and local level, to design programs and policies which recognize the interconnection between public health, environmental protection and economically vibrant communities. She is past-president of VtPHA and has served in multiple capacities for the American Public Health Association.