Immunize Nevada, an award winning 501c3 non profit, is widely recognized as Nevada’s trusted resource for immunizations and community health for all ages by fostering education and statewide collaboration.
This blog post was written by Brandon Brown. Brandon Brown is an Assistant Professor at the UC Riverside School of Medicine Center for Healthy Communities. His research interests include HIV and HPV-related disease, cancer prevention among underserved populations, use of pop culture for education, and ethical issues in outbreaks including the Ebola epidemic. He earned his bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from the University of California, Irvine, followed by a M.P.H. in epidemiology from UCLA. He then attended the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to earn his Ph.D. in international health, conducting his postdoctoral work in global health at UCLA.
The opinions expressed by guest bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Immunize Nevada or any employee thereof.
Amanda Magrini, MD, is a board certified family medicine physician at Northern Nevada Medical Group’s Los Altos location in Sparks. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Nevada, Reno and her medical training at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Dr. Magrini has practiced family medicine for five years, including residency, and enjoys her specialty, because she likes taking care of the whole family, from newborns to grandparents. She likes preventative medicine, helping people take care of themselves and the relationships she is able to form with her patients. Dr. Magrini grew up in Sparks, NV and likes that it is a safe place to live with great educational opportunities and beautiful scenery. She thinks Northern Nevada is a great place to raise a family and looks forward to raising her own children here. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, boating, running and traveling the world. Dr. Magrini is also very close with her family; she is married to her high school sweetheart and values spending time with him and the rest of her family.
Trisha Gum is a Los Angeles-based entertainment lawyer and mother of two young children who founded Parents for Vaccinations in 2015.
Nancy Smith is a registered nurse and mother who lives in Reno, Nevada.
Mike Holmes is a professor at Truckee Meadows Community College and teaches Architecture and Construction Management. He is an avid outdoorsman that enjoys hiking, camping, snow skiing, scuba diving, and distance running. He has completed over 30 distance races including multiple Boston Marathons and the prestigious Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. He is a multiple gallon blood donor and is married to former Washoe County District Attorney and current Reno Municipal Court Judge Dorothy Nash Holmes.
Mikalee Byerman is VP of Strategy for the Estipona Group, one of Immunize Nevada’s communication partners. She is also a freelance writer and mom to three kids, all of whom have now received their flu shots — and will every year moving forward, on or before Oct. 1.
As Immunize Nevada’s Healthy Futures Coordinator, Leah trains educators and students about the benefits of school-required vaccines and helps connect families with vaccine providers in their community. Having grown up in Las Vegas, she is passionate about protecting Nevada from vaccine-preventable disease and reducing health disparities in her community.
Kristen Power is the Communications Director for the Nevada Cancer Coalition. Kristen joined the NCC in August 2013. She has more than 15 years of experience in public relations, marketing, community outreach, fundraising, and nonprofits. Kristen is a Nevada native and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno.