Subject Matter Expert (SME) Program
The Subject Matter Experts (SME) program is a part of a Massachusetts Department of Public Health grant funded program that supports work toward the Blueprint for Public Health Excellence. Our SMEs are experienced professionals committed to collaboration, health equity and supporting local public health professionals. Subject matter experts provide guidance and resources to support local public health (including shared services arrangements, training hubs, and local health departments).
The OLRH technical support program provides a comprehensive, collaborative approach to providing timely, high quality programmatic guidance to local public health entities. Technical Support Providers offer support with a focus on promoting racial equity and employing an equity lens to enhance the effectiveness and capacity of local public health.
Please complete the Technical Support Request Form to request technical support from our SMEs. Following the submission of this form, a Technical Support Provider will be assigned based on the type of support requested. Once matched, you will receive an email connecting you with the assigned Technical Support Provider who will coordinate the initial meeting to discuss next steps.
Glen AyersGlen Ayers, R.S., SME, started working in environmental and public health in 1980 as a soil scientist for the State of Pennsylvania in the hazardous waste program. After finishing graduate school with a MS in soil microbiology, Glen moved to MA and served first as a Board of Health member for several years and then became an RS, CHO, T-5 Soil Evaluator, T-5 System Inspector, Lead Paint Determinator, Certified Public Water Supply Operator, Certified Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, and Justice of the Peace. Glen helped to create the Franklin County Cooperative Public Health Service and served as the shared Regional Health Agent for the CPHS, where he typically worked for eight or more Boards of Health in Franklin County at the same time. Glen retired in 2018 but continues to share his experience and expertise in local and regional public health as an MHOA Subject Matter Expert with a specialization in small, rural towns and all things Title-5. | Robin ChapellRobin has been involved in local public health for over 34 years. She has been involved on environmental committees for NACCHO, a past president of MHOA, and very involved in regional partnerships throughout her career as well as starting intermunicipal and public programs/coalitions in her work community (such as coalitions to prevent underage drug abuse). She has also been very involved in brownfield and superfund cleanups by keeping the community informed and making sure local voices were heard during the clean up and reuse process. She is also very happy to discuss all aspects of local public health such as inspections, communications, policies, budgets, building consensus, healthy communities, emergency preparedness as she was involved in all of these areas during her tenure. |
Paul HalfmannPaul was a part of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program as a Master Code Enforcement Inspector from 1994 to 2004. In 2004, he accepted the position of Assistant Director of DPH’s Community Sanitation Program and held that position until he retired in December 2021. Paul established Halfmann Public Health Consulting, LLC, and continues to provide Sanitary Code training to local public health officials and consults with Relevant Systems, Inc., assisting in the development of inspection software used by local public health personnel. | Doug HalleyDoug Halley was Health Director in Acton for 28 years, retiring in 2018 and becoming MHOA's Membership Services Coordinator. His duties as Director included overseeing 120+ food service facilities, 120+ hazardous material storage facilities, 1,000+ apartment units, 4,000 on-site wastewater systems, a 300,000 gpd Wastewater Treatment Facility and a seven town local transportation system (CrossTown Connect) |
Terence HayesI retired in 2018 after 32 years in Public Health. I was 3 years in the Town of Yarmouth as an Assistant Health Director, 15 years in Chatham as the Health Agent, and 14 years in Dennis as the Health Director. I came from the private sector after 13 years as a marine biologist, statistician, and analytical chemist. I have been a member of the Barnstable County Incident Management Team since its inception in 2006. I am a Past President of both the Mass Environmental Health Association and the Mass Health Officers Association. | Nancy IceNancy has local public health experience working for 38.5 years as a Health Director for the Town of Brewster, 1.5 years as Health Agent for the Town of Rehoboth and 2 summers as the Health Inspector for the Town of Bourne. She has a MPH from Boston University and a BS in Public Health/Community Health from UMass Amherst. |
Doug KressFrom 2015-2022, Doug was the Director of Health and Human Services for the City of Somerville, during which time he successfully reorganized and expanded the Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to that position, Doug held several Public Administrator roles with the City of Minneapolis, including director of development services, senior policy aide, and director of family services collaborative. He holds a bachelors in Public Health and masters degree in education from the University of Minnesota and public policy from Tufts University. | Cathleen LibertyCathleen has a passion for community and public health, she completed her Bachelor of Science at Worcester State University in 2008 and my MPH at UMass Amherst in 2014. She has been a public health official since 2008 and currently remains a Director of Public Health. She has expertise in all aspects of public health and community education. She can provide assistance with community education, outreach about public health issues, and provide assistance with outreach to the food establishment community to assist with Person in Charge training, newsletters and other areas of need. |
Patrick "Pat" Maloney | Allyson PinkhoverAllyson Pinkhover brings more than 10 years of professional public health experience as an SME, with specialized expertise around substance use, behavioral health, and health equity. She has served on the Town of Holbrook Board of Health since 2021, where she has grown her knowledge and skills related to local public health in Massachusetts. Allyson completed an MPH from Drexel University School of Public Health, is a Certified Health Officer, and is a Doctor of Public Health Candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. |
Susan RosaSusan has over 25 years of experience in public health, starting as a nurse and advancing to the role of Public Health Director. Sue began her public health career in 1998 as a Public Health Nurse for the Town of Westford and then moved to the Town of Chelmsford, where, after a few years, she became the Manager of Healthcare Services. Over the years, she expanded her knowledge beyond public health nursing to include all areas of public health. Awareness, prevention, and education, as well as enforcement of local and state codes were priorities. Sue was promoted to the position of Public Health Director for Chelmsford and functioned in this role for many years until her retirement in June of 2024. | Amanda StoneAmanda’s expertise spans 35+ years of hospital, community, and public health nursing experience. She has successfully developed and implemented programs and led initiatives to address vaccine and non-vaccine preventable diseases; chronic disease and injury prevention; communicable disease control; maternal, child and family health; and emergency preparedness, response, and mitigation. Amanda has many years of experience utilizing MAVEN and MIIS, managing vaccines and vaccination clinics, and recruiting, training and supervising clinic staff and volunteers. Before retiring from full-time public health nursing, Amanda worked for the Mattapoisett BOH for 17 years. In that role she mentored undergraduate and graduate nursing students during their community health rotation, served as the Medical Reserve Corps Unit Coordinator, the Emergency Shelter Manager, the Emergency Dispensing Site Coordinator, and Director of Public Health Nursing Services. In 2020, Amanda was appointed the BOH lead for COVID-19 response and mitigation. Amanda has a proven background in community outreach, collaboration with community partners, advocacy, and engagement with diverse populations to promote health, equity, improve health literacy, and ensure access and linkage to clinical care and community-based health education. Amanda is a current member and Past President of the Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses (MAPHN). |
Jamie TerryJamie Terry has more than 22 years of leadership experience in public health across central Massachusetts, having served as a director, agent, inspector, and emergency planner. She brings expertise in environmental health, emergency preparedness, budgeting, and grant writing. As a registered sanitarian, she is well-versed in septic systems, food safety, pools, housing, and tattoo regulations. She is a fierce advocate who is adept at managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining composure and caring for the well-being of the public. | Steve WardSteven Ward served as a Public Health Director for the cities of Braintree, Watertown, Framingham, Marlborough (Interim Director) and as Deputy Director for the City of Worcester for a total of 25 years. Prior to serving as a Public Health Director Mr. Ward was a sanitarian for the City of Worcester, Framingham, Town of Brookline and the Town of Acton. Steve is a Past President of the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association (MEHA), past Chair of the Certified Health Officers Board, past Chair of the East Mosquito Middlesex Mosquito Control Commission, past Chair of the Coalition for Local Public Health, a registered sanitarian, an adjunct public health professor at Worcester State University and holds a bachelor's and master's degree in biological science and a master's degree in public health from Boston University School of Public Health. |
Jim WhiteJim spent his whole 41 year career with the Town of Natick Health Department, the last 14 years, he held the position of the Director of Public Health until his retirement in September of 2021. He holds several public health credentials including RS, REHS/RS. Past President of the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association, and remain active with the Association. Mentored numerous interns and was an instructor for the “Intro to Environmental Health” portion of the Foundation in Public Health Course. |
