Immunization in the Medical Home Environment: Breaking Down Barriers and Increasing Uptake — Coffee With the Experts

Ruth Carrico, PhD, DNP, APRN, CIC, FSHEA, FNAP, FAAN

Ruth Carrico is a senior consultant with Carrico & Ramirez, PLLC, focused on infectious diseases; infection prevention and control; and vaccinology. She is also a family nurse practitioner (FNP) based in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition, Dr. Carrico is a professor, adjunct faculty, with the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Carrico has received training specific to health care epidemiology at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in conjunction with the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). Dr. Carrico has worked in the field of infectious diseases and infection control for more than 30 years. She continues to serve on numerous advisory boards focused on vaccines and vaccinology, and has continued to conceptualize and implement novel approaches, such as simulation, to training and competence development for health care workers.

Debra Kosko, DNP, MN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN

Dr. Debra Kosko is an associate professor and assistant dean for Evaluation and Outcomes at Georgetown University School of Nursing, and affiliate faculty in the Department of Global Health, School of Health. An expert FNP in infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS and global health, her career has been dedicated to the care of vulnerable populations. Dr. Kosko served as a consultant for the Department of Defense in the redesign of their global immunization program. She is past chair of the North Carolina Immunization Coalition, where she was awarded a grant to provide COVID information events for low-income communities in eastern North Carolina. She was appointed by the governor to serve on the North Carolina COVID Immunization Task Force. Dr. Kosko has held academic and medical appointments at Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland and Duke University, and is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Dr. Kosko received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Texas, a Master’s in nursing from UCLA and a doctor of nursing practice from The George Washington University.

Mary Koslap-Petraco, DNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, FAANP

Dr. Mary Koslap-Petraco is a clinical assistant professor at Stony Brook University School of Nursing in Stony Brook, NY. She is also a primary care provider in her own private practice after working for Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) for 30 years, where she used her experience as a public health nurse to make system-level changes. While on staff at SCDHS, Dr. Koslap-Petraco managed the immunization and lead programs, and provided education to staff and the public on various communicable diseases. She is a nurse consultant for Immunize.org, and chair-elect of Vaccinate Your Family — The Next Generation of Every Child by Two. Dr. Koslap-Petraco speaks on immunizations and infectious diseases nationally and internationally, and has authored numerous articles and written chapters in seven textbooks — including the immunizations chapter in Burns’ Pediatric Primary Care, 8th edition. Dr. Koslap-Petraco is a Fellow of the American Association of Nure Practitioners.

Audrey M. Stevenson, PhD, MPH, MSN, FNP-BC

Audrey M. Stevenson is a FNP with over 40 years of clinical, public health and leadership experience. Dr. Stevenson, who holds a Master’s of public health (MPH) and Master’s of nursing degrees, received her doctorate in public health from the University of Utah. She formerly worked in public health for over 34 years and was the former division director of Family Health and Clinical Services of the Salt Lake County Health Department in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is a consultant and teaches graduate FNP and MPH students at two universities.

An FNP, Dr. Stevenson has worked in various inpatient and ambulatory settings and was a previous nurse consultant to the Salt Lake City School District. She is a current faculty member of a graduate NP program and an MPH Program. She has published several articles and has been a national and international speaker on topics affecting school nurses, advanced practice nurses and other medical and pharmacy providers. Dr. Stevenson is also a member of the statewide vaccine advisory board, where she collaborates on vaccine policies and recommendations for the state. Previously, Dr. Stevenson served as Vaccination Branch Director for the COVID-19 Incident Command for Salt Lake County, where she directed the vaccination strategies for 1.2 million residents of Salt Lake County. Dr. Stevenson was recently elected as a board member of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), a three-year elected term commencing on July 1, 2025.

In October 2010, Dr. Stevenson was awarded the American Nurses Association Immunity Award for her efforts to promote the use of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccines at public health clinics. This resulted in a new protocol at several Utah hospitals to offer the vaccine to postpartum women before discharge. She has also received the Beatty Award, Utah's highest public health award, and the 2016 MCH Effective Practice award for her work in state and national vaccination efforts.