(AHEC) awarded $520,000 Grant

Leah Kittredge, BA, MPH

Community Health Worker Coordinator, Northern Vermont

We are pleased to announce the addition of Leah Kittredge as our Community Health Worker Coordinator for Northern Vermont. Leah comes into this position with exceptional skills and experience. She began her work in public health with the Vermont Department of Health as a grant monitor and Research and Evaluation Coordinator in the field of HIV Prevention, collaborating with community-based organizations to implement HIV prevention interventions with populations at considerable risk for HIV and to collect data on these clients that was culturally appropriate. Leah also spent 2 years with the National Health Service in Shrewsbury, England as a health promotion practitioner, managing the Making Every Contact County Program, which involved working with medical and mental health staff to make the most of their contacts with clients to discuss health lifestyle and refer to appropriate resources for help in making a positive behavioral change.

Leah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology & Communication Science from the University of Connecticut and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Essex. She is passionate about health promotion, working to achieve health equity for all, and a strong proponent of universal health care.

Leah also works as a Parent Connector for the PJ Library of VT, where she leads events for families with young children and has been working to create a community of these families in the Montpelier area.

Leah is also the proud mother of three young children.

Emilie Johnston, AA

Community Health Worker Coordinator, Southern Vermont

Emilie has joined Southern Vermont AHEC as our Community Health Worker Coordinator for the southern part of Vermont. She brings a wealth of healthcare experience to her role. Emilie served as a medic with the United States Air Force and then worked in the Emergency Department at the White River Junction VA Medical Center.

Emilie earned an associate’s degree in applied science, and is also a personal fitness trainer/fitness instructor and nutrition coach. Emilie has a passion for health and wellness plus a great love for the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, running, and kayaking. Emilie is also a mother to three children.

Ana Saam, M.Ed

Coordinator, Chittenden County Community Health Workers 

Ana was born and raised in Colombia. After arriving to the US in 2007, Ana has worked to understand how systems like hospitals, court houses and school districts work to ensure the rights of vulnerable populations and take responsibility for educating their staff on best practices. While completing her master’s degree at the University of Vermont, Ana found a passion for Restorative Practices and Emotional Intelligence, which propelled her to acquire more knowledge and experience to protect vulnerable populations. Ana holds degrees and certificates for advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Neurodevelopmental Disabilities; Leadership Effectiveness, Mental Health First Aid, among others. As interpreter and multicultural broker, Ana works connecting immigrant populations with resources, providing them with education and guidance about their rights and opportunities and advocating for their needs. As a community health worker, Ana works advancing community development by providing case management, workshops, and activities to help community members understands their and advocate for themselves. Ana accumulated over 10 years of experience of pioneering and promoting initiatives to foster inclusion and belonging.