March 2024 Grand Rounds - Innovative Partnerships for CDSME Programs

Brianna Ferraro, Program Manager, joined the Lamprey Health Care/Southern NH AHEC team in 2017. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in Business Administration: Management and has two minors in Health Management & Policy and Public Health. Brianna works on a variety of projects, including but not limited to managing continuing education trainings, overseeing systems for data collection and reporting for grant funders and continuing education accreditors, and working with the Well-Being Action Network Leadership Team (previously the NH CDSMP network), Master Trainers, Leaders, and the Self-Management Resource Center to promote evidence-based self-management programs. She has also been managing Lamprey Health Care’s Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program since February 2019. In her free time, she can be found spending time with her family & friends, watching movies, or completing jigsaw puzzles.

As the Associate AHEC Director, I am responsible for program development, grant writing, and overseeing staff who work to increase access to quality health care in southern NH. I partner with community-based providers and academic institutions to improve the supply and distribution of primary health care professionals, and work to promote awareness of chronic disease self-management classes and training opportunities in the community with an emphasis on medically underserved areas and populations. I also oversee the development and coordination of health care awareness programs for high school students with a focus on minority and disadvantaged populations. I develop outreach strategies to engage stakeholders and community members in improving health outcomes, as well as working with the Primary Care Association and Community Behavioral Health Association on initiatives and policy that advance efforts of integration of primary care and behavioral health services.

Paula Smith, MBA, EdD has been responsible for overseeing activities of the Southern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center, since its inception in 1998. She is responsible for program development, financial management and overseeing staff who work to increase access to quality health care in southern NH. Dr. Smith partners with community-based providers and academic institutions to improve the supply and distribution of primary health care professionals, and works to facilitate student placements in the community with an emphasis on medically underserved areas. She oversees the provision of training opportunities for a variety of health professionals and health professions students.  Dr. Smith also oversees the development and coordination of health care awareness programs for high school students with a focus on minority and disadvantaged populations. In addition, she evaluates program outcomes, designs survey instruments, analyzes data and writes reports in support of program operation. She oversees the Center for Cultural Effectiveness and conducts research and promotes best practices for chronic disease management. 

Melissa joined UNH Extension in 2019, bringing with her both passion and expertise in advancing community and individual health. Melissa graduated from Plymouth State University with a BS in Health Education and an M. Ed in Adult Education and Development. She worked for many years immersed in community health initiatives in the Lakes Region of NH, developing and leading community coalitions, facilitating evidence based workshops, and creating strategic partnerships among community organizations. Melissa is passionate about creating healthy environments and systems change to bring about improved health and quality of life.

Melissa is a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) in NH and was awarded the NH CPS of the Year Award in June of 2023 for her efforts in community substance misuse prevention. She is the Project Director for the NH Opioid Prevention Project and the NH Community First Responder Program, SAMHSA Rural Opioid Technical Assistance funded initiatives that have brought important prevention and harm reduction resources to NH communities.  Melissa is also Co-Director of the Building Community Resilience Project, a cross Extension team project focused on helping rural communities thrive in light of challenges brought on by COVID-19. She provides technical assistance to NH coalitions on implementation of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SAMHSA) and the Well-Connected Communities Change Cycle. Melissa also brings knowledge and experience to Extension gained from her work at the NH DOE, Bureau of Student Wellness on working with NH schools and communities to implement a systems approach that supports students behavioral health and wellness needs. She is an instructor in Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid and is a Master Trainer and program leader for the evidence based Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP).