AIRA Staff

AIRA Teams   

About the Standards & Analytics Team

Senior Management AIRA’s Standards and Analytics team gives immunization information system (IIS) programs information and guidance to better align with national standards, including measurement, guidance, and assistance activities, the most significant of which involves the Measurement and Improvement Initiative. The team helps IIS programs understand gaps in alignment with standards and prioritize enhancements. Technical assistance is offered to the IIS community to improve data quality and interoperability among IIS and electronic data exchange partners.
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Standards & Analytics

 

Megan Fields, MPH | Director of Standards & Analytics

Megan Fields joined AIRA in October 2023 as the Director of Standards and Analytics. She brings over 15 years of public health expertise across informatics, communications, global health, and community engagement. At AIRA, Megan leads a team of business and technical experts that provide guidance and support to immunization information systems (IIS) in meeting national standards. Prior to AIRA, Megan led immunization campaigns focused on countering mis- and dis-information across technology platforms for the CDC Foundation. These programs were grounded in the growing need to improve communication, system functionality, interoperability, and data quality, leading to improved public health outcomes. 

 

Alexandra Hayes, MA, LSSGB | Deputy Director

Alexandra Hayes joined AIRA in July 2022 as the team's Senior Project Manager and became the Deputy Director of Standards and Analytics in June 2023. She discovered her passion for the public health field while serving in the US Peace Corps in Panama and has worked within the immunization and immunization information system (IIS) communities for over a decade. Prior to joining AIRA, Alexandra worked for a regional health district in Washington state for eight years and later served as a CDC Public Health Advisor for two state immunization programs. Alexandra has experience in programs, operations, and grant management as well as stakeholder engagement and collaboration.  


 

Eric Larson | Senior Technical Project Manager

Eric Larson joined AIRA in 2015 to be part of the Interoperability Testing Project. He has been working to advance immunization information systems (IIS) since 2001. Eric worked for several years as an IIS implementer helping several states implement and maintain their IIS before transitioning to a contractor role for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he worked on interoperability and clinical decision support initiatives. 


 

Julie Tchoumkeu, MPH | Technical Assistance Analyst

Julie Tchoumkeu joined AIRA in October 2021 as the Technical Assistance Analyst. Prior to AIRA, Julie worked for the Iowa Department of Public Health, first as the Refugee Health Manager, then as a Data Manager and Quality Improvement Coordinator. Julie also has experience in refugee resettlement and in professional development curriculum design and delivery.


 

Damon Ferlazzo, MPA | Senior Technical Analyst

Damon Ferlazzo joined AIRA in September 2020 as a Business Analyst on the Immunization Integration Program team. In November 2023, he became a Senior Technical Analyst for the Standards and Analytics team. Prior to joining AIRA, Damon worked for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) for seven years. Damon started as the Missouri ShowMeVax Immunization Information System Manager, transitioned to Data Quality Manager, and later served as the Interim Chief for the Bureau of Reportable Disease Informatics. He finished his time at DHSS as the Deputy Administrator for the Section for Disease Prevention. Prior to his work in public health, Damon worked with longitudinal education-workforce data systems as a Research Analyst for the Missouri Department of Higher Education.


 

Nathan Bunker | Senior Technical Standards Architect 

Nathan Bunker joined AIRA in August 2015 as the Senior Technical Project Manager and is now the Senior Technical Standards Architect. He has over a decade of experience working as a Software Developer and Public Health Consultant for public and private agencies within the immunization community. His experience ranges from writing software to promoting the creation and use of technical standards for immunizations. At AIRA, Nathan provides assistance to immunization information systems to meet technical standards, particularly for HL7 messaging and clinical decision support, and assists in development of new technical standards and resources for IIS use.


 

Tesha Lucas, MA | Senior Technical Analyst

Tesha Lucas joined AIRA in December 2019 as a Technical Analyst and became a Senior Technical Analyst in August 2023. Prior to joining AIRA, Tesha’s work focused on process improvement and operational excellence within the financial services industry. She has experience in data analysis, identifying key drivers and trends, creating procedures and job aids, and reporting metrics. 


 

Chris Sorenson | Software Development Manager

Chris Sorenson joined AIRA in June 2022 as a Senior Technical Project Manager and became the Software Development Manager in June 2023. He has over a decade of experience working in software development and technical leadership roles. He has worked in the immunization information system space as an implementer and as an AIRA consultant for seven years of that time.

 

Rebecca Sandtveit | Project Coordinator

Rebecca Sandtveit joined AIRA in January 2021 as an Administrative Assistant and became the team's Project Coordinator in October 2023. She has over a decade of experience providing critical administrative and project coordination support to various initiatives in private and nonprofit sectors. At AIRA, Rebecca collaborates with team members to manage project meetings and track project progress to ensure timely completion of deliverables that drive future technology solutions in the IIS community. She provides logistical and planning support to the director and deputy director on a wide range of initiatives and contributes to the continuous improvement of project management processes and procedures among the Informatics division.


 

Angela De La Cruz | Business Analyst

Angela De La Cruz joined AIRA in August 2022 as an Onboarding Analyst and became the Business Analyst in September 2023. Previously, Angela worked for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for 15 years in a variety of roles. She has three years of experience with the Texas HHSC as a Policy Advisor and eight years of experience within the Texas immunization information system (IIS), first as an Interface Analyst supporting data exchange and most recently as the Interoperability Coordinator. In her role as Interoperability Coordinator, Angela served as a subject matter expert in policy, process, and IT project implementation for the IIS.