AIM’s Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who contributed outstanding leadership to the immunization program management field and to the vision of a nation free of vaccine-preventable diseases throughout their career.

(PRUnderground) September 24th, 2025

The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) is pleased to announce the 2025 inductees for the AIM Hall of Fame: David Lynch, Gregory Reed, Natalie J. Smith, and Robert Swanson.

AIM’s Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who contributed outstanding leadership to the immunization program management field and to the vision of a nation free of vaccine-preventable diseases throughout their career.

The following individuals will be inducted this year:

• David Lynch
  Retired Assistant Director, New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Immunization

• • David Lynch was the program manager in New York State, a founding member of AIM, and a former AIM Chair. As part of AIM’s first Executive Committee, David worked to secure a pro bono law firm to draft the AIM bylaws and obtain its 501(c)(3) status. David worked tirelessly to get AIM launched and to build a relationship between AIM and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), resulting in AIM receiving cooperative agreement funding from CDC.
• Gregory Reed, MPA
  Senior CDC Public Health Advisor, Center for Immunization, Maryland Department of Health

• • Greg Reed is the senior public health advisor for the Maryland immunization program. He also was the Maryland immunization program chief from 2000-2016 and served on the AIM Executive Committee. Greg was a part of the initial formation of AIM, participated in early AIM Strategic Plan meetings, developed AIM’s Business Reception event, helped plan and host the first AIM Leadership in Action Conference, and chaired the AIM Conference Planning Committee for several years. In 2009, Greg received the AIM Natalie J. Smith, MD Award for Excellence in Program Management.
• Natalie J. Smith, MD, MPH
  Former Deputy Director of the National Immunization Program for CDC and Former Chief of Immunization Branch, California Department of Public Health

• • Throughout her career, Natalie J. Smith made critical scientific contributions that supported national immunization programs’ successful administration of smallpox, measles, mumps, rubella, and Hepatitis A vaccinations. AIM established the Natalie J. Smith, MD Award for Excellence in Program Management in memory of Dr. Smith. The award is presented annually to recognize the contributions of an immunization program manager who has demonstrated the high ideals, innovation, and commitment to excellence in immunization practices that characterized Dr. Smith’s career.

• Robert (Bob) Swanson, MPH
  Retired Director of the Division of Immunization, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

• • Bob Swanson worked for the Michigan immunization program for nearly 33 years and spent 16 years as the director of the division of immunization. Bob served as the Chair of the AIM IIS Policy Committee, a member of the AIM Executive Committee, and an AIM mentor. In 2016, Bob received the Natalie J. Smith, MD Award. Though he retired in 2021, Bob served as a voting member on the National Vaccine Advisory Committee until 2024.

“We are thrilled to honor David, Greg, Bob, and Dr. Smith, as they have all been instrumental in AIM’s journey to become a strong and thriving organization and a community for immunization program managers,” said AIM Executive Director Claire Hannan, MPH.

The new Hall of Fame inductees will be celebrated and given a plaque at the 2025 AIM Leadership in Action Conference in December. Visit the AIM awards webpage for additional background, photos, and to learn more about the inspiring work of this year’s recipients.

About Association of Immunization Managers

The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) is a nonprofit membership association comprised of the directors of the 66 federally funded state, territorial, and local public health immunization programs. AIM is dedicated to working with its partners nationwide to reduce, eliminate, or eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases. AIM also works to ensure the success of its members by providing support in their programming interests. Since 1999, AIM has enabled collaboration among immunization managers to effectively control vaccine-preventable diseases and improve immunization coverage in the United States. For more information on AIM, please visit www.immunizationmanagers.org/

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Original Press Release.