Presenters

Max Sidesinger | Primary Presenter, Co-Author

msidesinger@utah.gov;
Max Sidesinger, MPH, is the CMV data coordinator and an epidemiologist for Utah’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program. He collects information on every CMV test completed on a child under 1 year of age in Utah, per the state Communicable Disease Rule, and works with providers and families to ensure CMV testing for children who fall under Utah's CMV Public Education and Testing Mandate. Max provides analyses for both CMV and EHDI related data.  He has collaborated with researchers at the University of Utah on multiple newborn hearing-related projects, with the CDC on a pilot surveillance project for cCMV, and with the CSTE on a position statement for standardized cCMV surveillance. Max received his BS in biology and Masters in public health from the University of Utah. His career interest is in using epidemiological methods to address public health needs.

Jacinda Merrill | Co-Presenter, Author, Co-Author

jamerrill@utah.gov;
Jacinda Merrill, MPH, CHES, is the CMV epidemiologist for the Utah Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program. She abstracts data from electronic health records of children who have tested positive for CMV within the first year of age. Jacinda enters health data, including CMV test results, newborn hearing screening results, and other relevant data on cCMV cases into Utah’s CMV registry. She performs analysis on confirmed, probable, and suspect cCMV cases. Jacinda’s position is part of a pilot surveillance project for cCMV in collaboration with the CDC. She received her BS in Public Health with an emphasis in Health Promotion, along with a Masters in Public Health from Brigham Young University. Jacinda’s career interests include using best practices in data analysis and communicating that data in audience-appropriate ways to positively impact public health.

Stephanie Browning McVicar | POC-Point of Contact, Co-Presenter, Co-Author

smcvicar@utah.gov;
Dr. Stephanie Browning McVicar is the Director of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, the Children’s Hearing Aid Program, and the Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Public Education & Testing Program at the Utah Department of Health & Human Services. Dr. McVicar is an audiologist with expertise in infants and pediatrics, an advocate for CMV testing in newborns, and passionate about the prevention of congenital CMV infection. She is originally from Western New York and has extensive experience and knowledge in Audiology and the management of health care programs.