What we stand for, and why it matters.
Since its founding in 2006, the members of the Public Health Associations’ Collaborative Effort (PHACE) have united New Jersey’s public health organizations to lead, advocate, and strengthen public health across the state.
Our mission
- Advancement of public health in New Jersey
- Promotion of public health careers, workforce development, and volunteerism
- Promotion of excellence in the practice of public health
- Education and advocacy, as permitted by law, to improve public health in New Jersey
- Collaboration amongst members on current public health policies and issues to foster a single voice for the advancement of public health in New Jersey
Meet our member organizations
New Jersey Association of City and County Health Officials
New Jersey Association of Public Health Nursing Administrators
New Jersey Environmental Health Association
New Jersey Local Boards of Health Association
New Jersey Public Health Association
Celebrating 150 years of advocacy, NJPHA works to advance and strengthen public health in NJ by bringing together public health professionals, educators, students, and advocates who share a commitment to improving health across the state. It promotes collaboration, education, and engagement around key public health priorities.
New Jersey Society for Public Health Education
What to Know About PHACE
Find answers about PHACE and how we work with public-health organizations.
PHACE, the Public Health Associations’ Collaborative Effort, is a coalition of six public health organizations working together to strengthen public health in New Jersey. We bring together public health professionals and volunteers to support prevention, preparedness, enforcement, education, advocacy, awareness, and shared action on public health issues affecting communities across the state.
Collaboration helps public health organizations share ideas, resources, and expertise so they can do more together than they could on their own. By working as a coalition, PHACE helps strengthen communication, reduce redundancy, and create a stronger collective response to public health needs.
Each member organization chooses three representatives to cast its votes. The Board of Trustees is elected at the annual meeting, with one trustee selected from each member organization and one at-large trustee. The representatives also elect the officers each year, including the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
You can explore the Resource Hub for public health reports, tools, and other helpful materials. It is designed to connect visitors with trusted information and resources from PHACE and our member organizations.
There are several ways to get involved with PHACE, including staying informed, exploring our member organizations, and connecting with us through the website. If you are interested in learning more or sharing ideas for collaboration, please reach out through our contact page.
Board of Trustees
Our representatives meet monthly to discuss issues related to public health legislation and advocacy, coordinate programs and speakers, and provide a unified voice on public health issues.
A past president of both the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the New Jersey Health Officers Association, Kevin has devoted his career to local public health leadership. He is the Health Officer/Director for the Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission, where he has served for 40 years in roles including environmental health specialist, health educator, and health officer. He helped bring together leaders of New Jersey’s public health organizations to create PHACE and serves as a part-time lecturer in the public health program at Rutgers University. He is also a recipient of multiple awards recognizing his career in public health.
A co-founder and current Vice President of PHACE, Paul has dedicated decades to public service, local health leadership, and emergency response. He served for 49 years with the Monmouth County Regional Health Commission, including 27 years as president, and 41 years on the Borough of Shrewsbury Local Board of Health, including 37 years as president. He also served as a volunteer EMT provider and instructor for 57 years and is a retired officer in the United States Army.
A founding Trustee and current Secretary of PHACE with more than 45 years of experience in public health and behavioral health, Don is a Past-President of the NJ Public Health Association and has held leadership roles with several other professional organizations. He served for 24 years with the NJ Department of Health and later held roles with the NJ State Parole Board, a statewide behavioral health agency, and state and local advisory committees. He currently works as a consultant focused on social determinants of health and cross-sector collaboration.
A nurse with more than 36 years of experience in acute care, home health, and public health, Agatha Reidy has dedicated her career to safe, high-quality, evidence-based care. She has been with Virtua since 2001 and has served as Director of Nursing for the Burlington County Health Department since 2014. A leader in public health nursing, Agatha is certified as a Nurse Executive and is active in professional organizations including the American Nurses Association and NJAPHNA, where she has served as Treasurer and President. She also currently serves on the PHACE board of trustees.
A licensed Health Officer and Master Certified Health Education Specialist with the Montgomery Township Health Department, where she has served since 2014. She has held several public health leadership roles and received state and national recognition for her work. Devangi currently serves on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials and is Past President of the New Jersey Society for Public Health Education. She also serves as President of the Somerset County Health Officer’s Association and the Greater Somerset Public Health Partnership, and as Co-Chair of the Somerset County Local Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
The people driving the change.
- Stephanie Gorman
- Chris Hellwig
- Christa Moor
- Shereen Naqvi
- George Kornias
- Bob Uhirk
- Steve Ember
- Steve Papenberg
- Lisa Harrison-Gulla
- Sreelekha Prakash
- Kelly McLaughlin
- Imge Atieh
See how our member organizations are making an impact.
Explore recent updates, shared work, and highlights from PHACE member organizations.
