Board of Directors

Emma Harrigan, Board Chair

Freedman HealthCare

Emma Harrigan is a Senior Consultant for Freedman HealthCare (FHC), a national consulting firm that helps clients put their health data to work to help them solve complex problems. Emma has nearly 15 years of healthcare policy experience, working with the state and member associations on mental health policy, quality, compliance, systems improvement, emergency preparedness, and data analysis.

Emma is a graduate of the Schreyer Honors College at Pennsylvania State University and holds a Master’s of Science in Psychology from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. She also currently serves as a board member for the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC).

Shawn Burroughs, Board Vice Chair

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital

Shawn Burroughs brings more than 15 years of health information technology experience to VITL. Currently, as the CIO at NVRH, he oversees all aspects of data aggregation, connectivity, security, and analytics at NVRH in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Burroughs is a key player in NVRH’s strategic plan that includes adopting and implementing innovative technologies in support of high quality health care. He holds an M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration and Management.

Jessa Barnard Esq., Board Secretary

Vermont Medical Society

Jessa Barnard is the Executive Director of the Vermont Medical Society (VMS), the state’s largest physician and PA membership association. From 2016 to 2017 she served as the Medical Society’s general counsel and vice president for policy before being named Executive Director in 2017. As Executive Director, she is responsible for the leadership, management, and administration of the Medical Society and its foundation including its overall programmatic, financial, and organizational health.

She is a native of Bennington and holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a law degree from Stanford University School of Law. She served as VMS’ policy specialist from 2002 to 2005. Following her graduation from law school, she founded a program in San Jose, California to address the legal barriers to health stability facing low income individuals living with diabetes. She then spent four years with the Maine Medical Association, including as their associate general counsel, representing physicians in Augusta and addressing their legal and regulatory concerns.

Jessa has extensive experience in health care policy and regulation, and is a frequent speaker on topics including health reform, advocacy, and issues in health law. She lives in Montpelier with her husband and two children.

Debra Royce, Board Treasurer

Gallagher, Flynn & Company

Debra Royce is the Managing Director – Finance & Accounting Outsourcing Services with Gallagher, Flynn & Company. She was previously VP Finance & Administration for Bogner of America, Inc., where she co-led the North American business. She has worked for various Vermont businesses leading the Financial and Administrative functions as a member of the Executive team over the last twenty years, including Revision Military and Ben & Jerry’s Homemade. Debra is a CPA and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from SNHU.

Leah Fullem, MHCDS

Leah Fullem, MHCDS, was most recently the Vice President of Enterprise Information Management and Analytics at the University of Vermont Health Network. In this role, Leah oversaw operations for data management, data services, reporting and analytics for all enterprise data for the Network. Prior to this role she served as the Director of Informatics at the OneCare Vermont Accountable Care Organization. Leah holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Saint Michael’s College and a master’s degree in healthcare delivery science from Dartmouth College. She has 18 years of experience in healthcare analytics.

Norman Ward, MD

University of Vermont Medical Center

James Mauro

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont

Mauro is Chief Data Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, where he focuses on delivering comprehensive data analytics that inform population health and provider reimbursement programs. The team Mauro leads develops analyses to understand the unique needs of populations, which are then used to identify medical cost management and provider network strategies. Mauro works with multiple areas at Blue Cross and Blue Shield from care management, quality improvement, and health and wellness to provider contracting, employer groups, and finance. In addition, he manages the data and analytic applications used to create actionable information from the claims, clinical, pharmacy, and mental health and substance dependence data.

Rick Hildebrant, MD, MBA

Vermont Department of Health

Dr. Rick Hildebrant was appointed Commissioner of Health by Governor Phil Scott and began service on October 13, 2025. Before his appointment, he served in several leadership roles at Rutland Regional Medical Center, including Chief Medical Information Officer, Chair of Medicine, and Medical Director of Hospital Medicine. He has also served on multiple boards, including as Chair of the Vermont Board of Medical Practice.

Dr. Hildebrant earned his Doctor of Medicine from Drexel University College of Medicine and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Isenberg School of Management. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine.

As a practicing internal medicine hospitalist, Dr. Hildebrant has seen firsthand how social and environmental factors shape the health of Vermonters. This experience led him to pursue population health initiatives that address the broader needs of patients and communities. He is inspired by the collaborative work of nurses, public health professionals, administrators, allied health staff, policymakers, and physicians who share the goal of improving the health of Vermont communities.

As an experienced physician leader, Dr. Hildebrant has seen how science, technology and strong relationships can be leveraged to improve health outcomes. He is committed to advancing Vermont’s public health priorities through data-driven decision-making, cross-sector collaboration, and evidence-based policy. He is honored to lead the talented team at the Department of Health to ensure Vermont remains among the healthiest states in the nation.

Sarah Lindberg

Senior Data Science Consultant, Freedman HealthCare

Sarah Lindberg serves as a Senior Data Science Consultant for Freedman HealthCare (FHC), a national consulting firm that helps clients put their health data to work to help them solve complex problems. Sarah is an unabashed data geek with over fifteen years of experience working with health data. Before joining FHC, Sarah spent over 13 years working for the State of Vermont, including over 6 years with the Green Mountain Care Board, where she spent over 5 years managing the state’s health care database, which includes Vermont’s All-Payer Claims Database (VHCURES) and its hospital discharge data set (VUHHDS). Sarah holds a master’s degree in statistics from the University of Vermont, as well as a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and legal studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Steven Cummings, BSN, MBA

Brattleboro Retreat

Steve Cummings joined the Brattleboro Retreat as Chief Information Officer in July 2023 as a shared executive resource with Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. He became President and CEO of the Retreat in March 2024. He is a graduate of Boston University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He worked as a RN on an inpatient Neuro and Pulmonary unit and then in intensive care over seven years. Steve went on to earn an MBA from Babson College with a focus on information systems. Steve has spent more than 30 years working in healthcare information systems at various health systems including Boston area academic medical centers and community hospitals, consulting firms and electronic health record vendors. He was involved with the early development of provider order communications systems at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He has lead consulting engagements across the USA and Canada for EHR selections and implementation as well as information technology infrastructure (INFRAM) assessments and strategic planning.

Prior to joining the Retreat, Steve served at the executive leadership level as CIO and VP of Operations at two other health systems where he was responsible for departments including IT, Lab, Pharmacy, Radiology, Nutrition and Food Services, Plant Services and Security. At the Retreat he oversaw the successful implementation of a new EHR, optimization of service lines and build out of the executive team.

Carrie Hathaway

Howard Center

Carrie Hathaway is the Senior Financial Advisor at the Howard Center, where she advises on the agency’s $130 million budget supporting mental health, developmental disability, and substance use services. She brings more than 30 years of financial leadership experience across nonprofit, state government, and private-sector organizations. Carrie has served in senior fiscal roles with the State of Vermont, including Director of Fiscal and Administrative Operations for the Department of Vermont Health Access, where she managed a $1.2 billion budget and produced highly regarded budget documentation for the Legislature. She also served as Finance Director for the former Department of Developmental and Mental Health Services. Carrie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Trinity College of Vermont.