Board Members

Alyssa Maturen-Backlas, MSc.

President

Alyssa Maturen-Backlas is the Executive Director and President of the Immunization Alliance of Michigan. She received bachelors of science degrees in Neuroscience and Psychology, as well as a Master of Science in Global Health from Michigan State University. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic Alyssa worked in a rural emergency department where she developed a deeper appreciation and passion for vaccinations. Since then she has worked in various roles centering vaccine advocacy, education, and access. When not advocating for immunizations, Alyssa enjoys any and all outdoor recreation, Pilates, photography, and travel. She currently lives in Holt with her husband, Joe and their corgi, Moose.

Why do you care about vaccinations? “I grew up hearing stories of how vaccinations saved my grandparents lives, especially with the development of the polio vaccine in 1952. They told first-hand accounts of people getting vaccinated because it was the right thing to do to keep their communities safe. I too can remember a time when vaccines weren't politicized, they were just important steps to take to protect yourself and those around you. There is so much misinformation surrounding vaccines and I want to do what I can to get us back to a place of understanding of vaccines as being one of the most important tools in the world we have for disease prevention.”

Joseph Fava

Vice President

Joseph is a pharmacist, receiving his Doctor of Pharmacy from Wayne State University in 2011. He has a passion for all things vaccination - safety, efficacy, administration, access, hesitancy, and research. His current research interest is focused on determining the most effective communication techniques to challenge vaccine misinformation.

Why do you care about vaccinations? “I love immunology, as well as preventive and public health.”

Letha Martin RN BSN

Secretary

Letha Martin has been a public health nurse for over 28 years. She has a BSN from Hope College. She began her public health career with Ottawa County Health Department as an immunization clinic nurse and then moved to Oakland County where she worked in the general clinic and Children’s Special Health Care Services as a nurse case manager. Letha transitioned to the role of Immunization Program Supervisor in 2016, where she works to improve immunization rates for Oakland County residents across the lifespan.

Letha manages a unit that facilitates and monitors the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, ensuring that VFC eligible children receive safe and effective vaccines. This unit also facilitated the Covid-19 Vaccine Partnership to enroll, approve, and distribute thousands of Covid-19 vaccines to vaccine providers including primary care, urgent cares, pharmacies, and community-based organizations. Letha also oversees the required immunization reporting to the state of Michigan for schools and childcare/early learning centers.

Letha is a current board member for the Immunization Alliance of Michigan (previous member and co-chair) and a member of the Michigan HPV Cancer Prevention Alliance steering committee.

Why do you care about vaccinations? “I believe that vaccines save lives and are a fundamental part of society – to protect against illness for yourself and your family, friends, and neighbors.”

Farah Jalloul-Rizk, Pharm.D., MBA

Treasurer

o Dr. Farah Jalloul immigrated to the United States at the age of ten with her family. In 2012, she earned a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in biochemistry from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She went on to receive both her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Ferris State University in 2017. Following graduation, she completed a fellowship with the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA).

Dr. Jalloul currently serves as the Director of Professional Development at MPA, where she leads initiatives that advance the scope and inclusion of pharmacists within the broader healthcare system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as a liaison between MPA and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), facilitating critical communication between the state and pharmacists during the testing and immunization rollout. She continues to serve as the state’s pharmacy emergency preparedness coordinator and represents the pharmacy profession at the state level.

In recognition of her leadership, Dr. Jalloul was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Protect Michigan Commission in 2021 and the Public Health Advisory Council in 2022.

She has received numerous accolades for her contributions during the pandemic and beyond, including being named one of the Arab America Foundation’s “40 Under 40,” Carin’s Detroit 2021 “Rising Star in Healthcare,” a Pharmacy Times NextGen Pharmacist Rising Star, and the MPA Distinguished New Pharmacist Practitioner. She was honored with the 2023 American Pharmacists Association Hubert H. Humphrey Award — established to recognize pharmacists who have made significant contributions to government and legislative service. Most recently, she has been awarded the Bowl of Hygeia, one of the profession’s most prestigious honors for outstanding community service.

Why do you care about vaccinations? “As a pharmacist, caring about vaccines is essential because we play a critical role in public health and patient access to care. Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals, often interacting with patients more frequently than primary care providers. This uniquely positions us to identify vaccine needs, address hesitancy, provide education, and administer immunizations directly at the point of care. Vaccines are one of the most effective tools in preventing disease, reducing hospitalizations, and saving lives. By promoting and delivering vaccinations, we help prevent outbreaks, protect vulnerable populations, and contribute to healthier communities. Pharmacy's involvement strengthens public trust and ensures broader reach, especially in underserved areas where access to other healthcare services may be limited. Embracing vaccines as part of our practice is not just good healthcare—it’s essential to advancing the role of pharmacy in preventive medicine.”

Laura Tonarelli

Medical Lead

Laura was born in 1961 to Italian immigrant parents, living in the city of Detroit. She graduated from Mercy College in December 1988 with her ADN and then in 1990 with her BSN. She began her career in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Emergency Room (ER) at Mt. Carmel Hospital.

In 1995, she took a position at Detroit Receiving Hospital in the ER while simultaneously continuing her career at Harper Hospital in the ICU tower, specializing in the Cardiothoracic and Neurosurgery ICU. She then orientated in all the ICUs and ERs throughout the Detroit Medical Center. Laura obtained extensive training in various units including the Burn ICU at Detroit Receiving Hospital and the Gynecology ICU at Hutzel Hospital.

Throughout her career, Laura has received numerous certifications from Adult, Pediatric, and Neonate Advanced Life Support, Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum, Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course, and Prehospital Trauma Life Support. She also holds certifications in Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Disaster Life Support.

Since 2002, Laura has also been working and volunteering as a Paramedic with an inner-city ambulance company. In 2017, a position became available at the Wayne County Health Department (WCHD) in the Children’s Special Health Care (CSHC) program, allowing her to fulfill her desire to pursue an interest in public health. She assists the State of Michigan with follow-up on the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, the Newborn Blood Screening Program, and the Lead Program.

In January of 2022, Laura took a position with the Southeastern Michigan Health Association (SEMHA), working with the Detroit Health Department in CSHCS, and transferred to the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility, providing vaccinations to the residents. She continued to work there through the extension of the grant availability, and later transferred to the Wayne County Healthy Commutes FQHC clinic in Hamtramck as the Nurse Manager of the medical assistance in Hamtramck and Wayne.

Every Saturday, Laura volunteers as a nurse/administrator for the Cass-Costea Clinic, a student-run free medical clinic through Wayne State Medical School. Together with the medical students, she provides medical care, free medications, and services to the uninsured, underinsured, and homeless people in the Cass Corridor. This role allows her to give back to the community and keeps her grounded and connected to the healthcare needs of the people she serves.

Why do you care about vaccinations? “Having come from a family that immigrated from a time and country that did not have access to vaccination and lost several children to preventable diseases, and hearing about their grief and pain, I know when I went into the medical field, I wanted to be a part of preventing this experience with my community.”

Kevin Watkins

Medical Lead

Picture and bio coming soon.