IIPHEC Martha's Vineyard

Alpha-gal Syndrome & Mental Health: An Interactive FREE Webinar Series
2026-03-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-16 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | MA
Alpha-Gal Foundation (formed by Two Alpha Gals Candice Matthis and Debbie Nichols) is supporting an incredible, and often under addressed need. Living with alpha-gal affects more than just your diet—it can impact relationships, emotions, and overall well-being.
Over six weeks, this series offers a supportive space to explore the mental and emotional challenges of alpha-gal. Each part of this series includes a session with Dr. Freeman discussing mental health and a session with Debbie and Candice discussing practical lifestyle tools.
Mondays, February 16th – March 3rd at 1:00pm ET
👩‍💻Space is limited so register today! —> https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Wk90DajaSRyTjWk8kOl-Fw#/registration

IIPHEC Advisory Board Meeting
2026-03-11 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-25 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-08 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-22 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-13 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-27 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-10 14:00 - 16:00 | MA
Monthly Advisory Board Meeting

Alpha-Gal Syndrome Support Group
2026-03-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Tri-Town Ambulance Building, 399 Middle Road, Chilmark, MA
Click for the: Alpha Gal Support Group Flyer
3rd Thursday of each month from 5-6PM Tri-Town Ambulance Conference Room at 399 Middle Road, Chilmark, MA 02535
Join our Alpha-Gal Support Group for a welcoming space to connect with others who understand the challenges of managing food allergies, lifestyle changes, and ongoing health concerns related to Alpha-Gal.

Peer Support & Shared Experiences
Education & Coping Strategies
Resources for managing symptoms & navigating care
A safe, judgement-free environment

For more information, contact:
Cheryl Kram
Clinical Services Supervisor for the VNA of Cape Cod
508-957-7664

Alpha-Gal Syndrome Support Group
2026-04-16 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-21 17:00 - 18:00 | Up Island Council on Aging, 1042 State Road, West Tisbury, MA
Click for the: AG Support Group Flyer
3rd Thursday of each month from 5-6PM
Join our Alpha-Gal Support Group for a welcoming space to connect with others who understand the challenges of managing food allergies, lifestyle changes, and ongoing health concerns related to Alpha-Gal.

Peer Support & Shared Experiences
Education & Coping Strategies
Resources for managing symptoms & navigating care
A safe, judgement-free environment

For more information, contact:
Cheryl Kram
Clinical Services Supervisor for the VNA of Cape Cod
508-957-7664

Public Health Lunch and Learn: Martha's Vineyard Tick Program
2026-04-24 11:30 - 13:00 | Chilmark Library, 522 S Rd, Chilmark, MA, 02535, United States
Tick Bite Prevention: A Lunch & Learn with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick ProgramJoin the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program for an hour-long Lunch & Learn focused on practical strategies to prevent tick bites and stay safe outdoors. This session will cover what’s working right now on Martha’s Vineyard, along with time for questions about tick-borne diseases and Alpha-gal syndrome.
Bring your lunch and your questions—this will be an informal, conversation-based session designed to make tick science clear, relevant, and useful.
Event is free, registration encouraged! --> Register here

Ticks on the Vineyard: What we Know w/ Patrick Roden-Reynolds
2026-04-29 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Ticks on the Vineyard: What We KnowHosted by the Martha's Vineyard Museum
Ticks have become an everyday part of life on Martha’s Vineyard—but understanding how they move, how risk is changing, and what actually helps can still feel uncertain. This updated online lecture series brings together local experts in public health, medicine, ecology, and community prevention to share the latest information about ticks on the Island—and how that knowledge can help us make informed decisions outdoors.
Across the series, speakers explore ticks from multiple perspectives, including changing environmental patterns, emerging health conditions, clinical care, and community-based prevention strategies. Each program is designed to translate evolving science into clear, practical information grounded in local experience.
This series is intended for residents, outdoor workers, families, healthcare providers, and anyone seeking reliable, Island-specific insight into tick-borne disease. The goal is not fear, but understanding—because informed awareness remains one of the most effective tools we have.
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Single speaker events are virtual, on Zoom, from 5:00-6:00pm. The final event is an in-person panel of all speakers at Martha's Vineyard Museum. Admission is $10 per event, or $50 for the full series.Full series details available on the Martha's Vineyard Museum here: https://mvmuseum.org/events/ticks-on-the-vineyard-series/
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THE SCHEDULE

April 29The Changing Tick Landscape: Prevention & Practical StepsSpeaker: Patrick Roden-Reynolds, Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program and Public Health Biologist with the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaboration.Public health biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds shares the latest data on tick activity across the Island and practical steps for prevention.
May 7Ticked Off: Public Health’s Role in Understanding and Tracking Alpha-Gal SyndromeSpeaker: Lea Hamner, MPH, Epidemiologist with the Martha's Vineyard Tick ProgramLearn how Alpha-Gal Syndrome is tracked and understood in public health, and what new reporting means for the Vineyard.
May 14Alpha-gal Syndrome: What You Need to Know (and How to Cook for It!)Speaker: Led by Aubrey Stimola-Ryan, MS, PA-C, a clinician and educator with more than 17 years of emergency room experience.A clinician and local chef explore Alpha-Gal Syndrome, offering medical insight and practical cooking strategies.
May 21TICK FREE MV: What the Aerial Deer Survey Reveals About TicksSpeaker: Virginia Barbatti, Executive Director of TICK FREE MVExplore results from the Island’s aerial deer survey and what they reveal about tick populations and disease risk.
May 26LIVE & IN PERSON – The Tick Panel: What’s New, What’s True, and How to Stay SafeSpeaker: Virginia Barbatti, Aubrey Stimola-Ryan, Patrick Roden-Reynolds, Chef Gina StanleyA panel of local experts shares the latest updates on ticks, prevention, and Alpha-Gal, with audience Q&A.

Tick Talk Thursdays on Zoom, 12-1pm
2026-04-30 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-14 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Tick Talk: Community Q&A with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick ProgramDescription:Tick science can be complicated—but getting answers shouldn’t be.
The Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program is hosting weekly open office hours as a space for the community to ask questions, share experiences, and learn more about ticks, tick-borne diseases, and Alpha-gal syndrome.
These sessions are informal, conversational, and grounded in local experience and public health science. If we don’t have an answer on the spot, we’ll help find it.
Drop in anytime—whether you have one question or many.
*Note that individual medical advice will not be provided. Please consult your medical provider if you have questions about your own health.

Register at the Vineyard Haven Library Events Calendar. The same Zoom link will be used each Thursday.

This event will run on Thursdays from April 30 - May 28, 2026, 12pm-1pm.

Tick Free MV: 2026 Aerial Deer Survey Results Briefing and Panel Discussion
2026-04-30 14:00 - 15:00 | Agricultural Hall (West Tisbury), 35 Panhandle Rd, West Tisbury, MA, United States
Tick Free MV's 2026 Aerial Deer Survey Results: A Briefing & Panel DiscussionJoin the Tick Free Martha's Vineyard for an upcoming public briefing and panel discussion following the release of the 2026 Aerial Deer Survey report. This event will bring together local and state experts to discuss key findings and take questions from the community.
Panelists include:

Virginia Barbatti, Executive Director, Tick Free MV (Moderator)
Martin Feehan, Deer & Moose Biologist, MassWildlife
Patrick Roden-Reynolds, Public Health Biologist & Director, MV Tick Program
Additional speakers to be announced

Additional Information:

Read the full report & cover letter: tickfreemv.org/deer-survey
Submit questions in advance: info@tickfreemv.org
Free admission | Open to the public | No registration required
If you’re unable to attend, the event will be recorded and made available at a later date.

Ticks on the Vineyard: What we Know w/ Lea Hamner
2026-05-07 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

Permethrin-treated clothing with Insect Shield
2026-05-13 17:00 - 18:00 | MA
Permethrin-treated clothing with Insect Shield

WHEN: Wednesday, May 13, 5:00 PM
WHERE: Online, hosted by Vineyard Haven Library –> REGISTER HERE

Join Jason Griffin, President of Insect Shield, to share information about the use of permethrin-treated clothing for the prevention of tick bites and tick-borne diseases. This program is hosted by the Vineyard Haven Library in collaboration with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program. The virtual program will be held via Zoom at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 13th. Interested patrons may register on the Vineyard Haven Library’s event calendar.
The Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program has long recommended permethrin-treated clothing as its number one tick-bite prevention method. See our Prevent the Bite page for all of our tips and tricks! Yet many still have questions about this tool. Join Jason Griffin, president of Insect Shield, and the MV Tick Program for a virtual Q&A about the innovation and technology behind permethrin-treated clothing, its long-established safety record for human use, and the benefits of long-term permethrin-treatment in preventing tick bites. Insect Shield achieved the first-ever EPA Registration for long-term permethrin treatment of clothing, providing treated clothing to 30+ outdoor suppliers, and supporting human health worldwide.
Jason Griffin joined Insect Shield in October 2002 as the vice president of strategic marketing. He helped manage the military and brand partner business for several years. He subsequently started and led the direct channel as the president of Insect Shield International, LLC. Prior to joining Insect Shield, Griffin served in several management positions at Dobson Cellular Systems, Inc. including acquisitions manager, market manager, and finally national sales director. Griffin holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering science/management of technology from Vanderbilt University and is a graduate of Woodberry Forest School. He has served on the finance committee at Canterbury School which his two children attended.
The Martha’s Vineyard Tick-borne Illness Reduction Initiative (aka the Tick Program) is dedicated to reducing the number of ticks and tick-borne illnesses on Martha’s Vineyard through education, advocacy, and cooperation with other organizations and individuals. First founded in 2011 by Dick Johnson, current Tick Program staff include tick & deer biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds and epidemiologist Lea Hamner.

Ticks on the Vineyard: What we Know w/ Aubrey Ryan
2026-05-14 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

Ticks on the Vineyard: What we Know w/ Virginia Barbatti
2026-05-21 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual

Ticks on the Vineyard: What we Know, In-Person Panel
2026-05-26 17:00 - 18:00 | Martha’s Vineyard Museum, 151 Lagoon Pond Road, Vineyard Haven, MA, 02568, United States

[Rescheduled] Ticked Off: Public Health's Role in Understanding and Tracking Alpha-Gal Syndrome
2026-05-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Aquinnah Public Library, 1 Church St, Aquinnah, MA, 02535, United States
[Rescheduled] Ticked Off: Public Health’s Role in Understanding and Tracking Alpha-Gal Syndrome
This event has been rescheduled due to conflicts with the Aquinnah Town Meeting.
Join Lea Hamner, epidemiologist with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program, for a conversation about the growing public health response to Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), a tick-associated condition now designated as a reportable disease in Massachusetts. Lea will explain what this shift means for disease tracking, clinical care, and community understanding. The program also addresses a common misconception: a positive Alpha-Gal test alone does not make an allergy diagnosis, and diagnosis requires the presence of allergic symptoms. By clarifying how AGS is identified, tracked, and understood, this program offers important context for a condition that continues to raise questions across the Island and beyond.
WHERE: Aquinnah Public Library, 1 Church St, Aquinnah, MA 02535
WHEN: [RESCHEDULED] May 28, 2026 from 6pm-7pm
COST: Free!

Tick Talk Thursdays
2026-06-04 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 | MA
Tick Talk Thursdays
When: Thursdays, in May and June, 12-1pm
Where: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: Free
Tick science can be complicated–but getting answers shouldn’t be. Join the MV Tick Program for weekly, virtual office hours, where members of the community can ask questions, share experiences, and learn more about ticks, tick-borne diseases, and alpha-gal syndrome. These sessions are informal, conversational, and grounded in local experience and public health science. Drop in anytime–whether you have one question or many. (Note that individual medical advice will not be provided.) Register on the Vineyard Haven Library events calendar here.
