Jessica Schermer, the senior associate/prevent prescription drug/opioid overdose-related deaths (PDO) program director embedded at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) through MCD Global Health, received this year’s Public Health Rising Star award from the Maine Public Health Association (MPHA).

This award recognizes a young professional who has made a significant contribution to public health in Maine. Jessica, and the other award recipients, will be honored during the MPHA’s 2026 Awards and Spring Networking Event in June.

Her colleague Kristen Erickson nominated her for the award, which they work together on an anti-stigma project for the Co-occurring Collaborative Serving Maine (CCSME).

“What stands out to me in working with Jessica is how she leads with kindness and empathy,” Kristen shared on why she nominated Jessica. “She is always working to center the people most affected by this work, and her work is built on relationships and collaborations that she has spent time developing. It's encouraged me to think more creatively about the work that I do and partnerships I seek out in my work.”

Currently, Kristen and others at CCSME are supporting Jessica as she works with organizations across Maine for an art show to showcase art that humanizes the experience of living with the impacts of the opioid crisis.

“It was a complete shock when I received the email about first being nominated and winning this award! Public health is a field of compassion and passion. I don’t do this work for the recognition; I do this work to truly make a difference in Maine. I want to reduce the stigma associated with substance use and decrease fatal overdoses,” Jessica said. “Especially this year, when our field has hit so many challenges and roadblocks along the way.”

Starting her role in 2022, Jessica works on primary and secondary prevention efforts under a federal SAMHSA grant and specifically:

• Reduces siloed efforts by convening the PDO advisory council, which consists of nongovernment and government agencies across the continuum of care;
• Addresses stigma surrounding substance use through training, print materials, and, most recently, an art show with community conversations; and
• Provides funding and support to community coalitions across Maine that were identified as being high need/at-risk in a needs assessment.

In addition, Jessica enjoys working on “pet projects” that include the Maine EMS Care Ambassador Program; Naloxone education in schools; and a community syringe disposal toolkit.

She has always been passionate about helping people, which brought her to public health. “My journey in public health started while I was working at a local courthouse,” she shared. “It was challenging to see individuals come in and out of the justice system and even more heartbreaking to see the different generations coming through those doors. It was here that sparked my interest in the upstream approach and helping those before they become justice impacted.”

Raised in Caribou, Maine, Jessica received a master’s degree in public health from Southern New Hampshire University in 2019 and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine in 2015. Prior to MCD, she worked at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital’s Community Health Department where she focused on primary prevention and the upstream approach to prevent substance use.

“The work is important to me because we all have a role to play, and I like to think the work I do each day has a positive impact and is saving lives,” Jessica said. “I’m truly honored for being recognized for my hard work, but I am accepting the award for all those working in public health.”