Meet our 2021 AmplifiHER Honorees

Kirsten Durzy

Covid Response

Kirsten Durzy is NH’s foremost leader in showing and leading others in understanding what health equity is and how to practice equity to dismantle oppressive systems and create equitable outcomes for all. And Equity is not even in Ms. Durzy’s job description or title: she is the Evaluator for the Bureau of Infectious Disease, and still carries out all the responsibilities of her actual position. She is also recognized outside of NH for her expertise. However, it is since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that Kirsten’s skill and talent has been most evident, as she has been the Equity lead for the whole NH COVID response – a position that was only created after the start of the COVID pandemic.

She also is the lead for all health equity efforts within the Division of Public Health Services. She serves as Director for the Vaccine Equity Branch, and is responsible for efforts around the 10% vaccine equity allocation – where NH is one of 3 states prioritizing equity in the allocation planning, for which NH has garnered national attention. She has been advocating tirelessly to assure vulnerable populations are remembered at every step of the vaccine roll-out, and she has spearheaded innumerable community conversations to make sure word gets out to those who need it most. Thanks to her leadership, there are now equity focused positions that will increase DPHS capacity for equity into the future. I was privileged to serve with her on the Governor’s COVID-19 Equity Response Team which produced the Initial Report and Recommendations in July of 2020. Since my departure from state government, Kirsten has worked tirelessly with the other 2 remaining GCERT committee members to push the recommendations out into the community, and they have overseen Cares Act Funding being made available where needed.

Additionally, Kirsten and I co-facilitate the NHPHA-convened COVID Equity Task Force, which has been a huge part of the state response as having the statewide group as a vehicle for vaccination education and addressing hesitancy has even interested the CDC. (And, yes, she has been working 90 hour weeks to make all this happen!) Kirsten’s expertise at co-creating people-empowering spaces and opportunities for equity make her a trusted leader within and external to DPHS; she is a trusted friend and colleague to many. Her grace and eloquence in communicating what can be complicated and sometimes challenging concepts have led to her being a frequently requested guest for NHPR’s Morning Exchange program and other media opportunities, that I’m sure will outlast the COVID pandemic.

There are reasons more than I can enumerate here. I leave you with the Foreword of the Governor’s COVID-19 Equity Response Team’s Initial Report and Recommendations, which she crafted (on page 9 of the report): “As a team of people who call New Hampshire home, Who have lived and worked here, been raised here and raised families here, Who have laughed and cried with our neighbors, families and friends here, Who have wandered here near the salty ocean seas and the clear mountain lakes in the land of the Abenaki, Pennacook and Wabanaki Peoples, Who have dreamed together of an even better, more welcoming state for all, We are acutely aware that we have only touched the surface of the work that must be done to dismantle systems born of our shared history that continue to oppress and widen disparities. We have sought in 30 days to unpack what took 400 years to build. Much more time, more thought, and, most importantly, more disparate voices are needed. We cannot do this alone, but we believe that it can be done together. We thank Governor Sununu, the people of New Hampshire and the many community members who have shared their lives, hopes and dreams with us for this imperative call to action.”