Kindling Collaborative is a mission-driven public health strategy and transformation practice founded by Dr. Sarah Merkle, a nationally recognized public health leader, strategist, and former CDC policy director. With more than 25 years of experience across federal agencies, schools, nonprofits, and emergency response teams, Dr. Merkle brings both clarity and compassion to complex challenges.
Public health doesn’t stand still—and neither do the challenges facing the organizations that protect it. Shifts in funding, staffing, and priorities can disrupt even the strongest programs. That’s why we created Kindling Collaborative: just as kindling sparks a fire, we help organizations ignite new ideas and spark new strategies and solutions when change demands it.
We believe in the power of collaborative systems change. Whether navigating crisis, reimagining chronic disease prevention, or designing forward-looking policy, we help organizations work smarter, lead with compassion, and scale impact sustainably.