Health Equity Division Staff and Contact Information

General office information

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If you are looking for a speaker, consultation, or health equity coaching, please visit the Health Equity & Racial Justice Capacity Enrichment Program page. This program is open to both MDH staff and community partners.

If you are looking for a student internship, please visit our Internships page for more information.

Meet the staff

Directors
Administration
Budget and Fiscal Management
Communications
Community Collaboration and Capacity Building
Community Engagement
Evaluation
Health Equity Networks
Policy and Systems Change
Fellows and Interns

Directors

Odichinma (Odi) Akosionu-DeSouza, director

pronouns: she/her/hers

Odi joined MDH as the director of the Health Equity Strategy and Innovation Division in January 2024. Prior to joining MDH, she worked at the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity as a project manager and research scholar. She also served as the director of operations for The Research in Color Foundation and is a current Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Her research focuses on investigating structural factors that result in racial inequities in long-term services and supports, generating population-level research evidence, and working collaboratively toward translating research evidence into effective interventions at the policy level and in long-term care programs and services.

Odi has a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. When she is not working or resting, she enjoys developing and testing new food and drink recipes, traveling to explore new cities and cuisines, visiting with family and friends, and relaxing at home doing her skincare routine.

odi.akosionu-desouza@state.mn.us
651-431-6352

Sara Chute, assistant director

pronouns: she/her/hers

Sara Chute has worked at MDH since 2006. In 2017, Sara became assistant director for the Center for Health Equity and the Center for Health Data. She has been a champion for communities impacted by inequities throughout her career and values the importance of building trust and developing action-oriented approaches to addressing complex public problems in partnership with community. She continues to serve as the assistant director of the Health Equity Strategy and Innovation Division today.

Sara holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College. In her free time, Sara enjoys chasing after her kids Race and Sara Evelyn with her husband Frank.

Sara.Chute@state.mn.us
651-201-5543

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Administration

Christy Nguyen, administrative coordinator

pronouns: she/her/hers

Christy joined MDH in 2015 to provide administrative support for the Center for Health Equity, now the Health Equity Strategy and Innovation Division. She supports everything and everyone, and we could not get our work done without her. Christy is a University of St. Catherine graduate with a nursing degree. Prior to her position at MDH, Christy worked at a pediatric clinic, providing patient care for ten years. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, walking, and spending time with her husband and their five children.

Christy.Nguyen@state.mn.us
651-201-5652

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Budget and Fiscal Management

Mohamed Hassan, budget and fiscal management supervisor

pronouns: he/him/his

Mohamed joined MDH in 2016 as a grant manager and currently holds the position of grants and budget supervisor. In this role, he establishes efficient processes for monitoring multiple funding sources, including federal and state grants. Mohamed possesses extensive knowledge and expertise in grant and contract management, budgeting, and forecasting. He provides technical assistance to internal and external partners and demonstrates a strong aptitude for collaborating with communities most impacted by inequities. Mohamed holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota -Twin Cities and a master's degree in health and human services administration from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. In his free time, he enjoys sports, staying active, and spending time with his family.

Mohamed.Hassan@state.mn.us
651-201-4149

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Communications

Bridget Pouladian, communications supervisor

pronouns: she/her/hers

Bridget leads the communications work of the division including our website, newsletter, social media, internal communications, and media engagement. Bridget loves improving systems and processes, capturing a compelling story, and editing to find just the right word. Prior to leading communications, Bridget spent many years managing grants and contracts with communities across the state. She also spent two years working in public health in West Africa and holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota.

Bridget.Pouladian@state.mn.us
651-201-5816

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Community Collaboration and Capacity Building

Saurav Dahal, community collaboration and capacity building supervisor

pronouns: he/him/his

Saurav joined MDH as a grant manager in October 2022, with more than 13 years of experience working with underserved populations as the state refugee health coordinator/office of refugee resettlement projects manager, assistant state refugee coordinator, COVID-19 regional manager, and most recently as the North Dakota tuberculosis controller. Saurav brings with him a wide range of nonprofit and government experience, from policy and grantmaking to community engagement efforts focused on empowerment, capacity building, and eliminating health disparities among people of color. Saurav holds a master’s degree in public health, with an emphasis on infectious disease management, and a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University. In his spare time, he loves traveling with his wife and daughter.

saurav.dahal@state.mn.us
651-201-4149

Mandie Aalto, grant manager

pronouns: she/her/hers

Mandie joined MDH in 2024 with eighteen years of experience in grants administration and nonprofit leadership. Mandie has provided strategic planning, community development, and capacity building for various nonprofits and communities throughout rural Minnesota. Her most recent leadership roles include serving as the executive director for Advocates for Family Peace and Development for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Mandie has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Bemidji State University. As an avid reader, writer, and researcher, she uses data as a tool to drive community growth and innovation. Mandie is dedicated to providing her best work and advancing the crucial health equity initiatives of her division. She also enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and four children. 

mandie.aalto@state.mn.us
651-201-6736

Elizabeth Mago, grant manager

pronouns: she/her/hers

Elizabeth (Liz) is a graduate of Brandeis University Heller School for Social Policy and Management in Massachusetts. She holds a dual master’s degree in global health policy and management and conflict resolution and co-existence. Liz has 20-plus years of experience designing and managing community and health systems, strengthening programs to address health inequities among rural and hard-to-reach populations in Africa.

She has worked for the International Organization for Migration and Catholic Relief and Development Aid supporting refugee, immigrant, and internally displaced populations with emergency health and community recovery programs. Additionally, she has worked as a results-based financing consultant for the World Bank, designing and managing health care financing systems reforms to reduce financial burden of vulnerable communities in accessing maternal and child health services in Zimbabwe and Gambia. Most recently, Liz worked as an international health and refugee coordinator for MDH’s partnership project with the University of Minnesota National Resource Center on COVID-19 contact tracing, prevention, and mitigation programs for at-risk refugees, immigrants, and migrants.

Elizabeth.Mago@state.mn.us
651-201-6754

Amy Michael, grant manager

pronouns: she/her/hers

Amy is a grant manager for diverse media and community engagement grantees. Prior to joining the Health Equity Strategy and Innovation Division, Amy was the MDH arthritis program coordinator, where she brought the Walk with Ease Program to Minnesota. She is a master trainer for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program, and the National Diabetes Prevention Program. She has worked at MDH since 2012, including working in the Diabetes Program and in the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) program as a health systems coordinator. Amy loves to spend her time biking, swimming, and being with her family and her dog. She has an M.S. in education and is married with three adult children.

Amy.Michael@state.mn.us
651-201-3892

E. Brooke Stelzer, grant manager

pronouns: she/her/hers

Brooke joined MDH in 2018 as the grant manager for the family planning special projects (FPSP) grant program; supported the COVID-19 response for two years in the Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities Branch; then joined the Center for Health Equity, now the Health Equity Strategy and Innovation Division, in January 2023 as a grant manager with the Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI). She has served as a subject matter expert in adolescent sexual health throughout her career, including roles as the director of sexuality education at the Annex Teen Clinic, project manager for the CDC’s Adolescent Health and Academic Equity Project at the Minnesota Department of Education, and as a national trainer for evidence-based sexual health curricula with ETR. She holds a bachelor's degree in gender and sexuality studies from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. In her free time, she enjoys painting, gardening, and loving on her pup.

Brooke.Stelzer@state.mn.us
651-201-3743

Lensa Terfa, grant manager

pronouns: she/her/hers

Lensa Terfa joined MDH as a multilingual COVID-19 case investigator in April 2020. In June 2020, Lensa became the lead case investigator and joined the African community liaison team. In January 2021, she took the African community liaison lead role and started working with different organizations that serve the African community. Prior to joining MDH, Lensa worked as lead childcare teacher at Fairview Health Care for five years. Lensa has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood studies from Metro State University and is currently working on her master’s degree in public health at Saint Mary’s University. Lensa brings a passion for racial and health equity and several years of experience as a certified medical interpreter/cultural mediator. Outside of work, she is a Sunday school teacher for preschoolers and enjoys reading time with her two children.

lensa.terfa@state.mn.us
651-201-4560

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Community Engagement

Dai Vu, community engagement supervisor

pronouns: she/her/hers

Dai Vu is a second-generation Vietnamese American who has lived in Minnesota for most of her life. She came with her family to Rochester, Minnesota, in 1980 as part of the boat refugees from South Vietnam. She received an undergraduate degree in biology from the College of St. Catherine and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota. She has more than 20 years of public health experience, including community engagement, grant and project management, and systems change coordination.

Prior to coming to MDH, Dai worked for the American Cancer Society in their community engagement and health equity program. Then for three years, she served as the community partnerships coordinator for MDH's Sage Cancer Programs. Dai is thrilled to be part of the Health Equity Strategy and Innovation Division and be part of efforts to serve our BIPOC, LGBTQ, and disability communities.

dai.vu@state.mn.us
651-201-5611

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Evaluation

Mia Robillos, research scientist

pronouns: she/her/hers

Mia joined MDH in 2014. She leads the reporting and evaluation for our grant programs and provides evaluation technical assistance to grantees, division staff, and other partners. Mia previously worked as a research associate at Rainbow Research, Inc. and has more than 25 years of experience in research and evaluation in the areas of health, education, social services, and organizational capacity building. She holds a master’s degree in agricultural and applied economics and has completed coursework and preliminary exams in the applied economics doctoral program at the University of Minnesota.

Mia.Robillos@state.mn.us
651-201-5406

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Health Equity Networks

Shor Salkas, project supervisor

pronouns: they/them

Shor supervises the Minnesota Health Equity Networks team and program. Shor supports the team in building, maintaining, and creating this statewide and regional work. Shor is passionate about bringing health equity and community engagement work to life in new, creative, invigorating, and relational ways, so that as many people as possible can see themselves doing this work in their communities. Shor loves bringing people into conversations and work around health equity through facilitation, training, coaching, and meaningful connection and conversation.

shor.salkas@state.mn.us
651-201-5819

Ben Cahill, Minnesota Health Equity Networks Northwest regional coordinator

pronouns: he/him/his

Ben is a regional coordinator for the Minnesota Health Equity Networks, working to strengthen, amplify and connect health equity efforts in the Northwest region. Living in Bemidji, Ben is a passionate advocate for the unique needs of rural, indigenous, and LGBTQ2S+ communities of Northern Minnesota. Previously, Ben has worked as a community health worker for Red Lake Nation, and PrimeWest Health, assisting folks to navigate health care and social services, to get connected with vital resources, and to provide health education. Ben was a 2023-2024 participant of the U of M’s Project R.E.A.C.H., focused on empowering those in community and public health to make a difference through legislative advocacy and public policy.

Benjamin.Cahill@state.mn.us
651-539-3041

TC Duong, health equity capacity building specialist

pronouns: he/him/his

TC Duong manages the technical assistance and capacity building work of the Minnesota Health Equity Networks. He has an extensive career in advocacy, policy, nonprofit program management, training, and technical assistance. Most recently, at the Blue Shield of California Foundation, TC oversaw a funding portfolio focused on building multisector collaborations to increase health equity. As the community health and health equity program manager for the Blue Cross Center for Prevention in Minnesota, he managed community partnerships and developed trainings and convenings on building equity and strengthening relationships.

Tc.duong@state.mn.us 
202-236-3075

Colleen McKinney, Minnesota Health Equity Networks Northeast regional coordinator

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Colleen McKinney is the Minnesota Health Equity Networks Northeast regional coordinator. Her career includes a wide range of professional experience in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. This includes working for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe for several years, coordinating Tribal ClearWay, SHIP, and Tobacco grants, as well as managing a small-market radio station (KBEK) for almost 20 years. A resident of rural Minnesota for over 35 years, Colleen has lived experience with the benefits and challenges of small town and country life. Colleen has been the lead on the Health Equity Networks newsletter since its inception, and she loves the fact that she can use her skills and experience to promote equity in the Northeast region and throughout Minnesota.

Colleen.McKinney@state.mn.us
651-201-5561

Lyndsey Reece, Minnesota Health Equity Networks Southeast regional coordinator

pronouns: she/her/hers

Lyndsey coordinates the Minnesota Health Equity Networks in Southeast Minnesota. She strives to build connections, strengthen the community’s toolkits, and amplify the amazing work being done. Lyndsey is certified in adaptive leadership facilitation and coaching. She is passionate about helping communities, organizations, and individuals find their own solutions to the challenges they are facing. Lyndsey loves to convene communities together around important topics that impact our overall wellness. Through facilitation, coaching, or over a cup of coffee, Lyndsey loves building meaningful connections that lead to improved capacity to do this important work. She also has a love of reading in hammocks and hiking random nature trails.

Lyndsey.reece@state.mn.us
651-201-5318

Fatuma (Fa) Youb, Minnesota Health Equity Networks Central regional coordinator

pronouns: she/her/hers

Fatuma coordinates the Minnesota Health Equity Networks in Central Minnesota, where she works to strengthen, amplify, and connect health equity initiatives across the region. Passionate about building relationships, Fatuma excels at fostering connections between network members. A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Fatuma served in Cambodia from 2013 to 2015 as a health volunteer, focusing on maternal health education in rural clinics. She is also a trained birth doula with Everyday Miracles, where she is dedicated to supporting birthing individuals throughout their pregnancy and birth journeys. Fatuma holds a master's in public health from Touro University of California and a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new trails, and gardening

Fatuma.youb@state.mn.us
320-223-7327

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Policy and Systems Change

Blaire Rodenbiker, policy and systems change supervisor

pronouns: she/her/hers

Blaire is a leader in driving initiatives for racial equity and is committed to empowering our communities through a fusion of advocacy and servant-leadership. With a decade of experience at the University of St. Thomas completing undergrad and working professionally, she has had a specific focus on access, inclusion, and equity initiatives from a higher education perspective and champions the power that education holds in elevating individuals and communities. 

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Biology of Global Health and a Master of Studies in Law specializing in Organizational Ethics and Compliance from St. Thomas, Blaire has a powerful foundation in understanding the social determinants of health and the historical trends of health disparities as well as methodologies for intervention and research. Her law degree has provided a framework for understanding legal and regulatory landscapes and assessing their parts for legality, ethics, and compliance.

blaire.rodenbiker@state.mn.us
651-201-4622

Dr. Erica Alley, policy and systems change planner

pronouns: she/her/hers

Dr. Erica Alley is dedicated to driving systemic change to enhance communication access for all communities, including Minnesota’s deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blindness communities. With a master's degree in ASL-English interpreting, a PhD in ASL-English interpreting research and pedagogy, and national certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), Dr. Alley supports the team’s mission of delivering accessible information.

Dr. Alley’s research and publication contributions explore systems in action. Her focal point has been an investigation into the daily challenges faced by Video Relay Service (VRS) interpreters due to the constrictions imposed by corporate policies. As a member of the Health Equity Strategy and Innovation Division, Dr. Alley leverages her expertise to extend information access for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blindness communities.

Erica.Alley@state.mn.us
651-539-3040

Allison Larson, policy and systems change lead

pronouns: she/her/hers

Allison leads health equity-related policy and legislative initiatives; assesses health equity policy strategy; supports the creation of capacity building initiatives around health policy; partners with internal and external stakeholders to advance policy; and supports equitable grant-making initiatives to advance systems change. Prior to working in policy and systems change, Allison engaged with a variety of nonprofit organizations, championing causes related to mental health, sexual and domestic violence, and basic needs. She holds a juris doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law).

Allison.Larson@state.mn.us
651-201-6706

Hannah Summers, policy and systems change planner 

pronouns: she/her/hers

Hannah supports the ongoing disability health work led by the Health Equity Strategy and Innovation Division’s policy and systems change team. Her focus areas include leading disability health equity and disability justice trainings, supporting disability data equity projects, and developing resources for inclusive health care and public health practices.  

hannah.summers@state.mn.us
651-201-4325

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Fellows and Interns

None at this time.

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