Public Health Strategy and Partnership Division
Sections and work in this division
Public Health Strategy and Partnership Division
The MDH Public Health Strategy and Partnership Division helps people both inside MDH and across Minnesota’s governmental public health system make connections and collaborate, navigate complex systems and situations, increase knowledge and skills, and develop and implement change strategies.
The Public Health Strategy and Partnership Division lives in the MDH Health Operations Bureau (view all divisions, sections, and programs at MDH).
Sections and work
The Public Health Strategy and Partnership division contains the following sections:
- The Center for Public Health Practice builds capacity and improve performance of Minnesota's state and local public health system. Staff provide leadership, technical assistance, consultation, planning, and performance measurement support to state and local partners.
- Agency Projects and Planning promotes and drives operational excellence, organizational performance, and policy management at MDH. MDH staff can find a link to Agency Projects and Planning on the MDH Intranet.
This division also stewards the following work at MDH:
- MDH strategic plan
- National public health reaccreditation for the Minnesota Department of Health
- CDC Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG)
- MDH Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Staff
Division leadership:
- Chelsie Huntley, Division Director
- Becky Sechrist, Assistant Division Director
Cross-division operations:
- Liz Arita, Operations Analyst and Projects Coordinator Lead Worker
- Mark Caldwell, Evaluation and Data Manager
- James Poole, Contract Specialist
- Curtis Seelen, State Program Administrator Technical Specialist
- Alicia Waters, Grants and Budget Administrator
Director's office:
- Madison Anderson, Tribal Systems Consultant
- Gabby Cahow, Data Modernization Planner
- Dee Finley, Governance and Administration
- Allie Hawley March, Communications
Sections in PHSP Division:
- Please contact Agency Projects and Planning and the Center for Public Health Practice directly for a list of their staff
Contact us
Public Health Strategy and Partnership Division
Phone: 651-201-3880
Email: health.ophp@state.mn.us
Last Updated: 09/04/2025