We Are Public Health Video Series

Our “We Are Public Health” video series highlights various jobs with stories from real employees.

On this page:
Talent acquisition 
Noncommunity public water supply
American Indian health
Community engagement
Drinking water
Family home visiting
Finance
Health equity
Infant mortality
IT
Laboratory science
Licensing and certification
Oral health
Project planning
WIC
Zoonotic disease
 

Talent acquisition

José leads the talent acquisition team in human resources management. He works with staff to simplify the needs of hiring managers and put the needs of divisions first.

Noncommunity public water supply

Kyle is a water supply compliance officer in environmental health. He works with noncommunity public water supply systems across the state to make sure the water is safe to drink. So, no matter where you go in Minnesota, you know you can confidently drink the water.

American Indian health

Sarah is an American Indian community specialist in our statewide health improvement initiatives office. She supports Minnesota tribes in their efforts to keep tobacco sacred; reclaim food sovereignty; and return to their traditional, healthy Indigenous lifeways. Hear more about her role and her favorite thing about working at the Minnesota Department of Health.

Community engagement

One of the best ways to address health disparities is to actively engage those experiencing them. Our community engagement unit helps both employees and local public health agencies learn to connect more effectively with community members. Marisol and Jeannette share why they find working in our community engagement unit so inspiring.

Drinking water

Members of our drinking water protection program talk about what it's like to work together to protect the health of Minnesotans by ensuring clean drinking water. Learn more about our Drinking water protection program.

Family home visiting

Karla is a nurse consultant in our family home visiting section. She grew up on the Dakota Oyate Lake Traverse Reservation in North and South Dakota. Karla works out of our Bemidji District Office and serves Minnesota's northwest counties and all 11 tribal nations. Things she likes most about her job are knowing she is making a difference in children's lives and being able to see tribal communities reclaiming their sense of identity.

Finance

Dawn is a buyer in our division of financial management. She shares how her job impacts the lives of Minnesotans and why it's essential to the work we do at Minnesota Department of Health.

Health equity

Mohamed is a grant manager in our health equity center. He works closely with communities of color and tribal governments experiencing health inequity throughout Minnesota. The goal is to advance community-driven solutions to health inequities, in areas ranging from infant mortality to heart disease and stroke. Learn more about our Center for Health Equity.

Infant mortality

Helen is a community engagement planner in our Center for Health Equity. She works closely with the African American community to prevent infant mortality. Learn more about our infant mortality among African Americans project.

IT

Elizabeth works in IT at Minnesota Department of Health. She shares what she likes most about her job and why her work makes a difference for the health of Minnesotans.

Laboratory science

Betsy is a chemist in the environmental section of our public health lab. She analyzes blood and urine samples for heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium and lead. Her work is one of the many ways we identify health inequities throughout the state. It impacts things like Minnesota’s fish consumption advisories. Learn more about our public health lab.

Licensing and certification
 

Mo is a state surveyor and nursing evaluator in our licensing and certification program. He inspects health care providers, such as assisted living and nursing homes, to make sure residents are receiving the highest quality of care. If a resident has a concern, people like Mo are there to help. Learn more about licensing and certification.

Oral health

Bilquis is an epidemiologist and program evaluator in our oral health program. She explains why oral health is integral to a person's overall health and how her team works together to ensure all Minnesotans have access to the oral health services they need. Learn more about our oral health program.

Project planning

Emily works as a grant management coordinator in our agency project planning office. She supports entities that do hands-on work within Minnesota communities. Listening and ensuring the right voices are at the table are two key components of her job.

Minnesota WIC

Erin is a vendor consultant and contract manager for Minnesota WIC. She makes sure authorized grocery stores across the state carry WIC-allowed foods like whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, and milk. Erin loves traveling for her job and knowing that she's making a difference in the nutrition of Minnesota families! Learn more about our WIC program.

Zoonotic disease

Tory, an epidemiologist in the zoonotic diseases program, shares what her job entails and why every day is different.