Advancing Health Equity Through Whole Person Care
Whole Person Health Summit
Advancing Health Equity Through Whole Person Care
The Whole Person Health Summit is an annual event that brings together health professionals, community leaders, and policymakers to advance health equity through whole person care.
Thank you to all who attended the 4th annual summit! We hope to see you back in spring 2027. Watch this space for updates on the date and registration.
Our annual Whole Person Health Summit aims to bring together health care leaders, health professionals, policy makers, funders, students, faculty, and community members to share learnings, co-create new ideas, and identify opportunities to collaborate on strategies to advance health equity through culturally responsive, whole-person, collaborative care.
As we focus on the theme of "Resilience Rooted in Strength" at this year's Summit, attendees will hear from speakers and engage in conversations to explore how we nurture resilience within ourselves, through our work with patients, clients, and community partners, in our communities, and as we adapt our organizations and systems to meet tomorrow's needs.
This event has been pre-approved for 5.0 CEUs by the Minnesota Boards of Psychology and Social Work. All attendees will receive a certificate attendance and detailed program with event learning objectives and speaker bios that may be submitted to their respective professional board if the attendee determines it meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education.
Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, is Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, a professor in the Technological Leadership Institute, College of Science and Engineering, and an adjunct professor in the Medical School, all at the University of Minnesota.
In early 2025, Dr. Osterholm and colleagues founded the Vaccine Integrity Project, a key initiative dedicated to safeguarding vaccine use in the US. He is also author of the new book, The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics.
Opening Remarks - Staying Grounded While the Ground Shifts: A Framework for Leading During Collective Distress
Maria Medina is a public health leader and System Director for Equity Initiatives at M Health Fairview, where she works to advance equitable care and strengthen partnerships between health systems and communities. In 2018, she was elected mayor of Richfield, becoming Minnesota’s first Latina mayor. Maria’s work bridges community organizing, public health, and systems strategy to address inequities and transform how care and community services are delivered. She holds a BA in Global Studies and a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota. She is deeply committed to mentoring emerging leaders and strengthening community-rooted solutions.
Morning Plenary - Supporting Resilience: Science and Practice
Dr. Henry Emmons is a psychiatrist who integrates mind-body and natural therapies, mindfulness and neuroscience into his clinical work. Henry is the author of The Chemistry of Joy and The Chemistry of Calm, and co-founder of NaturalMentalHealth.com, a website devoted to making integrative mental health resources more accessible, affordable, and empowering. You can hear him on his weekly Joy Lab podcast at JoyLab.coach.
MN Department of Health Equity, Strategy and Innovation
Director of Minnesota Institute for Trauma-Informed Education, University of St. Thomas
Executive Director, Irreducible Grace Foundation
Founder, Upstream Solutions
Founder and CEO, Nexus Community Partners
8:00 - 8:30 a.m.
8:30 - 8:45 a.m.
Welcome remarks from Dean MayKao Hang
Land Acknowledgement featuring music from Tearra Oso
8:45 - 9:00 a.m.
"Staying Grounded While the Ground Shifts: A Framework for Leading During Collective Distress" with Maria Medina, MPH – System Director of Equity Initiatives, M Health Fairview and former mayor of Richfield, Minn.
9:00 - 9:20 a.m.
Melanie Ferris, Director of Health Equity & Strategic Partnerships, Morrison Family College of Health, University of St. Thomas
9:20 - 10:30 a.m.
Morning Plenary:
10:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Fifteen minute break
10:45 - 11:05 a.m.
Learn from your fellow attendees
11:05 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
"Fostering Resilience through Culture and Community: A Listening Session with Rondo Neighborhood Community Leaders and Partners"
Guests include:
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Lunch will be provided with an array of dietary options and customizable plates
Catering by the University of St. Thomas
1:00 - 1:45 p.m.
Keynote Address: Dr. Michael Osterholm, "Vaccine Integrity Project: A Road Map for Resilience"
Dr. Osterholm will draw on lessons learned from COVID to examine how health care and public health systems can be more adaptive and be redesigned to rebuild trust, adapt to change, and better support community health and well-being.
Moderator: Dr. Julia Joseph DiCaprio
1:45 - 2:00 p.m.
Fifteen minute break
2:00 - 3:20 p.m.
Attendees will have opportunities to participate in their choice of a World Cafe discussion and/or restorative practices.
Option 1: World Café Discussion
Attendees may choose to participate in a World Café discussion breaking down this overarching question into ideas for actionable next steps: “How do we build on what we’ve learned in recent years to intentionally nurture resilience — among individuals, within and across communities, and through our organizations — in ways that advance health equity?”
Facilitator: Dr. Antonia Apolinário-Wilcoxon, Equity Strategies
Option 2: Restorative Practices
Attendees may participate in their choice of restorative practices. Two sessions will take place with the following options during each session:
Session A (2 - 2:35 p.m.):
Session B (2:45 - 3:20 p.m.):
4:15 pm - 4:30 p.m.
Final remarks from Melanie Ferris, Director of Health Equity & Strategic Partnerships, Morrison Family College of Health, University of St. Thomas
Music by performing artist Tearra Oso
Brittney Baker is the Deputy Chief of EMS for the Saint Paul Fire Department, an EMS educator, and founder of Right Start CPR, a community-focused training initiative dedicated to lifesaving education. With a background in Paramedicine, Emergency Management, and leadership development, she is committed to expanding equitable access to CPR, first aid, and public safety training. Through leadership, mentorship, and advocacy, Baker works to build stronger, more prepared, and resilient communities.
Eyenga Bokamba is dedicated to resourcing choice, voice and joy and elevating practitioner expertise as a community leader working at the intersection of experiential education, civic engagement and participatory arts. Eyenga currently serves as the Director of the Minnesota Institute for Trauma-Informed Education (MITIE), which was launched in 2021 as a joint partnership of the University of St. Thomas School of Education and Morrison Family College of Health to provide an arena for scholars, practitioners, and researchers to convene and learn about the best practices in trauma-informed education and restorative practices.
Prior to this appointment, Eyenga served as the Executive Director of Intermedia Arts and as the Director of Menlo Park Academy. She is a recipient of a Bush Leadership Fellowship and holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota and an M.Ed. from Harvard University.
Jenny Breen is a professional chef and advocate for sustainable food systems and food justice, and has worked directly with farmers and producers in the Twin Cities area, since the mid 1980’s. She was co-owner of Good Life Cafe and Catering, a sustainable food business, from 1996-2013. She is a 2009 Archibald Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow and completed her MPH in Nutrition at the University of Minnesota in 2011, while working to build strong networks within health and food systems for greater access to food, support for sustainable farming, and understanding of cooking as a health strategy. Her first cookbook, "Cooking up the Good Life," emphasizes local, seasonal whole foods cooking for families, and was released in April of 2011 from the University of Minnesota Press.
Jenny currently teaches at the University of Minnesota. She also is the manager and program director of the teaching kitchen at The Redleaf Center for Family Wellbeing at Hennepin Healthcare. She contracts as a Public Health culinary nutrition educator with local health departments, school districts, and non profit food and farming organizations.
Sheree Curry is Director of Communications at the University of St. Thomas, where she leads editorial strategy and thought leadership initiatives focused on community impact, health, equity, and access. With nearly 15 years of experience, she is also an accomplished journalist with bylines in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune. Curry serves as co-president of the National Association of Black Journalists –Minnesota and hos t s This Conver sation Matter s , a radio show and podcast exploring social issues.
Dr. Henry Emmons is a psychiatrist who integrates mind-body and natural therapies, mindfulness and neuroscience into his clinical work. Henry is the author of The Chemistry of Joy and The Chemistry of Calm, and co-founder of NaturalMentalHealth.com, a website devoted to making integrative mental health resources more accessible, affordable, and empowering. You can hear him on his weekly Joy Lab podcast at JoyLab.coach.
Liz Franklin, MSW, LICSW, is the Director of Behavioral Health at CLUES. She has also served as a Community Faculty member in the University of Minnesota’s MSW program since 2016. She has 20 years of experience in community-based clinical social work practice, primarily serving Latine kids and families. Her practice interests include helping kids and families heal from complex trauma; creating inclusive services for
neurodivergent participants; and culturally-affirming, trauma-informed supervision and organizational systems.
Dr. French is a counseling psychologist and faculty member at the University of St. Thomas whose work focuses on racial and sexual trauma and recovery among Black, Indigenous. and People of Color. Her research on radical healing and trauma has been widely recognized and featured in national media outlets. In addition to her teaching and research, she maintains a private practice specializing in trauma recovery and is a leader in multicultural counseling and social justice pedagogy.
Dr. Fry is an educator and nonprofit leader with more than 20 years of experience in student affairs and college readiness. She previously served as Director of College and Career Readiness for Saint Paul Public Schools and now leads the Irreducible Grace Foundation, supporting youth—especially those from foster care—in their transition to adulthood. She also founded the Black Youth Healing Arts Center in Saint Paul, creating a space for healing and express ion through the arts.
Dr. MayKao Y. Hang was appointed vice president and founding dean of the Morrison Family College of Health in the fall of 2019. Hang is a proven, values-based leader who is passionate about the well-being of underserved communities and a champion of addressing disparities, and her background makes her an exciting fit to lead the college. In her previous role as president and CEO of the Wilder Foundation, she designed programs and initiatives to address complex community issues and worked to integrate behavioral health services. That integrative approach is exactly how our new College of Health seeks to differentiate itself.
Dr. Hang earned her BA in psychology from Brown University, her MA in public affairs from the University of Minnesota, and a doctorate in public administration from Hamline University.
Cheniqua Johnson Annan serves as the Saint Paul City Councilmember representing Ward 7 on the city’ s East Side (Dayton’s Bluff, Conway, Eastview, Highwood Hills, Battle Creek, Mounds Park, and Swede Hollow). Elected in 2023, she is the first woman of color to represent Ward 7 on the Saint Paul City Council. Johnson Annan currently serves as Chair of the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority and Chair of the City Council Budget Committee, where she focuses on housing stability, economic opportunity, and responsible stewardship of public resources.
James Kellerman is a RYT200 yoga teacher, a national board certified Health and Wellness coach (NBC-HWC), a workshop facilitator and a performing musician and composer. James is passionate about understanding our mind/body connection and his work focuses on integrating yoga, science and artistic disciplines to create experiences that nurture growth and help people find inner strength and resilience.
Tamara D. Mattison, PhD, is Senior Administrative Manager for Safe Communities at Hennepin County and owner of Generation 2 Generation, Inc., a leadership and consulting firm. A longtime nonprofit and community leader, she helped open Minnesota’s first Safe Harbor shelter for girls ages 12–17 who were victims of sex trafficking. Dr. Mattison is also a Restorative Practices trainer with the Minnesota Department of Education and has more than 25 years of experience serving youth, families, and communities across the Twin Cities.
Maria Medina is a public health leader and System Director for Equity Initiatives at M Health Fairview, where she works to advance equitable care and strengthen partnerships between health systems and communities. In 2018, she was elected mayor of Richfield, becoming Minnesota’s first Latina mayor. Maria’s work bridges community organizing, public health, and systems strategy to address inequities and transform how care and community services are delivered. She holds a BA in Global Studies and a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota. She is deeply committed to mentoring emerging leaders and strengthening community-rooted solutions.
Repa Mekha is the Founder and CEO of Nexus Community Partners, a community-building intermediary focused on equitable community development. With more than 35 years of experience, he is recognized locally and nationally for his leadership in community-based initiatives, institution building, wealth-building strategies, and systems change. Mekha holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin. He is an alumnus of the Philanthropy Forward program, the Bush Leader ship Fellowship, and the Shannon Leadership Institute.
Priscilla Momah is a certified yoga instructor, sound healer, and soulful musician passionate about cultivating spaces for deep rest and healing. With over a decade of experience as a singer-songwriter and wellness practitioner, Priscilla combines her love of sound and movement to create immersive sound bath experiences that nourish the mind, body, and soul. Influenced by her African American heritage and a journey of self-discovery, Priscilla’s offerings invite participants to reconnect with their inner calm and emerge feeling renewed.
Tearra Oso is a performing artist, healer, and culture protector, whose musical medicine has empowered audiences nationally and internationally since childhood. Growing up in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Oso spent time away from her often violent home, learning traditional Afro Boricua drumming, song, and dance called Bomba. The understanding of her Afro Latinx identity and the resilience of her incredible ancestors has been foundational to the development of her artistry and community leadership.
After performing and teaching traditional music for decades, Oso created her debut album titled PREZ and a new genre she calls BombaPop, which fuses the ancestral healing practice of Bomba with Pop, Funk, R&B, and Hip Hop instrumentation.
Oso currently curates powerful, interactive performances and workshops that fuse traditional Afro Boricua music and history, original BombaPop/AfroPop music, and Mind/Body medicine practices. She leads drumming sessions at the Black Youth Healing Arts Center and at Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, is Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota. A leading expert on infectious diseases and pandemic preparedness, he served on President-elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 transition advisory board and has advised national and global health organizations. He is the author of multiple books on infectious disease threats, including Deadliest Enemy and The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics. Dr. Osterholm is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and former state epidemiologist for the Minnesota Department of Health.
Jonathan Palmer is Executive Director of the Rondo Center of Diverse Expressions, where he works to preserve and celebrate the heritage of Saint Paul’s historic Rondo community. With more than 30 years of experience in public and nonprofit leadership, he previously served as Executive Director of Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, leading its restoration and growth. A graduate of Morehouse College, Jonathan is recognized for his community leadership and service, including the NAACP Outstanding Servant Leadership Award. He is also an artist and active civic leader dedicated to improving communities across Minnesota.
Dr. Ayanna Quamina (Dr. Q) is a board-registered Naturopathic Physician specializing in family practice. She combines 17 years of clinical practice, a bachelor's degree in psychology, and 5 years of health coaching experience to treat her patients from a fully holistic approach. As the only Black ND currently practicing in the state of Minnesota, her mission is to educate both her patients and the community-at-large on ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families.
Wesley Spearman is an entrepreneur and community builder with more than 15 years of experience launching and leading businesses in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Known for his vision and resilience, he is dedicated to empowering local creatives and strengthening community-centered business development. Through his work, Wesley focuses on building opportunities, fostering collaboration, and inspiring the next
generation of entrepreneurs.
A generous grant from the George Family Foundation established the George Family Whole Person Health Initiative at the University of St. Thomas. The Whole Person Health Summit is supported in part by this grant.
Funding for this project is provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, as part of its commitment to investing in community-led solutions, so everyone has the opportunity to achieve their healthiest life.
YMCA of the North
