Conferences

2026

Presentation slides:

*Available after conference, to be held on Friday, September 25, 2026*

Speakers:

Keynote Address:
- Listening to the Northland: Using Data and AI to Advance Health Equity and Community Wellbeing
- David Marc, College of St. Scholastica
Exploration of 2025 Regional Data
- Emily Neumann, University of Wisconsin – Superior
- Giovann Alarcon, Minnesota Department of Health
Data Equity: BIPOC Data Walk and Panel Discussion
- Olihe Okoro, University of Minnesota
- Jordon Johnson, AICHO
- Melisa Gomez-Romo, Unidos Duluth
- Pablo Romo, Unidos Duluth, AICHO
- Jen Harris, Unidos Duluth
- Jade Wong, Superior Commission on Communities of Color
- Kim Nordin, Twin Ports APIDA Collective
- Viann Nguyen-Feng, Twin Ports APIDA Collective
Breakout Sessions
- Tutorial and Tools: a deeper dive into county-level data
  - David Marc, College of St. Scholastica
  - Meghann Levitt, Lake County Public Health
  - Giovann Alarcon, Minnesota Department of Health
  - Sonia Kjos, Generations Health Care Initiatives
- New Questions and Emerging Issues: explore questions introduced in 2025
  - Lynn Goerdt, University of Wisconsin-Superior
  - Emily Neumann, University of Wisconsin-Superior
  - Anna Lynn, Minnesota Department of Health
  - Stefan Gingerich, Minnesota Department of Health
  - Lauretta Perry, University of Minnesota-Duluth

Presentation slides:

Conference video link

Speakers:

Ann Kinney, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Minnesota Center for Health Statistics, Minnesota Department of Health
Mike Finch, PhD, Principal, Finch & King, Inc., Executive in Residence, Medical Industry Leadership Institute, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

Presentation slides:

Speakers:

Survey Results:
- Ann Kinney, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Minnesota Center for Health Statistics, Minnesota Department of Health
- Mike Finch, PhD, Principal, Finch & King, Inc., Executive in Residence, Medical Industry Leadership Institute, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
Keynote Address: Tyler Norris, MDiv, Kaiser Permanente
Health Disparities: ThaoMee Xiong, JD, MPA, Center for Health Equity, Minnesota Department of Health
Heart of New Ulm Panel:
- Cindy Winters, Heart of New Ulm Project
- Jen Maurer, New Ulm Medical Center
- Karen Moritz, RN, BSN, PHN, Brown County Public Health
Community Resources RWJ: Janna West Kowalski, MS, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute)

Presentation slides:

Speakers:

Survey Results:
- Ann Kinney, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Minnesota Center for Health Statistics, Minnesota Department of Health
- Mike Finch, PhD, Principal, Finch & King, Inc., Executive in Residence, Medical Industry Leadership Institute, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
Keynote Address:
- Jeanne F. Ayers, RN, MPH, Assistant Commissioner of Health, Minnesota Department of Health
Session A – Addressing Adult and Childhood Obesity in the Clinical Setting:
- Nancy Beery, DO, Pediatrics, Essentia Health
- James Donovan, MD, Family Medicine, St. Luke’s
Session B – Mental Health Care: Providing the Help People Need When They Need It
- Carolyn Phelps, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Human Development Center
Sessions C and F – Community Approaches to Improving Health: Albert Lea, MN and NE MN
- Bob Graham, Director of Community Development, Albert Lea, MN
- Julie Myhre, RN, PHN, MS, Director of the Carlton–Cook–Lake–St. Louis County Community Health Board
Session D – Increasing Physical Activity on the Path (or Bridge) to Health:
- Amber Dallman, Physical Activity Coordinator, MN Department of Health
Session E – Strategies for Addressing Health Access for the Uninsured
- Wende Nelson, Executive Director, Lake Superior Community Health Center
- Jenny Peterson, Program Director, Generations Health Care Initiatives