February 3, 2022
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced February 1 that it is creating a new Health Equity Bureau to be led by a new assistant commissioner, Brooke Cunningham, MD, PhD, beginning March 2.
Cunningham is a general internist, sociologist, and assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota. She practices internal medicine at the Community-University Health Care Clinic (CUHCC), a federally qualified health clinic that serves a diverse patient population. Since fall of 2020, she has co-directed the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Thread, which aims to prepare future physicians to advance health equity.
“The MMA applauds Commissioner Malcolm’s move to elevate health equity within the state health department,” said Janet Silversmith, MMA CEO. “Dr. Cunningham will bring incredible passion, expertise, and clinical experience to this role. We look forward to continuing to work with her in her new position.”
The new bureau will house several existing MDH units including the Center for Health Equity and the new Office of American Indian Health. The structure will also serve as the department’s hub for proactive diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and will lead the department’s equity work within the COVID-19 response.
“The pandemic continues to demonstrate with shocking clarity the systemic issues underlying Minnesota’s health inequities as well as the troubling health conditions and outcomes magnified by those inequities,” said Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “The creation of this new bureau builds on what we have learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and reflects our deepening commitment to health equity in all aspects of public health.”
As a primary care provider, Cunningham has advocated for deepening connections and partnerships with community members to improve the quality of health care delivery, medical education, and biomedical research.
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