January 18, 2024
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has hired Odichinma (Odi) Akosionu-DeSouza as its new director of the Center for Health Equity (CHE).
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| Odichinma (Odi) Akosionu-DeSouza |
Prior to joining MDH, Akosionu-DeSouza worked at the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity as a project manager and research scholar. She also served as the director of operations for The Research in Color Foundation, leading efforts to support scholars who are interested in pursuing a PhD degree in economics and related fields, with the overarching goal to improve the number of underrepresented scholars within these fields.
The Center for Health Equity, created in 2013 to advance health equity, has grown dramatically, from about a dozen staff in 2020 to approximately 50 today. Recognizing this growth and the center’s role in providing support and technical assistance across the agency, the executive office has elevated the Center for Health Equity to a division named the Division of Health Equity Strategy and Innovation.
July 10, 2025
With the passage of President Trump’s budget bill, many in healthcare are wondering how it will affect the practice of medicine in the United States, and how it will impact the health of Minnesotans.
July 10, 2025
With an overwhelming 90% vote of support, Allina Health physicians, physicians’ assistants, and nurse practitioners voted to authorize a strike if the members of the Doctors Council – SEIU and Allina cannot reach a deal.
July 10, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Equitable Health Care Task Force is seeking public comment on its draft recommendations for improving health equity across the state.