Gov. Evers Announces Appointments to Health Equity Council

Gov. Tony Evers today announced 33 appointments to the Governor’s Health Equity Council. The purpose of the council is to address the various factors that exacerbate health disparities by creating a comprehensive plan to achieve long-lasting and equitable health outcomes for all Wisconsinites.

“Ensuring that all Wisconsinites have access to quality healthcare has been and will continue to be one of my administration’s top priorities,” said Gov. Evers. “I have no doubt that the members of this council will be effective in delivering actionable solutions to help Wisconsin become an equitable place to live for all individuals.”

In a 2016 report published by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, the state of Wisconsin was given an overall health disparities grade of “D.”

“We didn’t need the COVID-19 pandemic to tell us that your health is closely linked to your zip code, race, and other socioeconomic factors,” said Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Andrea Palm. “Through this robust public-private collaboration we can target the social determinants of health that drive these health disparities and make real progress towards ensuring that every Wisconsinite has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.”

Serving on the Health Equity Council will be:

Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes
DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm
Michelle Robinson, Research, Evaluation, & Program Integrity Advisor, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF)
Gina Green-Harris, Director of Center for Community Engagement and Health Partnerships, UW School of Medicine and Public Health
Paula Tran Inzeo, Group Director, UW Population Health Institute, Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health
Lilliann Paine, Chief of Staff, Milwaukee City Health Department
Micaela Berry-Smith, Executive Director, Harambee Village
Tia Murray, Owner, Co-Founder, and President, Harambee Village
Jasmine Zapata, Assistant Professor, UW School of Medicine and Public Health
Maria Barker, Director of Latinx Programs and Initiatives, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin
Janel Hines, Senior Director of Grant Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Lisa Peyton-Caire, Founder and President, The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness
Andrea Werner, Senior Vice President, Bellin Health Hospital Center
Ellen Sexton, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Wisconsin
William Parke-Sutherland, Health Policy Engagement Coordinator, Kids Forward
Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, UW Health
Sandra Brekke, Senior Consultant, Office of Population Health, Gundersen Health System
Tito Izard, President and CEO, Milwaukee Health Services, Inc.
Jerry Waukau, Tribal Health Director, Menominee Nation
Guy (Anahkwet) Reiter, Executive Director, Menikanaehkem, Inc.
Mary Thao, Marshfield Clinic
Sarah Ferber, Associate Director, Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing
Amy DeLong, Family Physician and Medical Director, Ho-Chunk Nation
Wanda Montgomery, Community Partnerships Director, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Stacy Clark, Intersectionality Among Men Program Coordinator, Diverse & Resilient
Elizabeth Valitchka, Strategic Advisor, DCF
Joya Headley, Public Health Student, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Cristal Tinajero Rodríguez, Student, Milwaukee Area Technical College
Gale Johnson, Director of Wisconsin Well Woman Program, DHS
Isaak Mohamed, Somali Liaison & Community Health Worker, Barron County
Diane Erickson, Clinic Administrator, Red Cliff Community Health Center
Patricia Metropulos, President and CEO, Kathy’s House
Julie Mitchell, Commercial Medical Director, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin