Sandra Melstad
2023 in Review....Partnerships

As 2023 comes to a close, a keyword foundational to public health that keeps emerging across the field is “partnerships”.

2023 in Review....Partnerships
Sandra Melstad
Developing an Action Plan with a Health Equity ...

Perhaps you are at the point where program or initiative is being planned or revised to address identified issues, priorities have been determined to address those issues, and now the task at hand is to develop an action plan to address those priorities and issues. But first, to move forward, it is important to recognize that to make an impact on priority issues/problems, addressing health inequities and their root causes are key.

Developing an Action Plan with a Health Equity Lens
Sandra Melstad
Health Inequities Show True Colors in ...

As March 2020 comes to a close, the world is experiencing unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 does not discriminate and people of all color, races, gender, income, celebrity status, religion, geographic locations are being impacted worldwide. However, what does discriminate and is showing its true colors, is health inequity.

Health Inequities Show True Colors in Unprecedented Times
Sandra Melstad
Public Health 3.0: A New Opportunity to Address ...

There are a wealth of activities happening across rural American working to address and improve health outcomes, including community gardens to increase access to healthy foods, economic development to invest in healthy community design, and utilization of local wellness coalitions to take action to address local health. However, increasing globalization and the growing impact of social, economic, and environmental factors on global health, calls for expansion of the scope and reach of population health approaches to improve health outcomes across rural America.

Public Health 3.0: A New Opportunity to Address Health in Rural America for Science, Action, & Health
Sandra Melstad
Reflection: Looking Back to Look to the Future ...

With 2018 wrapping and it is important to reflect on the breadth of efforts taking place across the nation to address population focused on improving the health of individuals where they live, work, learn, and play.

Reflection: Looking Back to Look to the Future of Public Health

Health Disparities

Story from the Field: Community Engagement of Tribal Communities

Story from the Field: Community Engagement of Tribal Communities

Often times I am asked about my work with tribal nations from family, friends, and colleagues and what that work entails. I lead the community engagement efforts with the Collaborative Research Center for American Indian Health (CRCAIH) to help tribes build their research infrastructure. Five tribes, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Tribal Nations Research Group with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Indians. Each tribal nation approaches how they build their infrastructure and capacity in various ways and have partnered with CRCAIH at different times in the last 6 years. What does that mean and why, is usually the follow up question.

Achieving Health Equity: Why It Matters

Achieving Health Equity: Why It Matters

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (20118), equitable means “having or exhibiting equity or dealing fairly and equally with all concerned” (2018).  In an equitable society everyone would have equal access to goods and services regardless of socio-economic status, gender, race, and the alike. When we look at equity from a health lens, that means that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health (Benjamin, 2018). Now, in an ideal world, that would be great, however, since we do not live in one, there is ample opportunity and need to achieve health equity.