Kari Oldfield
40 Under 40 Class of 2021
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Executive Director
Local Public Health Association of Minnesota/Association of Minnesota Counties
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I am committed to strengthening Minnesota's public health infrastructure. A strong public health system is key to serving local communities and addressing important issues such as infectious disease threats, environmental health issues, public health emergencies, and ensuring equitable health outcomes for all.
Three words to describe me:
social, determined, caring
The best part of my job:
working with Minnesota’s public health leaders. I enjoy every opportunity to build genuine relationships with people from every corner of the state.
Something that would surprise others about me:
I’m a podcast enthusiast. I listen to dozens of podcasts each week. I particularly enjoy podcasts that focus on wrongful convictions and true crime.
As the only full-time staff at the Local Public Health Association of Minnesota, Kari Oldfield wears many hats to help Minnesotans live their healthiest lives. Her primary role as executive director is legislative advocacy on behalf of local and tribal public health organizations. Over the past several years, this advocacy has centered around COVID-19 response funding, support of the state’s health prevention investment program, and improving the accessibility to telemedicine policies. Â
Kari is especially proud of her leadership and advocacy for Minnesota’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership program, an initiative aimed at reducing health care costs and chronic disease rates by creating opportunities for Minnesotans of all ages to focus on healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco-free living, and well-being.Â
Kari received her JD from Hamline University School of Law and a BA from Coe College focusing on communications and political science.Â
