Minnesota Asthma Alliance
Breathe better, Minnesota
In June 2025, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Asthma Program convened the Minnesota Asthma Alliance (MAA). The MAA includes health care professionals, local public health, Tribal health, schools, local business, and nonprofit organizations that have professional and/or personal experience with asthma and commitment to tackling asthma across Minnesota. Many communities and geographic areas are represented! The Asthma Program thanks them for their key contributions to this work.
Dual purpose of the Asthma Alliance
- To collectively share, problem-solve, strategize, and support resource development to reduce the impact of asthma across Minnesota, with special attention to communities and groups especially impacted; and
- To advise the Minnesota Asthma Program (MAP) on decisions and programs in keeping with this goal
The MAA meets quarterly as a full group. Agendas include mutual sharing of updates, presentations, and discussion. The focus is on exchange of ideas, problem-solving, and action!
Leadership
MDH provides support and facilitation for the MAA, with co-leadership by two community Co-Chairs:
Jayme Murphy, MPH
Is the Director of Health, Data and Analytics at the National Sports Center (NSC) and Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC). His work focuses on serving the largest amateur sports facility in North America and the 4 million athletes that participate on its campus every year. His experience covers public grant administration, on-site athlete research initiatives and service as a convener for youth sports, MDH, and the Governor's office to discuss rules, laws, and best practices for athletes on the NSC Campus and organizations across the state.
Jayme is a former BIG Ten athlete, who managed his own asthma throughout his playing career. Now he's a husband, proud father of two (including an asthmatic athlete) and a youth sports coach. He's passionate about providing a youth sports experience that is safe and enjoyable for all Minnesotans.
Jennifer (Jenny) A. Oliphant, EdD, MPH
Is a public health researcher, educator, and coalition leader whose work focuses on health equity, prevention, and systems-level approaches to improving population health. Her experience spans community engagement, chronic disease prevention and management, and provider education across public health, clinical, and academic settings. Dr. Oliphant’s research and practice explore how education, communication, and collaboration can strengthen prevention strategies. Her broader work integrates community-based research, implementation science, and policy translation to advance equitable, sustainable health outcomes for youth and families.
Dr. Oliphant brings a personal perspective as both a parent of a young person with asthma and an individual living with asthma herself. She is committed to ensuring that prevention and management efforts are trusted, inclusive, and responsive to the real-world needs of families and communities statewide.
Minnesota Asthma Alliance members
- Gail Brottman, MD, Pediatric Pulmonologist, Hennepin Healthcare
- Alejandra Eppinger, DNP, PP, Clinical Director, Park Nicollet Minneapolis Clinic
- Angela Fields, CHW, Founder/Owner, CHW Concepts
- Lisa Gebhard, MS, Manager, Nationwide Health Promotions, Indoor Air Quality, American Lung Association
- Heather Hedin, MSN, RN, LSN, NCSN, Minnesota Department of Health State School Nurse Consultant
- Jill Heins-Nesvold, MS, Senior Director Nationwide, Health Systems Improvement and Indoor Air Quality, American Lung Association
- Minister Dr Ora Hokes, Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
- Jessica Linde, PharmD, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Pharmacies
- Isabel Marsh, MDP, Co-Founder, Lighthouse Global
- Charlene McEvoy, MD, Pulmonologist and Clinical Investigator/Researcher, Health Partners
- Jayme Murphy, MPH, Director of Health, Data, and Analytics, National Sports Center (NSC) and Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC)
- Carrie O’Neill, RN, PHN, Public Health Nurse- School Age Services, Olmsted County Public Health
- Jenny Oliphant, EdD, MPH, Independent Research Consultant – Adolescent Health & Prevention Science
- Rachelle Menanteau Peleska, MPH, Environmental Health Supervisor - Healthy Homes, St. Paul Ramsey County
- Elizabeth Placzek, MD, Pediatrician – Primary Care, Medical Director West St Paul Clinic, Children’s Minnesota
- Nneka Sederstrom, PhD, Chief Health Equity Officer, Hennepin Healthcare
- Liz Sperr, MPH, Health Improvement Manager, UCare
- Vu Tran, BS in Housing, Asthma Program Coordinator, City of Minneapolis Health Department
Workgroups
Subgroups of the MAA are convened as needed on a short-term basis.
The Asthma Strategic Framework Workgroup: Seven members met with the Minnesota Asthma Program twice in July 2025 to inform the development of the 2026-2030 Asthma in Minnesota Strategic Framework. MDH thanks them for their central role in creating the final product:
- Gail Brottman
- Alejandra Eppinger
- Angela Fields
- Ora Hokes
- Isabel Marsh
- Jenny Oliphant
- Nneka Sederstrom
Pending: Evaluation Workgroup: to inform how the MDH Asthma Program measures impact and effectiveness of its activities and partnerships. Additional workgroups may be created as members or the MDH Asthma Program propose.
For more information:
Reach-out to health.asthma@state.mn.us or andrea.hickle@state.mn.us
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