Kathy Hedin named Deputy County Manager of Health and Wellness Service Team
Kathy Hedin has been appointed Deputy County Manager of Health and Wellness. The Health and Wellness Service Team is made up of the Social Services, Financial Assistance Services, Public Health, Community Corrections, Veterans Services and Administration departments and accounts for 49 percent of the county’s budget.
Currently, Director of Saint Paul - Ramsey County Public Health, Hedin will start in her new role on November 1. She will report to County Manager Ryan O'Connor and serve on the county's Executive Team.
“Kathy’s exemplary service, inspiring leadership and excellent working relationships developed over two decades at Ramsey County make her the ideal person for this critical position,” said County Manager Ryan O'Connor. "Recently and notably she has led our Public Health response to COVID-19, prioritizing community-focused, equity-first approaches that put the county's Vision, Mission and Goals into action."
Hedin joined Ramsey County in 2001 as an Environmental Health Technician and has been promoted into a number of roles within Public Health since. These include Health Educator - where she worked on issues such as reducing community violence and chronic disease prevention through community engagement - and Manager of Healthy Communities where she worked on issues such as healthy youth development, mental health, aging, health equity, and sexual violence help and prevention. Hedin has been leading the Public Health department since 2018.
“I’m excited and honored to accept this appointment,” said Hedin. “As we continue working through the impacts of COVID-19 as a community, we must address the significant health and racial disparities it has unearthed. It’s my vision to invest in healing, well-being, bringing people together and finding ways to embed Ramsey County's values to allow repair, growth and partnership.”
Hedin is a 2020-2021 Minnesota Young American Leader and a 2018-2020 Kresge National Emerging Leader in Public Health. She has a bachelor’s degree in community health - health science from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and earned a master’s degree in human services - social and community work, from Capella University, as well as a certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School. Hedin lives in Saint Paul with her husband and two children.