Indigenous Health

Stan and Clarence chat with two incredible leaders in Indigenous health and public policy: Ravyn Gibbs and Kris Rhodes.

Ravyn Gibbs serves as the Tribal Liaison at the Minnesota Department of Health. Ravyn works to uplift Native communities, focusing on Indigenous rights and reducing health disparities. With a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of Minnesota Duluth and dual Master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Health from the University of Minnesota, Ravyn is also pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Drawing on previous work in federal Native and Tribal affairs policy, Ravyn is committed to addressing social injustices and advancing health equity.

Kris Rhodes was appointed Director of the Office of American Indian Health in 2024. With a deep commitment to public health, Kris leads initiatives to improve the well-being of Indigenous communities through policy and collaboration. Kris holds an MPH in Public Health Administration & Policy from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and an undergraduate degree in Community Health Education from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Over a decades-long career, Kris has founded initiatives like the American Indian Cancer Foundation, playing a key role in culturally grounded, sustainable public health programs across tribal, academic, and nonprofit sectors.

Join us as Ravyn and Kris share their journeys, professional experiences, and visions for creating a healthier future for Native communities.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/