REFUGEE AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM
2016 Refugee Health Forum Presenter
Bios and Contact Information
Asli Ashkir is an experienced public health nurse with 30 years combined experience in clinical
nursing, public health, and education. Currently, Mrs. Ashkir works as a senior RN consultant
with the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Children and Youth with Special Health
Need’s section. Mrs. Ashkir got her basic nursing diploma from Somalia, her Bachelor of Science
in Nursing from India, and a Masters of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health from the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mrs. Ashkir is the Co-founder and President of
Somali Health Solutions, a community based organization that advances the efforts of the care
providers and institutions that serve the Somali community of Minnesota. Email:
[email protected]
Kent Cova-Suarez, MS is currently the community health coordinator for Open Door Health
Center, where he provides integrated community health services to the medical and dental
departments. He completed his Master’s in cognitive behavioral counseling at Simón Bolívar
University and is currently a doctoral candidate in psychology at Florida State University. Kent
has extensive experience providing support to refugees and immigrants in South Central
Minnesota. He is committed to helping people in need access quality and affordable health
care. His interests involve community health in an integrated primary care setting and the
management and treatment of anxiety and depression. Email: [email protected]
Pakou Hang is the co-founder and executive director of the Hmong American Farmers
Association. She has over 20 years of experience with farming and vegetable production and is
a former member of the St. Paul Farmers Market Board of Directors, as well as a 2011
participant of the White House Project’s Plate to Politics Summit in Wisconsin. Pakou has
worked for over 12 years as a community organizer and graduated from the University of
Minnesota in 2008 with a Masters in Political Science and from Yale University in 1999 with a
B.A., also in Political Science. She is a recipient of the prestigious Hubert H. Humphrey Public
Leadership Award, the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, and the newly
inaugurated Bush Leadership Fellowship. Email: [email protected]
Rachele King is the manager of the Resettlement Programs Office at the MN Department of
Human Services where she has served as the state refugee coordinator since February 2015.
Rachele began working in the field of refugee resettlement in 1997. Her entry to this work was
through a one year volunteer corps position with the LSS Refugee and Immigration Program.
That one year of service turned into a lifelong commitment to promote the successful
resettlement and integration of refugees in Minnesota. Immediately prior to her current
2016 FORUM PRESENTER INFORMATION
position, she worked at the Minnesota Council of Churches for 11 years, where she served as
the director of refugee services. Email: [email protected]
Kathryn Leggitt, CNM, is a Certified Nurse Midwife at Hennepin County Medical Center. She
obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her Master of Science from the University of
Minnesota. Her work at Hennepin County Medical Center includes the care of many women
and their families from Somalia, other East African and North African countries, the Middle
East, and Central America. Her publications include "Holistic Pregnancy & Childbirth", an
interactive website sponsored by the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality and
Healing and the chapter "Techniques to Promote Relaxation in Labor" within "Supporting a
Physiologic Approach to Pregnancy and Birth" published by Wiley-Blackwell. Email:
[email protected]
Ann Linde, MPH, is the international health planner at MDH. She partners with refugee- and
immigrant-led community organizations and other stakeholders on health promotion projects.
She assists in coordinating the activities of the Minnesota Center of Excellence in Refugee
Health. Email: [email protected]
Amy Miller is currently a disability examiner at the Minnesota DDS. She worked at the
International Institute of Minnesota for 11 years prior to joining DDS. She spent five of those
years working in the resettlement department and oversaw refugee health case management
for part of that time. She has a background in public health from U of MN where she studied
Community Health Education and International Health. Email: [email protected]
Hibat Sharif came to the United States as a refugee from Somalia at the age of 4. She spent
most of her life in a rural town in Maine called Lewiston. She graduated from Weber State
University in Health Administration with an emphasis on Health Promotion and Education. She
is currently working at Ramsey County Public Health’s Child and Teen Checkup Program. Email:
[email protected]
Sister Stephanie Spandl, LICSW obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work at St. Catherine
University/University of St. Thomas. She has 22 years of experience working with immigrants
and refugees in a variety of capacities, including mental health, housing, homelessness, general
advocacy, and case management. She has been with MORE for the past 10 years as the mental
health program manager. Email: [email protected]
Cynthia Treviño is a licensed social worker and community health worker at Open Door Health
Center (ODHC) in Mankato, Minnesota. She completed her undergraduate degree in social work
at Minnesota State University, Mankato and is currently in the process of attaining her Masters
in Social Work from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has worked with ODHC for the
past year in the Community Health Program. Her previous work experience includes working
with children in a daycare setting, as well as adults with developmental and intellectual
disabilities in a residential setting. Cynthia is involved in the community in various ways
including regularly attending community discussions surrounding the care and advancement of
people of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
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2016 FORUM PRESENTER INFORMATION
Hannah Volkman has been a refugee and international health fellow with MDH since August
2014. She has collaborated on a broad range of Refugee and International Health Program
projects including the legislative report on spoken language healthcare interpreting and the
development of a health orientation resource toolkit designed for resettlement agencies and
providers who work with recent refugee arrivals. Hannah holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
Biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of St. Thomas. This spring
she will graduate from the University of Minnesota with a Master of Public Health degree.
Email: [email protected]
Elise Whitesparks has been with MN Disability Determination Services for 5 years where she is
currently a medical relations officer. Prior to her current position, she was a disability examiner
for several years. She has a BA in International Studies from the University of Wisconsin –
Stevens Point and has a background working in workers compensation. Email:
[email protected]
ThaoMee Xiong is the director of the Center for Health Equity at MDH. She has professional
legal advocacy and public policy experience on issues related to poverty, immigration, refugee
resettlement, domestic violence, and housing. She is committed to developing meaningful and
effective public policy through community engagement and civic participation. She believes
that the communities most impacted by a policy proposal should have an opportunity to be
involved in the decision-making process. ThaoMee's passion for public policy comes from her
refugee parents' commitment to building community and engaging in the democratic process.
She received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and her M.P.A. from
Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Email:
[email protected]
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