Zilber College of Public Health Seminar – Protecting and Promoting the Health and Safety of Wisconsinites

Presented by:
Kirsten Johnson, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Health Services

With a population of nearly six million, Wisconsin has a wide range of needs when it comes to caring for the health and well-being of its residents. This discussion will highlight recent statewide achievements and what lies ahead as we look at the challenges we face to improve health outcomes in every corner of the state. Secretary Johnson will share her unique experiences and perspective working at the local, state, and national levels of public health and how everyone’s work connects to improve the health of Wisconsinites.

About the presenter: 

Kirsten Johnson started her public health career entertaining Malians with a local health education radio show while evicting snakes from her mud hut as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, West Africa. From evaluating risk of Covid-19 infection in schools and nursing homes (and the risk of infection in S.E.A. Hamsters at the county fair), dressing Evil Knievel to prevent skiing injury, negotiating acceptable drinking water E.coli levels at the USGA, U.S. Open (the answer is zero, there are no acceptable E.coli levels) to passing 12-month post-partum Medicaid coverage for Wisconsin women, Kirsten has over 20 years of experience as a public health leader in complex local, state, national, and international organizations. She was appointed Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services by Governor Evers in 2023. Previously she served as the health commissioner for the city of Milwaukee, most notably during the pandemic. Prior to serving the city of Milwaukee, Kirsten was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow and Congressman Ron Kind’s health policy advisor. Kirsten led the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department for more than a decade as the director and health officer, overseeing the merger of the two counties’ health departments. Kirsten is a proud University of Wisconsin Badger and has a master’s degree in public health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

The seminar can also be attended virtually on Teams.