Amy Caron named next Saint Paul - Ramsey County Public Health director
Amy Caron has been named the next Saint Paul - Ramsey County Public Health director. Caron was selected through a competitive process that began in early September.
Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health is one of the largest local public health departments in Minnesota tracing its origins to the appointment of the first public health officer by the city of Saint Paul in 1854. Today, the department operates with an annual budget of over $72 million and more than 300 employees serving Saint Paul and all other cities in Ramsey County providing a range of services to promote, protect and improve the health of people and the environment in Ramsey County.
“We are thrilled to welcome Amy Caron to our team,” said Deputy County Manager Karen Francois. “Her dedication and expertise make her the ideal leader for our public health department where we are confident she will work with the county team and partners to drive meaningful progress in our mission to support healthier communities for all.”
With over 20 years of progressive public health experience, Caron currently serves as the public health protection area manager with Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health, where she is responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight of the operational aspects of the programs within the health protection area.
In this role, among many other responsibilities, she had the opportunity to stand up a program that supported newly arriving immigrants to access WIC nutrition services and family home visiting as well as receive referrals to other community services such as food shelves and medical clinics regardless of their status. Having basic needs met, Caron understood, was essential for individuals and families to start to build a foundation in a strange place.
Caron has also held leadership roles within Planned Parenthood North Central States, Dodge and Steele counties, and the Le Sueur-Waseca Community Health Board. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in public health education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Active in the public health community, Caron has previously served as the Local Public Health Association chair, on the board of the Allina Hospital-Owatonna, and was a three-term board member for the Minnesota Public Health Association.
“I’m incredibly excited to take on this role and work alongside such a dedicated, forward-thinking team who puts the health and safety of community first,” said Caron. “Together, we have the opportunity to address social determinants of health in our communities, advance racial and health equity, and create a lasting positive impact.”
Caron will join Ramsey County on Wednesday, Dec. 11.