BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — The City of Brooklyn Park has announced the hiring of internationally recognized epidemiologist Dr. Emma Boyce to spearhead a major health equity initiative aimed at addressing persistent health disparities within the city.
City officials say the initiative is designed to ensure that all residents, regardless of race, income level, neighborhood, or background, have equal opportunities to achieve optimal health and well-being.
Dr. Marcellus Davis, the City of Brooklyn Park’s Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Manager, said the initiative comes in response to ongoing health inequities affecting residents and the broader impact those disparities have on economic prosperity and quality of life.
“Health equity is about ensuring that every person, regardless of where they live, their race, income, or background, has a fair and just opportunity to achieve optimal health,” Davis said. “There are health disparities in Brooklyn Park that must be addressed to ensure better overall health, economic prosperity, and improved quality of life for all Brooklyn Park residents.”
Dr. Boyce brings extensive experience in public health leadership, having worked on large-scale initiatives at the local, state, and international levels. Her professional background includes roles with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Hennepin County Public Health, and Partners In Health, a global organization focused on advancing health equity through quality healthcare delivery and strengthened health systems.
In accepting the role, Dr. Boyce emphasized her commitment to evidence-based solutions and community collaboration.
“I am deeply committed to advancing data-driven, community-informed solutions that address structural determinants of health and improve outcomes for underserved populations,” Boyce said.
As part of her new assignment, Dr. Boyce will begin by engaging directly with residents most affected by health disparities, as well as community organizations already working to improve health outcomes. Those partnerships will help shape a comprehensive Health Equity Action Plan intended to tackle longstanding inequities across Brooklyn Park.
City leaders say the initiative will rely heavily on collaboration between local government, community members, and grassroots organizations to ensure solutions are culturally relevant, sustainable, and rooted in justice.
“Our work centers on identifying and dismantling the structural barriers that drive disparities, while partnering with communities to co-create solutions that are culturally grounded, sustainable, and rooted in justice,” Davis added.
The city believes the initiative marks a significant step toward creating healthier and more equitable outcomes for all Brooklyn Park residents.
