Thank You to Our Outgoing ABH Board Members

At Advocates for Better Health, we believe that meaningful change happens because people are willing to share their time, talents, and hearts in service of something bigger than themselves. Today, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to four extraordinary board members whose leadership has helped shape our organization over the past several years.

Building a board of directors filled with passionate advocates has been one of the greatest privileges of our work. We are incredibly grateful for the wisdom, expertise, generosity, and encouragement these leaders have shared with us. While we will miss having them around the board table, we know their advocacy will continue to make a difference in communities across Minnesota and beyond.

Dr. Etienne Djevi

Dr. Etienne Djevi's commitment to addressing systemic inequities through thoughtful, community-centered solutions continues to inspire us. His work with the Roseville Human Rights Commission helped change the way law enforcement conducts traffic stops in his hometown, and his passion for celebrating and uplifting Roseville's diverse Black communities has helped create joyful Juneteenth celebrations each summer.

Etienne approaches every challenge with thoughtfulness, curiosity, and a deep commitment to justice. We are grateful for his leadership and for the many ways he has encouraged us to think bigger, listen more deeply, and serve our communities well.

Dr. Zeke McKinney

Dr. Zeke McKinney served as board chair during one of the most significant moments in our organization's history—our transition to become Advocates for Better Health. Throughout that season of change, his steady leadership, curiosity, and willingness to ask thoughtful questions helped guide our organization forward.

Zeke's innovative approach to advocacy and his commitment to mentoring students in the Public Health Advocacy Fellowship have left a lasting mark on our work. We are deeply thankful for his years of service and for the generosity with which he has shared his wisdom and encouragement.

Dr. Hailey Frye

Dr. Hailey Frye first connected with Advocates for Better Health as a first-year medical student and soon joined our Public Health Advocacy Fellowship. From the very beginning, her eagerness to learn, build relationships, and create opportunities for others stood out.

Hailey has been one of the Fellowship's greatest champions. Through her connections with the Public Health Advocacy Student Alliance, she introduced us to an incredible network of interdisciplinary health science students, helping expand the reach and impact of our program.

We are excited to watch Hailey begin her urology residency at Duke University and know she will continue to be a compassionate physician and passionate advocate wherever her career leads.

Dr. Riley Shearer

Dr. Riley Shearer joined the Advocates for Better Health community as a member of our second Public Health Advocacy Fellowship cohort. While balancing the demands of an MD/PhD program, he faithfully served on our board, bringing careful analysis, thoughtful questions, and a nuanced perspective to every conversation.

Riley's quiet leadership and intellectual curiosity have strengthened our board and challenged us to think more deeply about the work we do. We are thrilled to see him continue his journey in internal medicine residency and research at the University of Washington, where we know he will continue advancing both science and health equity.

Thank You

Serving on a nonprofit board is often unseen work. It means evening meetings after long workdays, thoughtful preparation, difficult conversations, and a willingness to steward an organization's future. We are profoundly grateful that Etienne, Zeke, Hailey, and Riley chose to invest their time and talents in Advocates for Better Health.

Thank you for believing in our mission, championing public health advocacy, and helping shape the organization we are today. We wish each of you the very best in the exciting chapters ahead, and we look forward to cheering you on as your advocacy continues to make a lasting impact.