Children’s Minnesota kid experts, Dr. Angela Kade Goepferd (they/she), chief education officer and medical director of the Gender Health program, and Jamie Winter (she/her), RN, MBA, director of mental health services, have been recognized as 2022 Health Care Heroes by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Dr. Goepferd and Jamie are among several health care professionals in the Twin Cities recognized for their outstanding work and commitment to the field.
Dr. Goepferd was honored in the Health Equity Champion category for advancing equitable health care for all children, particularly transgender and gender diverse youth. Dr. Goepferd is the founder and medical director of the Gender Health program, the largest exclusively pediatric program of its kind in the region offering comprehensive care for youth who identify as transgender and gender diverse. Dr. Goepferd uses their voice and expertise to advocate for the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth and families in the community, and regularly works to educate the public about kids and gender identity through media interviews, panels, speaking engagements, etc. They have built a reputation for being a leading voice and ally for LGBTQ+ equity at Children’s Minnesota and beyond.
Jamie was honored in the Health Care Practitioner – Nonphysician category for her leadership and strategic planning in advancing intensive mental health services at Children’s Minnesota to meet the community-wide pediatric metal health needs. Jamie was instrumental in opening the organization’s first partial hospitalization program (PHP) in Lakeville in June 2021, and is also leading the opening of a 22-bed inpatient unit at the St. Paul campus in fall 2022. Expanding intensive mental health services comes at a critical time when the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the mental health crisis for kids and teens in our community, and Jamie is committed to building a mental health continuum of care so we can provide the right level of care to kids when and where they need it.
Dr. Goepferd and Jamie will be celebrated at a June 16 awards event at JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America and featured in a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Health Care Heroes special print edition on June 17.
See the full list of the 2022 Health Care Heroes on the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s website.