PHDR Staff Spotlight, Ornella Malm
Ornella Malm is the Administrative Core Program Associate for the Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota (C2DREAM). This partnership between the University of Minnesota Program in Health Disparities Research, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, the Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, and the Mayo Clinic aims to lessen disparities in Cardiovascular Diseases, hypertension, and obesity among BIPOC communities, including immigrants and refugees, throughout Minnesota.
As an early-career professional, Malm is deeply committed to health equity and enhancing healthcare access for immigrant communities, a passion shaped by her own immigration experiences. Growing up in Togo and later moving to the United States, she experienced firsthand the challenges immigrants face in accessing healthcare, inspiring her dedication to health equity and promoting a healthy-heart lifestyle.
Malm earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Mankato State University, becoming the first in her family to achieve a bachelor's degree. She is currently exploring options to pursue a master's in public health. She’s eager to learn and advance her skills in closing the gap on health disparities.
In her role, Malm supports administrative functions, including scheduling and optimizing internal communications across the center. She also plays a key role in coordinating meetings and managing reminders for the C2DREAM Data Hub. Recently, Malm assumed responsibility for overseeing C2DREAM’s events, including the Health Equity Seminar Series and the Annual C2DREAM Health Equity Conference.
Beyond her career endeavors, Malm describes herself as a "foodie," delighting in exploring new restaurants and immersing herself in diverse culinary experiences. She also finds joy in cooking and loves hosting for friends and family. Most recently, she made lasagna soup inspired by a TikTok recipe.
