Health Improvement Team
Here to help support your preventive care needs
Our diverse team of Health Improvement specialists provides services related to preventive care that align with your cultural and ethnic background and language preferences.
Connect with a Health Improvement specialist at no additional cost to you. We're here to help with all your preventive care needs and concerns.
Our Health Improvement specialists provide:
- Education on preventive care, including annual wellness visits, dental exams and immunizations (shots)
- Information on the importance of diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure screenings and preventive care
- Assistance with scheduling doctor and specialty preventive care appointments
- Preventive care resources and referrals to address your social needs
If you have questions or would like to connect with your Health Improvement specialist, call 833-951-3185 or 612-676-3481. You can also email our Health Improvement team directly at outreach@ucare.org.
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Meet our team
AK
Somali Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-627-7054
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
Languages spoken: Arabic, English and Somali
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN and Dubai, United Arab Emirates
What I love about my work: I love working at UCare! Every day I wake up excited about starting the workday. I get to do what I love—helping others and providing them with great service. Nothing is more important than improving our members’ health, helping members connect to resources and meeting their needs.
Phone number: 612-627-7054
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
Languages spoken: Arabic, English and Somali
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN and Dubai, United Arab Emirates
What I love about my work: I love working at UCare! Every day I wake up excited about starting the workday. I get to do what I love—helping others and providing them with great service. Nothing is more important than improving our members’ health, helping members connect to resources and meeting their needs.
Ana Arango Perez
Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-627-7091
Hours of operation: 8 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday
Languages spoken: English and Spanish
Hometown: Medellin, Colombia
What I love about my work: I love helping people and supporting the Latino community. Every day it makes my heart full of happiness.
Phone number: 612-627-7091
Hours of operation: 8 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday
Languages spoken: English and Spanish
Hometown: Medellin, Colombia
What I love about my work: I love helping people and supporting the Latino community. Every day it makes my heart full of happiness.
Bisharo Farah
Somali Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-294-5079
Hours of operation: 7 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Thursday; 7 am – 11 am, Friday
Languages spoken: English and Somali
Hometown: Faribault, MN
What I love about my work: What I enjoy most about my role is helping bridge the communication and culture gaps in health care. I enjoy teaching members to self-advocate to best achieve their health and wellness goals. I love what I do. I love my team and their passion for community. I feel very privileged to be in a position where I can help members better understand the health system, why certain screenings are recommended and help connect with individualized resources when needed.
Phone number: 612-294-5079
Hours of operation: 7 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Thursday; 7 am – 11 am, Friday
Languages spoken: English and Somali
Hometown: Faribault, MN
What I love about my work: What I enjoy most about my role is helping bridge the communication and culture gaps in health care. I enjoy teaching members to self-advocate to best achieve their health and wellness goals. I love what I do. I love my team and their passion for community. I feel very privileged to be in a position where I can help members better understand the health system, why certain screenings are recommended and help connect with individualized resources when needed.
Cindie Kouamé
Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-294-5000
Hours of operation: 7 am – 5:30 pm, Monday – Thursday
Language spoken: English
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
What I love about my work: I love bringing my energy and excitement about what I do while working with people with hopes that I can share some of that with each of our members. I love learning about others and finding a common thread to help foster an overall partnership while addressing any needs or sharing our programs.
Phone number: 612-294-5000
Hours of operation: 7 am – 5:30 pm, Monday – Thursday
Language spoken: English
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
What I love about my work: I love bringing my energy and excitement about what I do while working with people with hopes that I can share some of that with each of our members. I love learning about others and finding a common thread to help foster an overall partnership while addressing any needs or sharing our programs.
Kathy Skaj
Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-676-3584
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
Language: English
Hometown: Maplewood, MN
What I love about my work: Something new every day!
Phone number: 612-676-3584
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
Language: English
Hometown: Maplewood, MN
What I love about my work: Something new every day!
Keena Beavers
African American Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-676-3329
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
Language spoken: English
Hometown: Harvey, IL
What I love about my work: I really love helping members and am very passionate about my work. Every moment I’m able to connect with members genuinely makes my day.
Phone number: 612-676-3329
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
Language spoken: English
Hometown: Harvey, IL
What I love about my work: I really love helping members and am very passionate about my work. Every moment I’m able to connect with members genuinely makes my day.
Mai Xiong
Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-294-5762
Hours of operation: 7 am - 4:30 pm, Monday – Thursday; 7 am – 3:30 pm, every other Friday
Languages spoken: Hmong and English
Hometown: Saint Paul, MN
What I love about my work: I love helping our members in the community find the resources and support they need. I also love helping members get the health care they need and educating members about their preventive care and benefits through UCare.
Phone number: 612-294-5762
Hours of operation: 7 am - 4:30 pm, Monday – Thursday; 7 am – 3:30 pm, every other Friday
Languages spoken: Hmong and English
Hometown: Saint Paul, MN
What I love about my work: I love helping our members in the community find the resources and support they need. I also love helping members get the health care they need and educating members about their preventive care and benefits through UCare.
Pahoua Her
Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-627-7069
Hours of operation: 7 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Thursday; 7 am – 3:30 pm, every other Friday
Languages: Hmong and English
Hometown: Fresno, CA
What I love about my work: I love providing resources, helping diverse members and being involved in the community. I also love that I have team members who are passionate, compassionate, intelligent, knowledgeable and reliable.
Phone number: 612-627-7069
Hours of operation: 7 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Thursday; 7 am – 3:30 pm, every other Friday
Languages: Hmong and English
Hometown: Fresno, CA
What I love about my work: I love providing resources, helping diverse members and being involved in the community. I also love that I have team members who are passionate, compassionate, intelligent, knowledgeable and reliable.
Panyia Thao
Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-294-5242
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
Languages spoken: English and Hmong
Hometown: St Paul, MN
What I love about my work: Resources are often scarce and navigating the health care system can be quite challenging. My priorities are to provide educational support to our members and help them get access to quality health care services so they don’t have to walk this path alone. Being able to help a member overcome barriers to health is the most gratifying feeling and what I love most about what I do.
Phone number: 612-294-5242
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
Languages spoken: English and Hmong
Hometown: St Paul, MN
What I love about my work: Resources are often scarce and navigating the health care system can be quite challenging. My priorities are to provide educational support to our members and help them get access to quality health care services so they don’t have to walk this path alone. Being able to help a member overcome barriers to health is the most gratifying feeling and what I love most about what I do.
Tyesha N. Mitchell
Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-627-7042
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
What I love about my work: I love assisting our members in tangible ways toward bridging gaps in care.
Phone number: 612-627-7042
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
What I love about my work: I love assisting our members in tangible ways toward bridging gaps in care.
Wendy Vang
Health Improvement Specialist
Phone number: 612-627-7266
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 5 pm, Monday – Thursday; 8:30 am – 5 pm, every other Friday
Languages spoken: English and Hmong
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
What I love about my work: I love being able to connect with our Hmong members on a cultural level and provide education about the importance of preventive screenings as well as assist with any barriers with social determinants of health. I love to hear that our members are grateful for the call and appreciate having a person they can contact directly whenever they may need help.
Phone number: 612-627-7266
Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 5 pm, Monday – Thursday; 8:30 am – 5 pm, every other Friday
Languages spoken: English and Hmong
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
What I love about my work: I love being able to connect with our Hmong members on a cultural level and provide education about the importance of preventive screenings as well as assist with any barriers with social determinants of health. I love to hear that our members are grateful for the call and appreciate having a person they can contact directly whenever they may need help.