Health Commissioner Damon Chaplin: His Journey to Public HealthHealth Commissioner Damon Chaplin: His Journey to Public Health Damon Chaplin, the Commissioner of the Minneapolis Health Department, initially aspired to a career in professional football. However, an injury redirected his path to biology studies at Norwich University and Central State University. Chaplin’s early life experiences in deep poverty shaped his perspectives on public health. Growing up in the projects, he witnessed firsthand the impact of environmental hazards on asthma and other health conditions in underserved communities. After his parents’ premature deaths, Chaplin recognized the importance of personal health and the need to address systemic issues in impoverished areas. His passion for breaking the cycle of poverty led him to pursue a career in public health, earning an MBA from Curry College. In his role as Health Commissioner, Chaplin has prioritized three key areas: * Substance Abuse: Chaplin focuses on harm reduction and long-term treatment for people with substance use disorder, understanding the importance of reconnecting individuals with their communities. * Racial Equity in Health: Recognizing the persisting racial disparities in Minneapolis, Chaplin seeks to dismantle systemic racism and improve health equity for all residents. * Climate Legacy Initiative: The initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make Minneapolis carbon neutral by 2050, addressing the health impacts of climate change. Chaplin’s dedication to protecting the health of Minneapolis residents extends to addressing screen time and social media usage among children, recognizing their potential impact on overall well-being. In conclusion, Damon Chaplin, shaped by his own experiences, is a passionate advocate for public health in Minneapolis. He believes in disrupting systemic inequities, empowering communities, and creating a city where all residents have opportunities for health and happiness.
Damon Chaplin, Commissioner, Mpls. Dept of Health Thanks to MDH
His own experience with deep poverty influences his work
A career in professional football was what Damōn Chaplin had in mind when he enrolled at Norwich University, a private military college in Northfield, Vermont. An injury ended those dreams, but the Boston native was not deterred. When he transferred to Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, to study biology, it was “all about the academics.”
Chaplin was the first member of his family to graduate from a four-year institution. Today, he serves as commissioner of the Minneapolis Health Department, a position he was nominated for and confirmed for in 2023 after distinguishing himself as director of health care for the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts. That said, a career in public health wasn’t something Chaplin ever envisioned for himself, at least not initially.
“I tried to get out of public health for 15 years,” he says, noting that his first foray into health or environmental work of any kind was in 1995 as a naturalist with Cleveland Metroparks.
When his father fell ill in 1999, Chaplin returned to Boston and took a job with the city’s Public Health Commission, where he worked on lead abatement. In 2004, his father died at the age of 54; just over a decade later, Chaplin’s mother died at only 64.
“My parents left this world before their time,” Chaplin notes, “so I began to think more honestly about my own life and my health.”
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Growing up in the projects, Chaplin suffered from asthma and was taken to the local emergency room multiple times. When he thought about all the environmental hazards that affected communities like the one he grew up in in various ways, whether it was an open incinerator on the property, the dangerous chemicals often used in pesticides, or other adverse health effects, a “light bulb went on.” Now, public health no longer seemed like a profession to Chaplin, but rather a “calling.”
“A small area. A high concentration of people. One way in, one way out. Chronic violence. That was my personal experience,” Chaplin says, “That’s what deep poverty looks like for so many people. And the impact on public health is devastating.”
Chaplin found his passion and purpose in tirelessly breaking the cycle of poverty in urban communities. He earned his MBA from Curry College and has continued to hone his vision and leadership skills at the local, state, and national levels.
Chaplin has over 25 years of experience in the public health field and has served on numerous boards, committees and coalitions. He currently serves as vice chair and incoming chair of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).
In his role as health commissioner for the city of Minneapolis, Chaplain has identified three primary areas his department is focused on: substance abuse, including its impact on homelessness in the city; racial equity in health care access and health-related outcomes; and the city’s Climate Legacy Initiative (CLI).
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Chaplin, who served on the advisory board of the Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services’ Opioid Recover and Remediation Fund (ORRF), understands better than anyone the importance of doing this work right when it comes to substance abuse.
“It’s about harm reduction. Preventing people from dying,” he explains, “but it goes beyond that. We need to design tools and strategies that focus on long-term treatment and recovery, and provide resources that reconnect people with their families and communities. And of course, preventing future users.”
Likewise, health equity remains a major challenge in Minnesota. Despite consistently ranking as one of America’s healthiest places, the North Star State continues to have some of the largest racial disparities in the country. And nowhere are these disparities more pronounced than in Minneapolis.
“Systemic racism continues to impact our city. Systems that were put in place long ago are still operating smoothly, to the detriment of many,” Chaplin says. “So we need to raise the level of discourse, to shine a light on the things we see, the things we can change. I see myself as a disruptor in that regard.”
The Climate Legacy Initiative, which was approved by the City Council in December 2023, aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make Minneapolis carbon neutral by 2050, while also becoming a national leader in green careers.
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Chaplin is a father of four himself and his primary concern is the overall health and well-being of our children. He and his department strive to make the City of Lakes a place where all residents can find health and happiness.
“I think it’s vital that we take a closer look at the impact of social media and how much time our kids are spending on the internet and on their cell phones. And the implications of all of that.”
For more information about the Minneapolis Department of Health and its programs, services, and resources, visit www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/health.
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