When it comes to emergency preparedness, there's a dedicated team over in Minneapolis that's drawing some attention. Particularly of note is Meghan Burian, whose recent achievement in the realm of crisis management should not be overlooked. Just honored with a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) designation. Burian isn't just a name on a certificate; she's the Senior Public Health Specialist on the Emergency Preparedness and Response team at the Minneapolis Health Department (MHD), reported a city bulletin.
A week before the statewide stay-at-home order was issued last March, a part-time temporary staff hired Meghan quickly became a full-time figurehead in the battle against COVID-19. While the crises we face seem to mount in number and complexity, Meghan, with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Spanish from Bradley University and a public health master's from the University of Minnesota, couples her academic knowledge with field experience to handle whatever emergency comes her way.
What Meghan enjoys about her job isn't merely an academic exercise. She enjoys all phases of emergency management—mitigation, preparation, response, recovery—while keeping a laser-focus on public health fundamentals. She especially cherishes the opportunity to lead training and conduct exercises with staff to ensure efficacy when actual emergencies happen. "Emergencies are unpredictable, but our goal is to be prepared to meet the unique needs of our community on its worst days," Meghan told the city's bulletin.
Meghan has a personal connection to her public health calling that stemmed from her college days when peer education on various health and safety topics became her entry point into the world. She saw firsthand as a certified EMT how public health initiatives could elevate entire communities. With the belief that "We all do better when we all do better," a sentiment once expressed by Paul Wellstone, she dedicates herself to the wellbeing of the Minneapolis communities with every plan and program designed.
At a recent national conference, Meghan presented a poster on Artificial Intelligence in Emergency Preparedness and Response, where she snagged a silver award in a competitive category. Her work focused on how AI can level up the speed and efficiency of emergency management but also cautioned the need to temper technology with human expertise and watch for any potential bias and inequity.
Outside of the high stakes world of public health crises, Meghan is also a busy pet parent to a black lab and three cats and supports women's soccer avidly as a community owner of the Minnesota Aurora FC. Travel is also on her agenda; Meghan has visited five continents and is aiming to check off all seven. The city bulletin notes her multifaceted life beyond her vital role in keeping Minneapolis safe—one crisis at a time.
