Meet Meghan Burian from the Emergency Preparedness Team!
Meghan receiving her Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) designation certificate
Meghan's role at the Minneapolis Health Department (MHD)
Meghan Burian is a Senior Public Health Specialist on the Emergency Preparedness and Response team. She works with the team to prepare the community for emergencies, so they can stay safe during crises and recover successfully by using best practices and strategic planning tools.
The Emergency Preparedness team shares information and resources to help you prevent, prepare for, and recover from emergencies. The team:
- Coordinates public health and safety responses to emergencies.
- Alerts you to potential emergencies so you can prepare.
- Informs you about current emergencies and provides resources to help you.
Path to public health
Meghan joined the department in March 2020, just a week before the statewide stay-at-home order. She was originally hired as a part-time temporary staff member to help with a full-scale emergency exercise. Meghan's role quickly shifted to support the COVID-19 response.
With a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish from Bradley University and a master’s in public health specializing in Community Health Promotion from the University of Minnesota, Meghan brings a diverse educational background to her role.
Favorite aspects of the role
Meghan loves the complex nature of her job. She enjoys working on all phases of emergency management—mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery—while maintaining a strong connection to public health principles. She particularly values the opportunities to train and conduct exercises with staff, ensuring they are ready to respond effectively to emergencies.
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“Emergencies are unpredictable, but our goal is to be prepared to meet the unique needs of our community on its worst days, “says Meghan.
Why public health?
Meghan discovered her passion for public health during college when she became involved in peer education on topics like sexual health, violence prevention, and substance use. Her interest grew while volunteering as a certified EMT, seeing how it could improve entire communities. Meghan strongly believes in the philosophy “We all do better when we all do better.” (Paul Wellstone)
Maintaining motivation
Public health can be challenging, but Meghan stays motivated by focusing on the meaningful impact of her work. With her dedication to preparedness and passion for public health, Meghan continues to be a vital asset to the Minneapolis Health Department and the communities we serve.
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“The programs we design and implement directly impact the social determinants of health and the well-being of our community. That’s what keeps me going.”
Accomplishments and interests
Meghan is most proud of earning her Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) designation and entering a poster on Artificial Intelligence in Emergency Preparedness and Response at a national conference, where she won a silver award in the competitive division. Her project explored how AI can improve speed and efficiency in emergency management, especially as emergencies become more frequent and severe. She emphasized the need to balance AI tools with professional expertise and be mindful of potential bias and inequity.
Meghan and her poster on Artificial Intelligence and Emergency Preparedness and Response
Outside of work, Meghan stays busy with her “menagerie” of pets, including a black lab named Maisie and three cats—Parker, Posie, and Poppy. She’s an avid soccer fan and a community owner of the Minnesota Aurora FC, a pre-professional women’s soccer team. She also enjoys traveling and has visited five continents, with aspirations to visit all seven.
Meghan and her pets
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