TRUST 2025 Forum Digital Program

Digital Program – Women’s Health Leadership TRUST 2025 Forum

Welcome!

Our annual Forum is our signature event focused on inspiring and connecting women leaders in the health care industry. We are so glad you are here!

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Agenda:

4:30: Networking
6:00: Seating & Welcome
6:10: Dinner
6:40: Program
- President’s Welcome
- Award Recognition
- Keynote Speaker
8:00: Program Closing

2025 Women’s Health Leadership TRUST Forum Award Winners:

Jean Harris Award: Pam Stegora Axberg, MBA

This award honors individuals who advance health care and embody the vision and values of the TRUST. The award is named in memory of Dr. Jean Harris, a distinguished physician, administrator, politician, and true visionary.

Pam Stegora Axberg’s leadership, passion for service, and dedication to advancing health and equity exemplify the spirit of the Jean Harris Award. Pam is the CEO if Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities, an organization that provides life-transforming pathways for all people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and addiction. Previously, she held several executive leadership roles at UnitedHealthcare and Optum.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Pam has demonstrated a deep commitment to community service. She currently serves on the Ramsey County Continuum of Care Governance Board and the board of Citygate, and she previously served as a councilmember for the City of New Brighton. As an advocate for girls and women, Pam has served on the YWCA USA Board of Directors and the YWCA Minneapolis Board. She was a Girl Scouts troop leader for over a decade. Her previous board experience includes the Women Business Leaders in Healthcare Advisory Board, Girl Scouts River Valley, Junior Achievement North, and Topline Financial Credit Union.

Mentor of the Year Award Presented by Fathom Consulting: Colleen Rogers

The Mentor of the Year Award recognizes a TRUST member who exemplifies the spirit of mentorship through connection, communication, integrity, wisdom, and approachability. Honorees consistently demonstrate and “live” these attributes, serving as visible role models who inspire and positively impact the professional growth and career paths of others.

This year’s honoree, Colleen Rogers, is a strategic and purpose-driven health care executive known for her exceptional leadership in business transformation, AI-driven innovation, and operational excellence. Over a 20-year career at UnitedHealth Group, Colleen held influential roles within the Office of the CEO, leading enterprise- wide digital product launches, the development of innovative AI healthcare platforms, and major optimizations of Optum’s call center operations. She also played a key role in the turnaround of the Affordable Care Act’s Healthcare.gov, collaborating directly with CMS and senior White House leadership.

Currently, Colleen serves as a fractional Chief Operating Officer for two companies, Firefly Immersive and Adaptive Product. In these roles, she partners closely with executive teams to drive go-to-market strategies, develop financial models and value propositions, and build scalable operational plans with disciplined workflows. Her international education, including studies at Sorbonne IV in Paris and Middlesex University in London—has shaped her global and innovative leadership approach, strengthening her ability to navigate complex business challenges with agility, resilience, and analytical rigor.

Colleen holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota and has completed certification training in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), earned UnitedHealth Group’s Collaboration Engineer Certification, and graduated from UHG’s Data Science University and Management Development Program. Committed to community involvement, Colleen volunteers on two committees each for the Girl Scouts River Valleys and the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST. A mentor for over a decade, Colleen has supported emerging leaders through organizations such as Menttium, UnitedHealth Group, and Minnetonka High School’s VANTAGE Program. She also lends her expertise as a business advisor for the University of Minnesota Ventures Advisory Group.

Colleen’s commitment to mentorship, leadership excellence, and community impact makes her a shining example of the spirit of the Mentor of the Year Award. Her mentees describe her as a trusted guide who fosters deep reflection, shares wisdom through storytelling, and empowers others to find their own path. Her transparent and empathetic style creates a safe space for vulnerability, growth, and self- discovery. Even with a demanding professional life, Colleen consistently shows up with presence and care—providing tools, asking the right questions, and inspiring confidence. Her mentorship leaves a legacy not only through career advancement, but also in the way her mentees learn to mentor others with the same authenticity and purpose.

Collaboration & Partnerships Award: Ingrid Johansen, RN, MPH

This award honors a woman who builds impactful partnerships—whether within an organization or through external collaborations—that advance shared goals and create mutual benefit.

Ingrid Johansen, RN, MPH, serves as the Director of Community Clinical Care for Fairview Health Services’ Community Advancement division, where she leads efforts to improve equitable access to preventive health services such as vaccinations, screenings, education, and clinical navigation. With a nursing background spanning emergency medicine, global health, and education, Ingrid brings deep experience and a community-centered approach to her work.

She leads the Minnesota Immunization Networking Initiative (MINI), a 19-year-old community collaboration led by Fairview and supported by more than 200 partners. MINI reduces barriers to essential vaccinations in communities facing health disparities through culturally responsive outreach and deep, long-term engagement—guided by the principle to “show up and stay.” Ingrid began her involvement with MINI 15 years ago as a volunteer vaccinator and has since played a central role in expanding its reach and impact.

Through her leadership, Ingrid has strengthened and sustained meaningful partnerships that are reshaping how health care systems engage with communities. Her commitment to trust, collaboration, and equity makes her a truly deserving recipient of the TRUST Collaboration & Partnerships Award.

Community Engagement Award: Angel Uddin

This award recognizes a woman who is actively advancing the health and well-being of the communities where we live and work.

Angel Uddin is the Senior Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Office of Human Resources at the University of Minnesota, a role she assumed in July 2022. She brings over 30 years of experience in leadership development, business strategy, project management, global operations, and conflict resolution across sectors including healthcare, financial services, and higher education. Before joining the University, Angel served as Director of DEI at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and held leadership roles at Bremer Bank.

Angel is a certified Relationship Coach (ICF), a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and a Certified Practitioner of Courageous Conversations About Race (CCAR), with full facilitator certification expected in Fall 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a specialization in Management and Leadership from Capella University.

Her commitment to community engagement is reflected in her extensive volunteer service. Angel previously served on the board of Neighborhood House, where she chaired the DEI Committee, and participated in the Community Diversity Advisory Council for LifeSource, advocating for organ donation. She also contributed to the Greater MSP Enterprise Team and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Greater Twin Cities United Way Leadership Council and on the Advisory Council for the Carlson School of Management’s Center for Inclusive Excellence.

Angel actively contributes to shaping DEI best practices as a member of the Twin Cities Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Roundtable (TCDEIR) and the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity (MBCRE). She serves a three-year term on the Program Committee for the Forum on Workplace Inclusion Conference.

Angel’s impact has been widely recognized: she was named one of DiversityGlobal Magazine’s 2021 Top 15 Champions of Diversity and one of the 200 Black leaders celebrated by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal during Black History Month in 2022. She also received the inaugural Asante Award from the University of Minnesota’s Black Faculty and Staff Association for her outstanding commitment to community advancement.

Angel Uddin’s unwavering dedication to equity, leadership, and service makes her a truly deserving recipient of the TRUST Community Engagement Award.

Innovation Award: Bethaney Kaye, DNP

The Innovation Award honors a woman leading disruptive advancements in health care that improve health outcomes, enhance patient experience, elevate provider engagement, and deliver measurable business impact.

Bethaney Kaye is the Senior Medical Director at Make-A-Wish America, where she leads national medical strategy, eligibility standards, and safety protocols—ensuring that every eligible child has access to the transformative power of a wish. Her clinical foundation is in pediatric palliative care and hospice, grounded in a career that began in pediatric nursing and advanced through doctoral training as a nurse practitioner.

Driven by a deep commitment to community health and innovation, Bethaney founded Safe6, a preventive health platform designed to support individuals living with cystic fibrosis (CF). Guided by the message “Six Feet Saves. Safe6 Protects,” the initiative leverages distancing tools and personalized risk management to empower safer daily decision-making for those living with CF.

Currently pursuing an MBA in Healthcare, Bethaney brings a rare and valuable combination of clinical excellence, operational acumen, and empathetic leadership. Her career is a testament to the power of innovation rooted in equity, safety, and a deep respect for the human experience in health care.

Leadership Award: Karen Flanagan Kleinhans, MHA

The Leadership Award honors a woman recognized by her team, peers, and business partners as a distinguished and impactful leader.

Karen Flanagan Kleinhans has served as CEO of Community Dental Care since January 2018, bringing more than 30 years of experience in health care administration and nonprofit leadership. Her background spans strategic planning, business development, operations, and organizational design. She holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota and a BA in Psychology/Pre-Med from the University of Colorado–Boulder.

Under Karen’s leadership over the past seven years, Community Dental Care has expanded access to high-quality dental services, enhanced both patient and employee experience, and strengthened its long-term sustainability. She is widely respected for her visionary approach and unwavering commitment to advancing equity and innovation in health care.

Karen leads with purpose, integrity, and a deep passion for mission-driven work. Her leadership continues to drive transformative impact across the organization and beyond, making her a deserving recipient of the TRUST Leadership Award.

21^ST Century Pinnacle Leader Award: Rachel R. Hardeman, PhD, MPH

This award honors individuals who have made a significant impact on the health care industry, recognizing those who are true trailblazers in leadership, transformation, and innovation. Dr. Rachel Hardeman exemplifies these qualities through her groundbreaking work in advancing racial health equity.

Dr. Rachel R. Hardeman is a tenured Professor in the Division of Health Policy & Management at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, the Blue Cross Endowed Professor in Health and Racial Equity, and the Founding Director of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity (CARHE, pronounced “care”). She serves as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director of the CDC, and she was named one of TIME’s 2024 TIME100 most influential people in the world. A racial health equity researcher, she studies a critical and complex determinant of health inequity—racism. Her work contributes to a body of knowledge that links structural racism to health in tangible ways, identifies opportunities for intervention, and dismantles the systems, structures, and institutions that allow inequities to persist.

Dr. Hardeman leverages the frameworks of critical race theory and Reproductive Justice to inform her equity-centered work, which aims to build the empirical evidence of racism’s impact on health. Her published work has elicited important conversations on the topics of culturally-centered care, police brutality and structural racism as a fundamental cause of health inequities. Since founding CARHE in 2021, Dr. Hardeman has built upon a foundation of authentic community and academic partnerships, deepening her work with Reproductive Justice and expanding into new areas. CARHE’s research projects encompass maternal and infant health, adolescent and child health, older adult health, innovative measurements of structural racism, economy and labor, and criminal justice. Narrative change is also a core mission at CARHE, and the team actively engages in serving as trusted resources for journalists, policy makers, and community members in Minnesota and across the U.S.

Keynote Speaker: Roxane Battle

Roxane Battle is a mental well-being advocate and masterful storyteller, best known for her 20+ years as an award-winning Twin Cities journalist, most notably on NBC-Minneapolis, KARE-11, WCCO-TV, and FOX9.

She speaks to community groups, colleges, state associations and multinational corporations on the importance of mental-wellbeing, belonging and psychological safety, combining relevant research with lived experiences she writes about in her best selling book, Pockets of Joy: Deciding to Be Happy, Choosing to Be Free.

Roxane has held executive-level positions inside Fortune 5 UnitedHealth Group, where she worked with top mental health practitioners and appeared in her own mental health video series, “Checking in with Roxane Battle,” reaching 4 million subscribers.

She is a proud alumna of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she completed a B.A. in journalism, prior to completing a M.A. journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She studied psychology through Harvard’s Extension School of Continuing Education, and earned a certiﬁcation in Emotional Agility in the Workplace.

She currently serves on the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management’s Women Global Connect advisory board, and is a featured speaker across the U of M campus, including Carlson’s Executive Education, Carlson’s Women’s Leadership Conference, and the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.