My Story
At the heart of Salus Consulting is a belief that meaningful change begins with listening.
My training as a nurse taught me to approach every community, client, and issue or problem with curiosity, humility, and deep respect. I learned to listen not just for answers, but for insight—into what matters most, where pain points lie, and where hope and potential live. That lens continues to shape how I work today: centering the voices of communities, honoring lived experience, and grounding every effort in a clear understanding of priorities.
Layered with my training and experience in public health and epidemiology, my approach is both compassionate and strategic. I use rigorous, sound methods—combining qualitative stories and quantitative data—to understand complex systems, surface patterns, and identify the levers that can shift outcomes. My goal is never to generate data for its own sake, but to use it to inform practical, effective strategies that are evidence-based, practice-informed, and designed for real-world implementation.
Whether working with public agencies, communities, or coalitions, I guide partners through a process that is both thoughtful and action-oriented. Together, we craft strategies, plans, partnerships, data collection, and recommendations rooted in what’s already working, responsive to what’s not, and aligned with the change people want to see. And because change without reflection is incomplete, I embed evaluation throughout the process—to ensure our work is having the intended impact and to make course corrections when needed.
Salus Consulting exists to help people and systems move from intention to impact. By blending a nurse’s ability to listen and care with an epidemiologist’s discipline and analytical mindset, I help clients build strategies that are not only smart, but deeply grounded in the people they serve.
Why Salus?
The meaning of the word "Salus"
Salus holds rich meaning linguistically and symbolically.
Linguistically (Latin):
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Health
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Safety
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Well-being
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Welfare
Symbolically:
Salus was the name of a Roman goddess of health and public welfare. She was associated with individual well-being and the state's and community's health. She came to represent public health, security, and prosperity.
Relevance to Salus Consulting dual lens of caring and systems-level thinking:
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Personal health (my nursing roots)
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Collective well-being (public health focus)
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Strategic safeguarding and thriving (consulting mission)
How Listening and Evidence Informed a Public Health Response to Suicide at the Smith Avenue High Bridge
Case Study
While serving as the suicide prevention coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Health, I led a cross-sector response to a sharp and alarming rise in suicide deaths by jumping from St. Paul’s Smith Avenue High Bridge. The data revealed the trend, but it was the concern voiced by neighbors, families, and local leaders that truly catalyzed action. Guided by my nursing foundation and epidemiological training, I worked closely with neighborhood associations, city officials, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and nonprofit organizations to develop and implement a comprehensive suicide prevention response.
Together, we crafted a plan that was both evidence-based and deeply community-informed. It included strategies to reduce suicide contagion, public messaging to reframe the meaning of the bridge, and physical safety improvements—including installing a higher protective railing. The response was not just about infrastructure—it was about trust, collaboration, and holding space for both grief and hope. The process and outcome received statewide and national attention, highlighting the power of coordinated public health leadership rooted in data, equity, and community voice (MinnPost, AccessPress, Pioneer Press).
This experience exemplifies how I approach my work —integrating the attentive listening of a nurse, the rigor of a public health epidemiologist, and a deep commitment to practical, community-centered change. By combining data, lived experience, and coordinated systems thinking, I help clients move from complex challenges to meaningful, lasting solutions.