What happens to health when the community is under siege?

Welcome back, dear colleague!

Recently we sat down with Dr. Nathan Chomilo, Medical Director for the State of Minnesota’s Medicaid & MinnesotaCare programs, Pediatrician, and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Nathan T. Chomilo’s work centers marginalized communities in health policy so that we can dismantle racism in health care & provide children & families an equitable opportunity for health & well-being.

In this Courageous Conversation, Dr. Chomilo reflects on his journey from clinician to physician activist, shaped by a belief that healthcare work extends beyond hospital walls.

After the 2016 killing of Philando Castile, his focus shifted from social determinants of health to confronting structural racism, organizing physicians around the idea of putting patients over profits and engaging in civic action.

He describes how a growing climate of anti-immigrant and racist rhetoric in Minnesota has affected both clinicians and patients, creating fear and undermining trust in healthcare. In some cases, enforcement agents have entered clinical spaces and intimidated patients and staff, while healthcare institutions have struggled to respond.

At the same time, these pressures have sparked community mobilization and new forms of solidarity. In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Chomilo reflects on how clinicians are navigating this moment and balancing patient care with advocacy and exploring what responsible action looks like in a time of increasing pressure.

Watch the full conversation below.