Gina Forrest
Chief People & Public Health Officer @Aspire Indiana Health
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WORK HISTORY
Chief People & Public Health Officer @Aspire Indiana Health
IN, US
As the Chief People & Public Health Officer at Aspire Indiana Health, my role in shaping a thriving team and advancing our organization\'s mission has been pivotal. The team under the Culture umbrella consists of Human Resources, Workplace Wellbeing, Training & Career Excellence, and PEACE (people engagement appreciation culture experience). Our achievements have been significant and varied. We’ve dramatically reduced our turnover rate from 40% to 26% in just about 18 months. We\'ve invested in our team\'s education by providing training on intercultural perspectives, cultural humility, and health equity. Additionally, we\'ve introduced several employee programs, including Employee Resource Groups, Leadership Development, and specialized training for those facing unique challenges.As Chief Health Equity Officer, I’ve focused on increasing awareness of our communities and decreasing health inequities. By forming strategic partnerships and collaborating across departments, we’ve been able to make meaningful strides in improving the lives of the people we serve. This commitment is reflected in our ongoing efforts to review, create, and implement policies, procedures, and programs that promote inclusivity, belonging, and health equity.Additionally, I dedicate time to inform and educate our Board of Directors about the \'people\' and \'equity\' aspects of our organization. Engaging in dialogue with external partners, forming alliances to address health disparities, and offering training to various groups is a key part of my role. This effort is essential because our goal is to positively influence the communities we serve, and I strive to be a valuable resource in this endeavor. A few responsibilities include: People Strategy efforts for the organization, education, training, facilitation, budgeting, mediating, implementing best practices, networking, and more.
EDUCATION
Indiana University Bloomington
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Health Behavior, minor in NonProfit Management; Research focus: Health Inequities
Indiana University Bloomington
Bachelor of Science - BS, General Studies, minors in Public Health & Sociology
Indiana University Bloomington
Master of Public Health - MPH, Public Health
ABOUT GINA FORREST
Dr. Gina is a collaborative, strategic, and people-centered leader serving as Chief People and Public Health Officer at Aspire Indiana Health, Inc. With experience spanning for-profit, nonprofit, and academic sectors, she brings a systems-level approach to optimizing an organization’s most valuable asset—its people—while advancing whole-person and community health.A lifelong learner, Dr. Gina’s leadership is grounded in both academic rigor and continuous professional growth. She holds a Bachelor of Science in General Studies with minors in Public Health and Sociology, a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Leadership, and a PhD in Health Behavior with a minor in Nonprofit Management, with doctoral research focused on health inequities. She is currently pursuing an MBA and completing multiple professional certifications to further strengthen her business acumen and leadership impact.Her early career in the for-profit sector included managing hotels, apartment communities, and retail operations, where she developed strong capabilities in ROI, budgeting, human resources, marketing, and customer experience. She later transitioned to the nonprofit sector as a health educator, leading needs assessments, designing and evaluating programs, facilitating focus groups, conducting home visits, and delivering training on topics such as tobacco cessation, healthy relationships, sexual health, financial well-being, and self-care.As a consultant, Dr. Gina has supported organizations by embedding equity-driven, people-focused practices across the employee lifecycle—from recruitment to retirement. Her work includes policy and procedure development, strategic planning, organizational assessments, and leadership and workforce development initiatives.In academia, Dr. Gina has taught at large public universities, small private colleges, and for-profit institutions. She is known for creating engaging, applied learning environments and for mentoring students through graduate education and career transitions.Previously, she served as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer for the Indiana Supreme Court, where she established a new department, partnered with stakeholders statewide, delivered system-wide training, and advanced inclusive workplace strategies.Across every role, Dr. Gina is driven by a commitment to building healthy organizations, strengthening leadership capacity, and addressing systemic barriers that impact individuals, teams, and communities.
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