a green bill of health - school of medicine & health sciences · said susan caraher, marketing...

Fall 2009VOLUME 34, NUMBER 4www.ndmedicine.org

A GreenBill of Health

Binary CareWilson’s Way

The Riddle of Eating DisordersCulturing a Long-Distance Relationship

2 NORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE Fall 2009

Dear Friends,This summer has been a season of welcomes and goodbyes.In June, we bid farewell to former Dean H. David Wilson,MD who is now dean of the University of Kansas School ofMedicine–Wichita. We thank him for his many contributionsover the past 14 years and wish him success in Kansas.

UND President Kelley has announced the formation of asearch committee for the permanent Vice President forHealth Affairs and Dean of the UND School of Medicine andHealth Sciences. The committee is chaired by Provost PaulLeBel and has broad representation from the school, UNDand the community.

In the interim, I continue to serve UND as Interim VicePresident for Health Affairs and Interim Dean of the SMHS. I welcome your comments and ideas about the school andhow we can create the best possible learning and workingenvironment.

In June, we welcomed the school’s first inductees intothe Gold Humanism Honor Society, which recognizes seniormedical students who demonstrate professionalism and a

commitment to patient care. This summer we hosted 40undergraduate students from colleges, universities and tribalinstitutions throughout the United States who participated insummer research experiences. We welcomed 38 newresidents to our residency programs in family medicine,surgery, internal medicine, psychiatry and transition year.This month, we’ll say hello to incoming students in all 13 ofour graduate and undergraduate programs.

In the life cycle of organizations such as ours, there areperiodic goodbyes and welcomes. These events serve asreminders of where we as a school have been, and where weare going. It continues to be a productive and rewardingjourney!

Joshua Wynne, MD, MBA, MPHInterim Vice President for Health Affairs and Interim Dean

DEAN’S LETTER

NORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE Fall 2009 3

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POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to:ND Medicine Address Correction UND School of Medicine and Health SciencesOffice of Public Affairs, Attn: Shelley Pohlman501 North Columbia Rd. Stop 9037, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037 e-mail: [email protected] phone: 701-777-4305

NORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE is available online at www.ndmedicine.org

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES

ROBERT O. KELLEY, President, University of North Dakota

JOSHUA WYNNE, Interim Vice President for Health Affairsand Interim Dean, School of Medicine and Health Sciences

WRITERS Brenda Haugen, Denis MacLeod, Gary Niemeier, Laura Scholz, Amanda Scurry

CONTRIBUTORS Wendy Opsahl, Shelley Pohlman GRAPHIC DESIGN Laura Cory, John Lee, Victoria Swift PHOTOGRAPHY Gary Niemeier, Wanda Weber COVER ART Victoria Swift

Xxxxwww.ndmedicine.org

DESIGN Eric Walter

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FEATURESA Green Bill of Health 4

UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences remains healthy despite nationwide recession

Culturing a Long-Distance Relationship 8From one border to the other and nearly 2,000 miles apart, UND and the University of Arizona work together to fill a need

Binary Care 10Ensuring a Health-e North Dakota

The Riddle of Eating Disorders 14One man's leadership in research yields new answers

Wilson’s Way 16During 14 years as dean, H. David Wilson put North Dakota on the map in medical education

DEPARTMENTSAlumni Profile - Erwin Samuelson 19Student Profile - Taylor Mertz 22Guest Columnist - Randy Eken 24News Briefs 25Opportunities 28Alumni Notes 30In Memoriam 32Planning Ahead 34Parting Shots 35

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A GreenBill of Health

UND School of Medicine & Health SciencesRemains Healthy Despite Nationwide Recession

T


he University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) is in a position many across the country envy. Despite the nationwide recession, the school not only remains healthy, it’s

continuing to grow, thanks in part to the firm financialground the state of North Dakota stands on as well asbenefits from the American Recovery and ReinvestmentAct, more commonly known as the federal stimuluspackage.

“The school is relatively insulated from the country’seconomic downturn,” said Randy Eken, associate dean foradministration and finance. “Other medical schools may be

experiencing budget cutbacks and shortfalls, but we arenot. The demand for health care professionals, especiallyin rural areas, remains high, and we continue to increaseenrollment and expand programs.”

Research boostThe SMHS hopes to feel even more fortunate in the

next couple of months. That’s when most faculty memberswill find out if their research projects will receive any ofthe funding offered through the federal stimulus package.

One early award notice has been received, though.Donald Sens, PhD, professor of pathology, secured$43,200 in supplemental stimulus funding from theNational Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences of theU.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) toexpand the STEER program for undergraduate research inenvironmental science. The funds will increase thenumber of North Dakota undergraduate students employedto perform research in the environmental sciences duringthe next two summers to eight.

According to SMHS Grants and Contracts OfficerCorey Graves, about 80 percent of the medical school’s

funding for research comes from the federal government,with 50 percent of total awards from the National Institutesof Health (NIH). The NIH received over $10 billion todevote to higher education research, construction andinstrumentation projects through the stimulus package,Graves said. Many faculty members have applied for NIHgrant awards, and several are getting verbal feedback thattheir projects are great.

“I’m very optimistic,” Graves said. “It looks promising.”

He said that faculty members have been working hardto secure funding. A great deal of thought and preliminarydata go into each application. They want their applicationsto stand out among all the others expected to be filed.

“It really has to catch their eye,” he said.Right now these grant proposals are being reviewed andscored. If a proposal gets a good enough score, it will befunded in August or September, Graves explained.

“In the world of research, that’s really quick,” he said.According to Associate Dean for Research Ed Sauter,

MD, PhD, the university submitted three building projectsand several research projects in response to the stimulusfunding provided to the NIH. One of the goals of thefederal stimulus package is to retain the faculty and traineesalready on staff. Another is to support the work of studentsin the labs, Sauter explained.

“We are hopeful,” Sauter said. “Nonetheless, you reallydon’t know how you fared until you receive the awardnotice.”

The stimulus package provides funding for two yearswith no extensions. The goal is to have a specific gain fromthe research, to report it, and to use the findings from thestimulus-funded research to submit new applications to theNIH or other agencies.

“It just kind of steamrolls,” Graves said.He confirmed that UND has applied for lab research

stimulus funding and construction project funding. Eken said one construction project involves a $14 millionbuilding he thinks has a strong chance of being funded.

“They do go hand-in-hand,” Graves said of researchand building grants, adding that facilities are cramped rightnow. With the possibility of hiring additional faculty, theneed for more space grows, he said.

Student influxIt seems as if UND can expect to have more students

in its buildings as well. At a time when Americans arehesitant to spend money, that trend isn’t holding when itcomes to education. Medical student applications at theSMHS have remained steady the last two years, accordingto Judy DeMers, associate dean for Student Affairs andAdmissions.

“The number and quality of applicants has been aboutthe same: 300-plus, and the same GPA average and MCATaverages,” she said. “We don’t ask age on the application,but I really am not seeing differences.”

But they are seeing a difference at UND’s GraduateSchool, particularly in the health fields.

“We’ve been noticing growth over the last seven years,

Right now we’re pretty fortunate

It looks very promising


but last year was a record enrollment,”said Susan Caraher, marketing andexternal relations specialist with thegraduate school.

Fall 2008 to fall 2009 intake at thegraduate school was 2,135, a nine

percent increase from the previous yearand a record for enrollment.

Applications for this year have beencoming in a steady stream, and officialsat the graduate school are hoping for asmall increase in enrollment again thisyear.

“It’s looking healthy,” Caraher said.“We’re cautiously optimistic for thisyear.”

Nursing, physician assistant (PA),physical therapy and clinical laboratoryscience are nationally recognizedprograms and among the areas wheregrowth is being seen. The expansion ofresearch in the basic sciences has alsoserved as a catalyst for attracting top-level students.

“The health and human servicesseem to be enrolling quite well,”Caraher said.

Nationwide, thousands of displacedworkers are going back to school in aneffort to tune-up their skills. Others areswitching careers altogether to securebetter jobs—particularly positions thatwill be needed well into the future,

including those in the health fields. Thefederal stimulus package includes manyprograms that will benefit college students and encourages colleges toexpand job training programs in health care. The U.S. Department of Labor’s

Employment and TrainingAdministration has received about $3.5billion for training and other servicesfor dislocated workers, adults andyouth. Of that amount, $250 millionhas been prioritized for jobs in the health care sector. The UND School ofMedicine and Health Sciences offers awide array of graduate programs in thehealth professions that will help to meetregional demands.

According to Caraher, UND’s growing reputation as a high-qualityinstitution is another reason thegraduate school has seen recordenrollments. Aggressive recruiting andgood word-of-mouth from current andpast students has helped get thatmessage out, she said. Evidence of thisis seen in the shift of where students arecoming from. While UND continues tohave a strong presence in North Dakotaand Minnesota, the graduate schoolincreasingly includes students from notonly across the United States but fromother nations as well. Caraher said thisis particularly evident in the nursingprogram.

“Which is a really good sign forNorth Dakota,” she said.

Challenges remainThe picture isn’t all rosy. Retaining

health care professionals in NorthDakota remains an ongoing concern,according to Brad Gibbens, co-interimdirector for UND’s Center for RuralHealth (CRH). In testimony to SenatorKent Conrad July 2, Gibbens pointedout that the CRH has determined theneed for 44 family medicine physiciansin North Dakota. In addition, there are271 vacancies for doctors, nurses, and clinical lab, mental health, andradiology technicians. While health

More students in our buildings


care reform is a hot national topic,improving the ability to pay for servicesthat can’t be obtained in rural NorthDakota doesn’t help the situation here,Gibbens said.

“Health workforce is a chronicstructural concern,” he said. “Healthreform must improve options for training and education, must createnew incentives to inform and attractyouth into the professions, createopportunity for mid-career changes, andempower rural communities to be moreresponsible in creating their ownunique solutions.”

The UND Foundation also is facing

another challenge: a drop in the marketvalue of endowments.

“The UND Foundation’s investmentportfolio has suffered like mostuniversity portfolios have,” Eken said. “I think they’re managing the fundscarefully and doing as well as they can.But it is difficult to raise money rightnow.”

UND Foundation personnel sayendowments’ values are down, but thatstudent scholarship amounts are on parwith previous years. Not only that butthey are also experiencing a recordnumber of donors and annual gifts forthe fifth straight year.

“While the economy has affectedinvestment returns, the fact that thestate Legislature passed the UniformPrudent Management of Institutional Funds Act, or UPMIFA, during this pastsession allows us to continue fulfillingscholarship payments,” said LauraBlock, chief financial officer of theUND Foundation. “This strategy isadopted in many other states and is aprudent way to ensure students receivescholarships to attend UND, and donorwishes are continually met.

“Scholarships are a significantpriority for the university’s administration, and helping make

scholarships come to fruition is a toppriority of the UND Foundation.Awards are being fulfilled for the 2009–2010 academic year for all endowedscholarships, including high achieverscholarships, which help UND recruitand retain top-performing students.”

In addition, the state’s billion-dollarsurplus is the envy of nearly every otherstate in the union. With a healthy general fund, the state is using some of these funds to invest in priorities, suchas education, infrastructure and jobstraining. During last spring’s legislativesession, the state agreed to take onmore responsibility for funding

education, including increasedspending at the college level.

“The state legislature was verykind to us this year and providedabout a 20 percent increasein general fundsupport,” Eken said.

- Brenda Haugen

Health workforce is a chronic structural concern

Another challenge: a drop in endowments

DR. MARC TISCHLER’S UNDERGRADUATE DEGREEprogram in biochemistry at the University of Arizona (UA)was on the chopping block. With not enough studentsenrolled in the major, the faculty senate was set to cut theprogram at their next meeting. Meanwhile, two hoursnorthwest in Tempe, Arizona State University had just cut itsclinical lab science (CLS) training program. There wasnowhere in the state to train to be a CLS. Then DonnaWolk, PhD, D(ABMM), a pathologist at UA, called the CLSdistance learning program at UND.

“We sat in our program director’s office for an afternoonand just went through all the different options of how we

could make this work,” said Brooke Solberg, MS, MT(ASCP), an instructor with the UND CLS program and itscertificate program director. “By about 5:30 that day we hadcome up with something that would work.”

Within a week of the initial phone call, the two schoolshad an agreement put together to save the biochemistrydegree program at UA and to allow the students majoring inthe program to train in CLS.

“We chose UND as an educational partner for a numberof reasons,” said Wolk, division chief for clinical andmolecular microbiology at Arizona Health Sciences Centerand assistant professor, clinical pathology and medicine at

a Long-Distance RelationshipFrom one border to the other and nearly 2,000 miles apart, UND and theUniversity of Arizona are working together to fill a need.

Clinical laboratory scientist Ellen Tuttle, MT (ASCP), senior technologist at University of Arizona Medical Center’s microbiologylaboratory, performs antibiotic testing of bacteria with Dulini Gamage, MLT (ASCP).


Culturing

UA. “First and foremost, from myperspective, the UND faculty trulyportrays all that is right and good abouthealth care. They are team-oriented,inclusive, open-minded, flexible, andmost importantly, dedicated todelivering the best in content and easeof use for their students.”

Building on a foundationStarting this fall, undergraduates at UAmajoring in biochemistry can take CLSclasses through the existing and very

successful distance learning program atUND. Not only will the credits fromthese classes be put toward theirbiochemistry degree from UA but theywill also earn a certificate in CLS fromUND and qualify to sit for the CLSnational certification exam.

“The UND CLS program has a longtradition of excellence in CLS training,”Wolk continued, “with a pass rate ofover 95 percent for successful boardcertification of their students.”

The university medical center andthe department of pathology at UA willtake care of the hands-on lab portion of the classes while UND instructors willteach the lectures online.

“They keep their lectures updatedwith the latest information in clinicallaboratory science,” said Wolk,“playing a vital role in medicallaboratory education in the West andthe Midwest.”

In addition, according to UA,students who obtain an associatedegree in applied science from PimaCommunity College in Tucson leadingto medical laboratory technicianpositions can transition into the UA CLSprogram to achieve a bachelor’s leveleducation and become eligible forhigher-level positions.

Neither first nor lastThe UND CLS program partners withabout 20 institutions throughout thenation to provide CLS certificationtraining through distance education,including the Mayo Clinic and the U.S.Veterans Administration. There are alsonew agreements in the works with theUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Centerand Boyce and Bynum PathologyLaboratories, Columbia, MO, both ofwhich learned about the UND programthrough the UA partnership.

“The CLS profession is facing aworkforce shortage that is reaching crisis mode as programs are beingclosed nationwide,” said Solberg.

“Every partnership we create makesour traditional, on-campusprogram stronger, which means we cancontinue to graduate more than 60students annually that will be able topopulate regional laboratories.”

In the nick of timeTischler’s program was saved.

“Two days before the official axingwas going to occur,” said Tischler, UAprofessor of biochemistry andmolecular biophysics and UA Collegeof Medicine faculty member, “I calledthe provost and said ‘we need to keepthe program for this reason,’ so they arekeeping the BA program.”

“We are proud to be affiliated withUND,” said Wolk, “and hope toexpand our collaborations to includenew teaching modules with specialfocus topics such as a series inmolecular microbiology.”

- Amanda Scurry

Brooke Solberg, MS,MT (ASCP)

Donna Wolk, PhDD(ABMM)


Every partnership we createmakes our program stronger.

Marc Tischler, PhD

Binary Care: Ensuring a Health-e North Dakota

“LAWS ARE LIKE SAUSAGES; IT ISbetter not to see them being made.”

Most people cite Otto vonBismarck, the first chancellor ofGermany, for this political bromide.The true source remains in doubt.However, what is certain is the NorthDakota Legislature calls the namesakecity of Bismarck home. In 2009, an

integral link to the future of NorthDakota’s health care system was groundout of the state legislative session:funding for health informationtechnology (HIT).

Like the beginning and end of asausage, health information technologyis fundamentally binary: 1s and 0s. Yet,from this simple foundation rises the



powerful information andcommunication systems necessary toaccelerate a change in health care thatleads to safer, more efficient and lesscostly care, enabling health care to freeitself from the weight of the papermillstone around its neck and catch upto the digital age.

Health care still operates in a paperworld. More than likely your healthrecord exists on paper only, whereasthe other vital statistics in your life are

preserved and backed up in easilyaccessible electronic files. If you wantyour health records to follow you if youmove, you have to authorize release ofyour information from your health careprovider and wait for your provider todeliver your records, which is not perse a bad thing—except if you aretraveling and require emergencymedical care. The emergency roomphysician might not have ready accessto your medical chart. Unless you or acompanion can provide an accuratevital medical background (or you weara medical bracelet, necklace, or watch),the well-meaning ER doc may takesteps to save you that lead to yourdemise.

With health IT, your electronichealth record (EHR) would be at thefingertips of any health care provider orfacility tied to a health informationexchange (HIE), an electronic networkfor sharing health information. Anelectronic guardian angel would followyou from place to place ready to informa doctor’s diagnosis of your condition. Health IT provides safety and more. Itcan not only reduce medical errors butalso lower health care costs throughincreased administrative efficiencies,decreased paperwork, and expandedaccess to affordable care.

Health IT will improve quality ofcare by freeing time for your healthprofessionals to focus as a team onearly prevention of disease and onwellness. It will cut costs by eliminatingduplicate tests and procedures,improving scheduling, and expeditingprocessing and billing of claims. Anintegrated, interoperable link betweendepartments within a health facility andbetween health facilities nationwide would replace the paper chase. HIT

will give doctors, nurses, and otherhealth workers precious time to attendto patients rather than locating patients’medical records and trying to pinpointrelevant information, reducing the waitin waiting rooms.

HIT’s story in North DakotaOn April 18, 2006, the first North

Dakota Health Information TechnologySummit took place in Bismarck with160 participants. The sponsors wereSenator Kent Conrad along withrepresentatives from the North DakotaHealthcare Review, Blue Cross BlueShield, the North Dakota HealthcareAssociation, the North Dakota MedicalAssociation, Gruby Technologies (nowknown as IntelligentInSites), and theCenter for Rural Health at theUniversity of North Dakota School ofMedicine and Health Sciences. Toensure future dialogue on health IT, thehealth summit sponsors and the NorthDakota Department of Health createdan all-volunteer ND HIT SteeringCommittee.

The steering committee membersknew that states with the most successin implementing health IT begandiscussions with key stakeholders earlyin the process; so, in August 2006, thecommittee, led by the Center for RuralHealth’s Lynette Dickson as chair,invited 40 representatives from pivotal

It's an investment that will take the long overdue step ofcomputerizing America's medical records to reduce the

duplication and waste that costs billions of health care dollars,and medical errors that cost thousands of lives each year.

Lynette Dickson, Director,North Dakota State Office ofRural Health


health care organizations statewide toexplore applying health IT in NorthDakota. In 2007, the state legislatureformally authorized, but did not fund,the steering committee. Committeemembers continued their work asvolunteers.

The 2009 legislative session wasthe first opportunity the steeringcommittee had to establish statefunding for health IT; however, SenateBill No. 2332 (the HIT bill) was on lifesupport early during the Sixty-firstLegislative Assembly. As originallyproposed, the HIT bill would haveappropriated $5.9 million to establish ahealth information technology office, anadvisory committee, and provide fundsfor a grant program to help healthfacilities plan and implement health IT.

However, many legislators sawhealth IT as the responsibility of privateorganizations—hospitals and clinics—not the state. The Senate did provide$500,000, and the House agreed togive $250,000. The HIT steeringcommittee persevered; their diligentwork, along with a big boost from thefederal government, revitalized thefuture of health IT in North Dakota.

Recession to resuscitation Congress passed the American

Recovery and Reinvestment Act of2009 to combat the recession thatbegan in December 2007. Uponsigning the legislation on February 17,2009, President Obama said, “Becausewe know that spiraling health care costsare crushing families and businessesalike, we're taking the most meaningfulsteps in years towards modernizing ourhealth care system.”

“It's an investment that will take thelong overdue step of computerizingAmerica's medical records to reducethe duplication and waste that costs

billions of health care dollars, andmedical errors that cost thousands oflives each year.”

The federal recovery act providedthe ammunition the HIT steeringcommittee needed to fight for the futureof health IT. The 2009 act continuedfunding for the national coordinator ofhealth IT and, most importantly,initiated federal funding for states’ efforts to implement health IT. In 2011, the feds would provide a 5-1 match ofstate funds dedicated to loan programsfor hospitals and clinics to purchase orupgrade their individual electronichealth record systems.

To jump-start a national healthinformation system or healthinformation exchange, Congress agreedto match states’ spending to develop

HIEs. States will have three competitivemoney-go-rounds to grasp a gold, silver,or bronze federal match of statedollars: a 10–1 federal match in 2011,7–1 in 2012, and 5–1 in 2013.

Also in 2011, Medicare andMedicaid will pay incentives to non-hospital-based physicians (for example,Medicare will pay up to $44,000 overfive years) and hospitals that can verifythey are meaningful users of EHRs—meaningful users is a term not yetdefined by the U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services. After2015, Medicare will penalize, throughreduced reimbursements, doctors andfacilities that have not met meaningfuluser criteria.

Hitting the roadGiven Congress’s lead with the

stimulus package, the North Dakotalegislature followed the money. Thefinal version of the health IT bill made$8 million available to be used asNorth Dakota competes in the threerounds for federal funding of HIE from

Access to health care is one of our biggest challenges, not because anyone is denied care, but with the sparsepopulation in much of the state, the providers are

not easily available everywhere.


2010 through 2012. In addition, a $5million loan fund not tied to thestimulus funds will be available(contingent on general fund revenuesexceeding an established limit) forhealth facilities to purchase andupgrade EHRs.

Furthermore, the health IT bill willcreate a state HIT office within the NDInformation Technology Departmentand an advisory committee—appointedby the governor and the state healthofficer—that would hire a health ITdirector to run the office. The advisorycommittee will provide oversight andadvice to the director through its sixstakeholder work groups:communication and education, fundingand resources, health informationexchange, legislation and policy,privacy and security, and standards.

The HIT director and the advisorycommittee will determine the criteriaand eligibility for all loans. They alsowill develop North Dakota’s HIE planand decide how much of the $8 millionwill be bid in the three competitiverounds for HIE federal match dollars.

“I am pleased that the legislatureprovided the support needed to beginto implement health informationtechnology throughout North Dakota,”said ND State Senator Judy Lee, WestFargo, who represents the legislature on

the health IT steering committee. “Access to health care is one of our

biggest challenges, not because anyoneis denied care, but with the sparsepopulation in much of the state, theproviders are not easily availableeverywhere. HIT will permit quickexchange of health information so thatcitizens will have access to expertconsultations, even when treated inrural areas.”

Constructing a national health ITprogram to better the lives ofAmericans is like the grand-scaletwentieth-century public works projectschampioned by presidents from bothpolitical parties: Roosevelt’s RuralElectric Administration in the 1930sand Eisenhower’s Interstate HighwaySystem in the 1950s. Roosevelt’s andEisenhower’s ubiquitous networks weredesigned to provide citizens with thegainful flow of electrons andautomobiles. Similarly, health IT wouldcreate for all Americans a nationwide,interoperable system to instantly deliveressential medical data. Interestingly,Eisenhower’s idea for his interstatesystem was sparked in part by hisappreciation of a similar high-speedsystem in the homeland ofChancellor Bismarck: the autobahn.

- Denis MacLeod

Senator Judy Lee, West Fargo


CALL IT THE CULTURE OF PHOTOSHOP.We're bombarded daily with imagescarefully manipulated to stimulate adesire to look like the models we seedepicted, either by buying things orperhaps even trying to shape our bodiesas well. And indeed, according to UNDresearcher Dr. Stephen Wonderlich,fully five percent—overwhelminglyfemale—of our population does sufferfrom a clinically significant eatingdisorder. The question is, why this fivepercent and not the rest of thepopulation? And what can be done forthose who suffer from this debilitatingcondition?

Stephen Wonderlich, PhD, is aninternationally-recognized innovator inthe field of eating disorders. He is theChester Fritz Distinguished UniversityProfessor and Associate Chair of theDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience atthe UND School of Medicine andHealth Sciences. He's also director ofclinical research at the NeuropsychiatricResearch Institute in Fargo, where for 22years he's been doing ground-breakingresearch into the many conundrumspresented by eating disorders.

In 1996, Wonderlich, together withcolleague James Mitchell, MD,Christoferson Professor, Chair of theUND Department of ClinicalNeuroscience and Chester FritzDistinguished Professor, teamed upwith MeritCare Health System and theNeuropsychiatric Research Institute inFargo to create the Eating DisordersInstitute (EDI), the clinical branch ofthis unique tripartite entity. The EDIemploys over 20 staff and maintainsspace for 18 hospital patients atMeritCare Hospital South in Fargo.

Earlier this year, Wonderlich wasrecognized by the Academy of EatingDisorders with its Leadership Award forResearch. His work was cited as an“internationally-respected body ofresearch” that has yielded newknowledge and measurably advancedthe field. The Academy in particularnoted his role as a “synthesizer of newinformation,” and commended hisscholarship and thoughtfulness.

High praise indeed for this nativeof Moorhead, MN, who graduated fromConcordia College and credits thepsychology faculty there for being a

One Man’sLeadershipin Research

Yields New Answers

RiddleEating Disorders

THE OFRiddleEating Disorders

THE OF


‘self-discrepancy’...is the difference between

how people see themselvesactually and ideally

“tremendous influence”on his career.Wonderlich traveled south to receive adoctoral degree in clinical psychologyfrom the University of Missouri,Columbia. He continued his educationwith an internship and fellowship in thepsychiatry department at the Universityof Wisconsin, and from there he wasrecruited to UND by Richard Stadter,MD, then chair of the neurosciencedepartment.

Wonderlich's interest in eatingdisorders dates to his time in Wisconsin.

“Eating disorders were on the risein the United States. At that time,eating disorders were not well-known.Of the two primary eating disorders(anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa),bulimia had only been clinicallydefined in 1979.”

His timing was good. “Much of this emerged as I started

my professional training, and that's howI got interested.”

Since coming to North Dakota,Wonderlich has had a particularly closeview of the changes in the field. “In the last two or three decades, we'vecome a tremendous distance indeveloping and understanding not onlywhat but how treatments work foreating disorders. We have a moresophisticated understanding of howculture, genetics and biology mightoperate together.”

Presently, he has become quiteinterested in the idea of self-discrepancy as an important concept.

“It's the difference between howpeople see themselves actually andideally.”

Those with eating disorders have alarger self-discrepancy than those whodo not, and it leads them down theroad to emotional upset anddepression. Wonderlich says a recentfederal grant has allowed study of anew treatment in which self-discrepancy is a core idea.

“Our treatment is much more aboutthis discrepancy; the patient'semotional life in the moment, and howthey are dealing with their unhappiness.It's very precise and carefully applied.”

If the study, which concludes in

less than two years, compares well toan alternative approach developed inOxford, England, it could lead toanother treatment method entirely.Wonderlich concludes, “it's a veryimportant comparison.”

In the palm of their handThe Institute has received two majorgrants to study the use of Palm Pilots inmonitoring the day-to-day life ofpatients. Wonderlich likes the ability toget data “in the moment.” He says theinstant feedback circumvents the delaysand distortions of after-the-fact surveys.

“There's all kinds of problems withbringing patients into the lab andinterviewing them about things thathave happened in the past, because wedistort so much.”

Not surprisingly, youngerresearchers take to the technology.

“It's actually become a sort of hotticket for young people coming into thefield.”

As he reflects on decades ofcutting-edge research in eatingdisorders, Wonderlich has no doubtabout his ultimate goal: a meaningful,sustained contribution that will enhancetreatment. Given his stature in the field,he's referring to a global contribution,but he recognizes and values his localimpact as well.

“I want to help build and sustain avery productive eating disorder andobesity research community in the stateof North Dakota.”

He pauses, ever mindful of thedual, symbiotic nature of research andtreatment.

“We must also continue to have ameaningful hospital and clinic program.We serve people all over the region.That needs to endure.”

With his carefully built organizations,Wonderlich is in a unique positionto do just that.

- Gary Niemeier


FOURTEEN YEARS AGO, H. DAVIDWilson, MD, became dean of themedical school at the University ofNorth Dakota and was determined tomake changes. The biggest of these

changes, the school’sinnovative patient-centered learningcurriculum, put him andNorth Dakota on the mapof medical education andhas become his legacy.

“I said soon after Iarrived [at UND] that thegoals for the schoolshould be an outstandingcurriculum, to be the ruralhealth medical school andto recruit terrific [faculty]to North Dakota,” saidWilson.

Nation’s leader in ruralhealth“One of the first thoughtsI had when I came herewas to focus on ruralhealth because we are themost rural state in thenation to have a medicalschool,” said Wilson. “I believe our Center forRural Health is one of thetop one or two in the

country. We have the only RuralAssistance Center sponsored by theUnited States government, and now thefocus of health care workforce

information is at the University of NorthDakota.”

“[David] brought the very clearperspective of the needs of a state likeNorth Dakota,” said Darrell Kirch, MD,president and CEO of The Associationof American Medical Colleges, whowitnessed Wilson’s work on severalnational medical boards andcommittees.

To encourage students to look atrural medicine, the Rural Opportunities in Medical Education (ROME) programwas established, allowing students tobetter experience life as a ruralphysician. More recently, it was mademandatory that every medical studentdo at least one rural rotation duringtheir third and fourth years.

“This past year we were the numberone medical school in the entirecountry in the percentage of ourstudents going into family medicine,”said Wilson. “I don’t know how youcan top that!”

Research expansionWhen Wilson arrived at UND in 1995,the medical school had a little over $8million in research dollars.

“One of the priorities that Davidbrought to the medical school was aneed to emphasize scholarship broadlyand in particular to develop theresearch infrastructure,” said James E.Mitchell, MD, Christoferson Professorand chair of the clinical neurosciencedepartment at the medical school.

Wilson’s Way

Highlights of Wilson’s Tenure• Changed school’s name to School of

Medicine and Health Sciences• Established yearly White Coat Ceremony

for first-year medical students• Instituted new Patient-Centered Learning

Curriculum• Preserved consistently high ranking in rural

medicine by U.S. News and World Report• Sustained consistently high ranking (#1 in

2009) in choice of family medicine training by graduating seniors

• Formed several federally funded centers• Increased research grant funds to $24

million• Recruited or promoted 26 associate and

assistant deans, chairs and directors• Held a dozen positions in national

organizations• Secured funding for or dedicated nine

facility projects on three medical school campuses

• Garnered $22 million in philanthrophic support

During 14 years as dean, H. David Wilson put NorthDakota on the map inmedical education


Research dollars under Wilson grew to $24 million infiscal year 2003 and has hovered at $20 million for the pastseveral years. He also recruited some of the bestresearchers to the school.

But those researchers need somewhere to work.During his tenure, Wilson secured funding for anddedicated the Biomedical Research Facility and – with theinstrumental assistance of Dr. Manuchair Ebadi – theNeurosciences Research Facility.

“David fostered a culture at UND which clearly valuedresearch as a priority,” said Mitchell, “a characteristic ofgreat importance in environments that train physicians andother health care professionals.”

Increasing endowmentsMuch of the recent years of Wilson’s time in North Dakotahas been spent outside of North Dakota raising privatemoney for the school from alumni and friends.

“While we are well-funded by the state of North Dakota,one recognizes pretty quickly that the state can’t pay all thebills,” Wilson explained. “Endowed chairs and professorships

are tools to recruit the best faculty to the school.” His efforts resulted in $22 million in a four-year span,

with more than $7 million to fund endowments.

Patient-centered learningWhen Wilson was interviewed for dean at UND, he toldthe search committee that he intended to change theschool’s traditional curriculum. He put together a smallteam to research medical curricula. What they came backwith would drastically change the way medical studentswere taught and how they would learn at UND.

Richard Vari, PhD, now associate dean for medicaleducation at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, wason that team.

“Change is never easy – for people or institutions. Dr. Wilson provided constant encouragement and supportas we changed the way we taught medical students.”

The school’s new patient-centered learning curriculumbegan in 1998.

“David really needs to be commended for promotingthat transition,” said Rob Beattie, MD, clinical professor and

DURING THE MEDICAL SCHOOL CENTENNIAL GALA IN THE FALL OF 2005, A COUPLE OF MEMBERSof the MD class of 2009, with the help of a faculty member who created a diversion, kidnapped a life-sizewood cutout of Dean H. David Wilson. The cutout was created by medical school graphic designer VictoriaSwift and was used to welcome people to several centennial events the week leading up to the gala.

The kidnappers were roommates Brian Rau and Matthias Christianson, who kept the Flat Dean as a thirdroommate. Over the next four years the Flat Dean would make appearances at various medical studentevents and Grand Forks locations. He visited the hospital and clinic and several bars and parties. He alsoplayed “Deal or No Deal” at Suite 49.

“It was sort of a game of who could get the funniest picture,” said Dane Breker, a member of the MDclass of 2009.

In April when the MD class of 2009 returned to Grand Forks for graduation festivities, each member ofthe class autographed the Flat Dean and they presented it to the REAL dean during a graduation reception.

“It was nice to see him again and to be signed by all the seniors,” said Wilson. “I just thought thestudents had left him in a Grand Forks bar someplace. Flat Dean has really been around!”

Online Exclusive: Wilson Trivia: What does the “H” in H. David Wilson stand for?A. HoratioB. HarryC. HubertVisit www.ndmedicine.org to find out the answer.

Where in the World is Flat Dean Wilson?

chair of the family and community medicine department atUND. “We truly do have one of the more innovativecurriculums in the country, and you can’t really put thatanywhere but at his feet.”

“All of this is a team effort,” Wilson stressed. “It tookthe entire faculty and the staff to make all of this happen.It’s labor intensive, but I think, by and large, everyonebelieves it’s a better way to educate future doctors.”

“It made a huge difference,” said Vari, who ran thecurriculum for ten years. “It was innovative, and it mademedical school fun for students and faculty alike, and it’sjust been a night-and-day difference.”

“I’m extremely proud of the educational program,”Wilson said. “I have said around the entire country that Ithink it is the best in the country for the education of first-and second-year medical students, and I really believe that.”

On to WichitaOn July 1, Wilson became dean of the University of KansasSchool of Medicine–Wichita.

“There is a lot of opportunity here,” said Wilson of hisnew stomping grounds. “One of my goals is to make it intoa full four-year medical school, and I’d like to raise somemoney for some major projects [such as] a new medicaleducation building, research space and clinical space.”

“David is always first and foremost focused on the needsof patients and then secondarily on the needs of learners,”said AAMC’s Kirch. “I’ve been in many conversations wherehe functioned as a kind of conscience for the group,reminding us of where our priorities should be.”

“Before I came to North Dakota, there was a lot of talkat the legislature about closing the medical school,”remembers Wilson. “Well, you don’t hear that anymore atall. People recognize how important the medical schoolis to the health of the people of North Dakota.”

- Amanda Scurry

Where in the World is Flat Dean Wilson?

Flat Dean reappeared at the MD graduation brunch with some of the original “dean-nappers” (from left) CarrieAnn Ranum, Janalee Holmes, John Horner, Nicole Duchsherer, Dane Breker, Stefan Johnson, Marisa Upton,Jon Kolberg, Andy Gasparini, Matthias Christianson, and Mark Longmuir.



TAYLOR MERTZMAJOR: MedicineCLASS OF: 2011HOMETOWN: FargoHIGH SCHOOL: Oak Grove LutheranUNIVERSITY: Bethel University,

St. Paul, Minn.PARENTS: Monty and Paula Mertz

TAYLOR MERTZ, A THIRD-YEARUND medical student, says that hereceived more than he was able togive on a medical mission trip toGuatemala last summer. Along withanother UND med student, AlexisHilfer, Taylor participated in six daysof village- and church-based clinics

that successfully served anastonishing 2,500 people. And,according to Mertz, the patientsweren't shy about showing theirappreciation. “They would watch uspull up in our vehicles with thesesmiling faces… we knew theyappreciated us being there.”

STUDENT PROFILE

Thankful villagers give as well as they get from two UND medical students

Prime CaringPrime Caring


Mertz, 26, is a Fargo native who was alreadycontributing to mission works in college. He graduated fromBethel University in St. Paul, Minn., in 2006 and enteredUND's medical school in 2007, where he credits Jon Allen,MD, associate professor of internal medicine and assistantdean of the UND northeast campus, with laying thegroundwork for the Guatemala trip. Allen led Mertz to JohnBaird, MD, health officer of Fargo Cass Public Health and amember of the Episcopal Dioceses of North Dakota. Baird,along with Guatemalan physician Padre Roberto, performedthe heavy lifting of meeting the logistical challenges of alarge-scale excursion: the 24-member team includedphysicians, nurses, a dentist and dental students, apharmacy student, translators and assistants.

After landing in Guatemala City, the entourage bused toQuetzaltenango, a nearby city that Mertz describes as verymodern by third-world standards. Once based, the bandsplit into groups and built impromptu clinics in surroundingvillages, usually in schools, churches, even a town hall. The900 pounds of supplies and medicine they brought from theUnited States gave them the luxury of being completely self-contained and allowed them to provide primary care for asmany people as time allowed. The need quicklyoverwhelmed the available resources: “We just didn't havetime to see everybody—we handed out all the medicationwe had. Obviously, we didn't want to come home with anyof it.”

Big numbersThey soon discovered that eventheir limited time could address asurprisingly large number ofpeople. “I was blown away whenwe finally counted all thenumbers at the end,” admitsMertz. “It was almost never asingle person. More likely, it was amother with her four kids, andyou'd just go from one to anotherto see what they needed.” Thestatistics are startling: Mertzdescribes 1,368 medical visits, 205dental visits, as well as 750fluoride varnishes and 500 vitaminand worm medicine dispensations.The pace of the visits acceleratedover time and as word spread: itprogressed from 50 per day toseveral hundred, until finally, ”onthe last day we saw so manypeople, one after the other, that itwas just incredible.”

Not lost in translationAfter Mertz and Hilfer had a chance to observe a localphysician's procedures for a day, they were ready to seepatients. It was time to bring in the translators. Many villagersdon't know Spanish, but instead speak in a Mayan dialect.Mertz's Spanish wasn't up to the task, so he leaned heavily

Alexis Hilfer administers a vaccination to an elderly woman,aided by a translator.

“There were 500 people waiting. We disembarked from our vehicles amid cheering.”


Mertz and Hilfer worked with patientsat a school for the deaf, relying on atranslator who converted Guatemalansign language to English.

on translators, some of whom wererecruited en route to the day's clinic.Eventually, a three-way translation wasmade between English, Spanish andMayan. This linguistic bridge meant thatcomplaints were heard accurately andproper treatments administered.

Mertz admits he was out of hiscomfort zone at first. “The translationwas of the utmost importance.Sometimes, you'd start off thinking theywere saying one thing, and it woulddevelop that they were talking aboutsomething else entirely.” There was abackup system in case the students werestumped. If a patient presented withsomething more serious, the physicianswould make themselves available. Didthat ever happen? “Oh yeah, for sure.”As the week went on, Mertz says the“somewhat ordered chaos” eventuallycame to feel more comfortable to thepair.

Grateful responsesMertz says it was obvious that the team'spresence in the villages was appreciated.“It was really fun to see. In our last

location, there were so many peoplethere that we had to come back the nextday. When we pulled up, there were500 people waiting. We disembarkedfrom our vehicles amid cheering—theywould literally cheer for us as we set upour stuff! Afterwards, the town leadersput on a presentation for us thatincluded certificates of appreciation.”

Does Mertz think his experiencewill inform his life as a medicalprofessional? “I know it will. I encourageeverybody to grab the opportunity if itpresents itself. You realize the world hasso much to offer—it's very worth it forthose who go and those receiving thehelp.”

In a presentation last November forthe Christian Medical Association ofUND, Mertz summed up his experience.“We were able to help many people onthis trip, and hopefully our presence hasbeen felt longer than that week. I canguarantee that I received much morethan I was able to give.”

- Gary Niemeier

UND alum’spassion forpeople andplanes is amatch made inmedical heaven

What’s Up,Doc?

ALUMNI PROFILE

WHILE MANY CHILDREN WHOdream of planes go on to fly thefriendly skies, Dr. Erwin Samuelson’spassion for aviation led him down aslightly different path—medicine.

The 1954 University of NorthDakota medical school graduate gothis first taste of the high life when hewas 15 years old and serving as avolunteer with the Civil Air Patrolduring World War II. His stint in theIowa Wing of this civilian Air Forcesparked this self-proclaimed “nerd”from Fargo’s interest in aerospace.

“I distinctly remember the summercamps, which were part of our trainingfor the Patrol. I fell in love with

airplanes and all things aviation,” saidSamuelson.

Samuelson’s passion for planesbrought him to UND, renowned forboth its aerospace and medicalprograms. After graduating with abachelor’s degree in medicine in1954, he attended Temple Universityin Philadelphia, where he earned hismedical degree. He fell in love withsunny California during an internshipat the Naval Hospital in CampPendleton, and when he finishedmedical school, he moved back to thestate and eventually set up his practicein Redondo Beach.

Samuelson is just like your average



family physician, but one with a veryspecial roster of patients: pilots.He is a senior Aviation MedicalExaminer (AME) for the FederalAviation Administration (FAA) andensures that thenation’s pilots are fit tofly.

“I see nearly athousand pilots eachyear. I love people,and I love flying, so forme, it’s the best ofboth worlds,” he said.

Pilots must pass anintensive medicalexamination every sixmonths in order tomaintain their FAAcredentials.Samuelson, like allcertified FAA physicians, uses the“IMSAFE” checklist (illness,medication, stress, alcohol, fatigue andeating) to measure a pilot’s health.Airline pilots must have at least 20/40vision in each eye (both distant andnear), the ability to distinguish colors(the color-blind need not apply),hearing at a distance of up to six feet,no distinguishable speech orequilibrium issues, blood pressureunder 155/95 and no currentsubstance abuse or treatment forpsychological disorders in order topass muster with the FAA.

“The tests are rigorous, but aredesigned for the safety of both thepilot and passenger,” said Samuelson.“And I’m proud to say that so far thisyear, every single one of my pilotpatients has passed certification.”

While most FAA-certifiedexaminers see 15 to 20 patients a year,Samuelson happily sees as many as hecan. His expertise has earned himkudos from his colleagues, and hiswork has been published in severalnational aviation magazines and isused to teach other AMEs. While backin the “old days,” FAA certificationwas a fairly simple process, Samuelsonsays he now must take classes andseminars each year to maintain his

license—but he finds the constantlearning “fun” and “invigorating.”

While his first passion is medicine,Samuelson’s others are family andtravel. He and wife Alberta—also a

physician—metwhile he was asenior at Temple andan intern at theNaval Hospital.Samuelson wasinstantly attracted tothe “smart, pretty”woman, but knew hewould only be intown for a shortwhile. The pairdated for twomonths before hepopped the questionover an oceanfront

dinner in La Jolla. They have beentogether ever since. They celebrated52 years of marriage in July.

The couple has five children—fourdaughters and a son—though,ironically, none of them followed theirparents’ footsteps into medicine.Though busy with their careers, in theearly years, the Samuelsons cherishedtime with their family.

“I always tried to take a month offevery summer,” said Samuelson, whoenjoyed taking his family onexcursions to exotic locales such asJapan, Italy and Denmark.

It is a tradition they maintain eventoday, now that their children aregrown and have their own families.For their 50th wedding anniversary,Samuelson and his wife flew thewhole clan to Alaska, where theycruised and then rented a car toexplore the state.

“We all piled into a 757—but Ilike being the passenger, not thepilot,” said Samuelson.

Yet in spite of these adventuresand his love of flight, when askedabout his favorite destination, hesimply said “home.”

- Laura Scholz

I see nearly a thousand

pilots each year. I lovepeople, and I love flying,

so for me, it’s the best of

both worlds


THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND HEALTHSciences has experienced tremendous growthover the last 10 years. At the beginning of thatperiod, total revenues were almost $74 million.Today that figure is about $142 million—almost92 percent growth.

A lot of that has been due to the leadershipof former dean H. David Wilson, MD Hecertainly helped to modernize the school. Thereare a number of things that went on here—renaming the school; bringing in researchers withlots of new ideas, new programs, and the beliefthat North Dakota can compete nationally insome selected areas. We can’t be in the forefrontin 20 different programs, but we can focus onstrong areas like rural health and familymedicine. And the department of Physiology,Pharmacology, and Therapeutics has reallygrown, too.

Where did the growth come from? Thegeneral fund, which comes from the state, grew39 percent in the last 10 years. Other fundingsources, those that we’re responsible for raising,grew 128 percent. We like to say, “You invest adollar in us, and we’ll give back three.” We’re agood economic engine for the state. And it’s notjust in Grand Forks; it’s in Fargo, Minot, andBismarck, too. We’re a statewide entity. We dowork in every county in the state through theCenter for Rural Health.

Grants and contracts have grown at an evenfaster rate—212 percent—which is really a creditto the faculty and programs of the school.

This session, the Legislature recognized thattuition income during the last 10 years grew 209percent, which is really unsustainable. Ourlegislators took a big step in correcting that. Ourtuition this next biennium is limited to 3.5percent per year.

Ten years ago, the state funded almost 40percent of our program; now it’s 29 percent.We’ve become less dependent upon the state forour revenues and more dependent uponourselves. The Legislature appreciates that if itgives us money, we try to do our best with it andtry to help the state. The intention of the school isto produce health care professionals for the state,and we’ve done a remarkable job. Almost halfthe physicians in the state come from our school;the percentage is even higher for occupationaltherapists and physical therapists.

That’s the past. Now let’s look to the future.We’ll be building a new clinic in Bismarck,

thanks to $5.4 million from the state this session.The Legislature also found new funds for theBismarck and Minot centers for family medicine.They funded $600,000 for the new RuralMedProgram. This funding allows us to give tuitionwaivers to students who pre-select familymedicine residency programs. They’re going tofund eight students per class who will then gointo primary care and commit to staying in NorthDakota for three or four years.

The Legislature also marked $500,000 for theCenter for Rural Health to do a comprehensivehealth delivery plan for the state, and $225,000to purchase electronic medical records systems tomodernize the way we look at patients and totrain physicians.

I would say this is the best legislativesession we’ve ever had, both financially and inthe way the legislators listened and responded to our concerns.

- Randy Eken, MPA ‘96Associate Dean, Administration and Finance

UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences

My, How We’ve GROWN

GUEST AUTHOR

We like to say,“You invest adollar in us,

and we’ll giveback three.”


NEWS BRIEFS

Eight senior medicalstudents from theUniversity of NorthDakota School ofMedicine and HealthSciences were the firstmembers inducted to anew chapter of the GoldHumanism Honor Societyon Thursday, June 18.Keynote speaker StephenTinguely, MD ’78,provided an inspiringcommentary onhumanism in medicine.An associate professor andchair of pediatrics at theUND School of Medicineand Health Sciences,Fargo, he has throughouthis career epitomized thequalities of a humanisticphysician.

The UND chapterjoins 77 other medicalschool chapters across the country in recognizing seniormedical students who demonstrate exemplary humanismand professionalism throughout their medical education.Creation of the chapter was made possible by a grant fromthe Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

Fifteen percent of the class was selected through aprocess that includes peer nomination and subsequentconfirmation by the school’s Gold Humanism Honoroversight committee. Each student’s clinical performance

and record of community service was considered. Members include Miran Blanchard, Dan Dixon, KatrinaGardner, Chad Hanson, Erica Martin, Jennifer Mullally,Luke Van Alstine, and Stacie Wellman.

“We are very pleased to bring this recognition of theimportance of humanism to our school,” said JudyDeMers, associate dean for student affairs and admissions.“We congratulate these students on their commitment topatient care and dedication to the medical profession.”

The 2009 inaugural members of the UND Gold Humanism Honor Society pictured with CharlesChristianson, MD (far left), and Judy DeMers (far right), include (from left) Luke Van Alstine,Dan Dixon, Miran Blanchard, Stacie Wellman, Katrina Gardner, Jennifer Mullally, ChadHanson and Erica Martin.

UND med school inducts first members of Gold Humanism Honor Society

Neville Alberto, MD, named new director Neville Alberto, MD, has beennamed to the newly combinedposition of program director of theUniversity of North Dakota School ofMedicine and Health Sciencestransitional residency program, andassociate program director of theinternal medicine residency program,effective July 1. Alberto has served asthe associate program director for

internal medicine since 2006. He continues to serve as ahospitalist at MeritCare Health System in Fargo.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Alberto to this newposition,” says Joshua Wynne, MD, UND interim vicepresident for health affairs and interim dean. “He willprovide valuable leadership for the residency programs.”

In his new role, he will oversee the transitional yearresidency program, which provides a well-balanced

program of graduate medical education in multiple clinicaldisciplines. Conducted almost entirely at MeritCare inFargo, the program allows residents to explore medical andsurgical specialties that they will interact with in the future.As associate program director of the internal medicineresidency program, he will assist Dr. David Theige inleading the three-year, community-based program. He willcontinue to see MeritCare patients.

Dr. Alberto received his medical degree from GoaMedical College, Goa, India. He was the senior registrar ininternal medicine at Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Prior to joining MeritCare,he completed his residency in internal medicine and wasthe chief medical resident in the department of internalmedicine at Easton Hospital, Hahneman University, Easton,Pa. He is board-certified in internal medicine and palliativemedicine. He was chosen by the current transitional yearresidents as “Teacher of the Year” in May.


NEWS BRIEFS

New project enhances patient safety at NorthDakota hospitalsThe North Dakota Critical Access Hospital (NDCAH)Quality Network announces a new effort to enhance patientsafety across the state: the Statewide InformationManagement Project. Participating hospitals collectinformation related to patient safety at their facility and useit to make improvements; they also share best practices witheach other. The Web-based management system allows forefficient information gathering and analysis.

The project is supported by the Center for Rural Healthat the University of North Dakota School of Medicine andHealth Sciences, and the management system is a productof Chicago-based consulting firm, Clarity Group, Inc. TheQuality Network serves as a common place for CriticalAccess Hospitals to share education and resources to helpadvance health care quality and safety in the state. “Last year the Quality Network tested the possibility ofworking together to collect information that could have apositive impact on patient safety in the rural health caresetting,” said Jody Ward, NDCAH Quality NetworkCoordinator. “We’re excited to roll out this program in 13of North Dakota’s rural hospitals, with plans to add moreparticipants.”Participants include l First Care Health Center, Park River; l Heart of America Medical Center, Rugby; l Hillsboro Medical Center, Hillsboro; l McKenzie County Memorial Hospital, Watford City; l Nelson County Health System, McVille; l Northwood Deaconess Health Center, Northwood; l St. Aloisius Medical Center, Harvey; l Sakakawea Medical Center, Hazen; l Southwest Health Care, Bowman; l Tioga Medical Center, Tioga; l Towner County Medical Center, Cando; l Union Hospital, Mayville; and l Unity Medical Center, Grafton.

“We have recognized the benefit,” said Coleen Bomberof Northwood Deaconess Health Center. “It’s easy to accessinformation, and hospitals can use it to create positive change.”

“This has been an important project because itdemonstrates the power of data in supporting safety andquality efforts of rural health care, which is the backbone ofthe U.S. health care system. We are pleased to be workingwith North Dakota as they continue with their innovativeprogram,” said Anna Hajek, President and CEO of ClarityGroup.

UND Aging Center receives funds to assistNative EldersYou worry about how to get to the doctor’s office and howlong you will wait after you arrive. Worst of all, your doctortells you, based on your health, that he or she considersyou ten years older than you really are. This is adiscouraging prospect for anyone at any age; for NorthDakota Native elders, this is reality. Native elders, thoseaged 55 years and older, are more susceptible to a numberof chronic diseases and incur more barriers to receivehealth care, according to Twyla Baker-Demaray, director ofthe National Resource Center on Native American Agingand research analyst at the Center for Rural Health at theUniversity of North Dakota School of Medicine and HealthSciences.

“Our mission is to identify and increase awareness ofevolving Native elder health and social issues throughresearch, education and advocacy. The success of the centeris based on recognition of community expertise in theprovision of resources to develop community-basedsolutions,” said Baker-Demaray.

Recently, the Administration on Aging within the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services gave UND’sResource Center over $422,000 to continue its work foranother three years.

The National Resource Center on Native AmericanAging was established in 1994 at the Center for RuralHealth through a cooperative agreement with theAdministration on Aging. The Resource Center’s purpose isto work closely with local service providers throughout thenation to address the needs of American Indian, AlaskaNative and Native Hawaiian elders. The National ResourceCenter on Native American Aging was the first centerestablished of the three centers that exist. The othercenters—University of Alaska–Anchorage and the Universityof Hawaii—each work with their unique state Nativepopulations.

The National Resource Center focuses on community-based health care solutions to strengthen the foundation ofevery Native tribe, village and homestead. Center staffcreated a nationally recognized needs assessment processthat has assisted more than 330 of the 562 federallyrecognized tribes. Baker-Demaray said the NRCNAA willinitiate a program to nationally recruit and train Nativeresearchers on aging. In addition, she plans to developresources to assist both informal caregivers of Native eldersand Native elders who, increasingly, are caregivers forchildren.

“Many tribes also struggle with the problem of elderabuse. We hope to focus on effective ways to intervene andprevent this abuse,” said Demaray. “Our Native eldersshould be treasured.”



David M. Schall, MD ‘97, associateprofessor of surgery at the Universityof North Dakota (UND) School ofMedicine and Health Sciences,recently was honored with theprestigious Leonard Tow Humanismin Medicine Award. Marisa A.Upton, a 2009 UND medical schoolgraduate and Minot native, alsoreceived a Tow award.

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards aresponsored by the New Jersey-based Arnold P. GoldFoundation. They recognize physicians and medicalstudents who best demonstrate the foundation’s ideals ofoutstanding compassion in the delivery of care, respect forpatients, their families and health care colleagues, as well asclinical excellence.

Schall was nominated by students and fellow facultymembers for the award because of his widely recognizedwillingness to help others, his demonstrated compassionand empathy in his treatment of and relationships withpatients, and for his excellence in professional behaviortoward students, colleagues, and the community. Heteaches senior medical students in their required SurgeryActing Internship.

A native of Grand Forks, Dr. Schall graduated from theUniversity of North Dakota School of Medicine with highesthonors in 1997. He is certified by the American Board ofOrthopedic Surgery. Dr. Schall joined Valley Bone & JointClinic in 2002 after completing an orthopedic surgery

residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. AtValley Bone & Joint Clinic, Dr. Schall specializes in adultreconstruction and foot and ankle surgery, as well asproviding general orthopedic and fracture care.

Nominated by a peer, Marisa A. Upton was describedas, “A true doctor’s and friend’s friend. Marisa’s compassion

toward her patients and those sheworks with is evident daily. She is aninspiration to all she meets, and hercompassion for her patients iscomparable to none.” Upton, a first-year resident at theMinot Center for Family Medicine,has consistently volunteered fornumerous activities including SpecialOlympics, blood drives, high school

gymnastics, a mentorship program for Native Americanyouth, and teaching elementary classes about tobacco usedangers. For four years, she served as class representativeon the medical school committee that reviews pooracademic performance, issues of professionalism, oracademic honesty. She is a highly valued contributor,demonstrating exceptional maturity, judgment, andcompassion.

The Gold Foundation sponsors the annual Leonard TowHumanism in Medicine Awards at over 85 of the nation'smedical schools. The awards are made possible through agenerous donation from entrepreneur and teacher LeonardTow.

NEWS BRIEFS


GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Senator Kent Conrad heardtestimony from the University of North Dakota (UND)Center for Rural Health on July 2 regarding the importanceof health reform for rural health in North Dakota. SenatorConrad was joined by North Dakota native and Obamaadministration official Dr. Mary Wakefield and Grand Forksarea health care leaders for a roundtable meeting on healthcare reform. Senator Conrad said he is advocating reformlegislation based on three principles: choice, value andcoverage.

Center interim co-director Brad Gibbens stressed theimportance of taking rural health into consideration whenrestructuring the nation’s health care system.

“Many in rural health worry that other issues that arefundamental to building an equitable, stable, andsustainable health system will be lost in the overall debateon coverage and who pays for it,” said Gibbens. “And, atthe heart of health reform, be it coverage or access to care,the reason we are taking on this huge struggle is a desire tosee improved health conditions for all Americans.

Gibbens focused on three fundamental themes criticallyimportant to all North Dakotans: a strained health workforce,health facility viability and questionable sustainability, and acontinued national focus on understanding care quality andmaking quality improvements. Gibbens’ testimony wasinformed in part by an environmental scan of NorthDakota’s health and health care completed earlier this yearby the Center for Rural Health.

Senator Conrad serves as Chairman of the SenateBudget Committee and as a veteran member of the SenateFinance Committee, which has already begun work onnegotiating the shape and scope of health care reformlegislation.

WEB EXCLUSIVE:To read the full testimony, visit www.ndmedicine.org

UND doctors receive humanism in medicine awards

UND Center for Rural Health provides federal testimony on health reform

BeulahCoal Country Community Health CenterDawn [email protected]

Nurse practitioner, ultrasound technician, psychiatrist

BismarckMid-Dakota ClinicMark Dordahl, [email protected]

Internal medicine

St. Alexius Medical CenterCarol [email protected]

Neurologist, interventional cardiologist, rheumatologist, anesthesiologist

BottineauSt. Andrew’s Health CenterJodi Atkinson, [email protected]

Family medicine, internal medicine

BowmanSouthwest Healthcare ServicesDarrold Bertsch, CEO701.523.3214

Family medicine, registered nurse, X-ray, paramedic

CandoTowner County Medical CenterJac McTaggart, [email protected]

Family medicine, family medicine with obstetrics, internal medicine, X-ray

Devils LakeAltru Health SystemKerri Hjelmstad701.780.6596 [email protected]

Family medicine, family medicine with obstetrics, internal medicine, pediatrics

DickinsonGreat PlainsMark Grove, [email protected]

Family medicine, family medicine with obstetrics, pediatrics, podiatry

St. Joseph’s HospitalChristina Anthony701.456.4000

Nurse practitioner, physician assistant, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse

ElginJacobson Memorial Hospital Care CenterJim Opdahl, Administrator701.584.2792 [email protected]

Registered nurse, licensed practical nurse

FargoInnovis HealthConnie [email protected]

Family medicine, family medicine with obstetrics, internal medicine, nurse practitioner, physician assistant

Fargo, continued MeritCare Jill Gilleshammer, Recruitment Manager701.234.2151 [email protected]

Family medicine, family medicine with obstetrics, internal medicine, nurse practitioner, physician assistant,pediatrics, obstetrics, registered nurse,licensed practical nurse, physical therapy, X-ray, emergency room, perinatal, ortho surgery, neonatology,peds intensivist, allergy, dermatology,endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, ophthalmology, psychiatrist, pulmonary

Grand ForksAltru Health SystemKerri Hjelmstad or Jennifer Semling701.780.6596; 701.780.6607 or1.800.437.5373 [email protected];[email protected]

Family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics

HarveySt. Aloisius Medical CenterRocky Zastoupil, President/CEO701.324.4651 [email protected]

Internal medicine

HazenSakakawea Medical CenterJim [email protected]

Family medicine, general surgery, nurse practitioner

HettingerWest River Health ServicesJim Long, CEO701.567.4561 [email protected]

General surgeon, internal medicine, family medicine


ND OPPORTUNITIES

The following is a listing of communities in North Dakota with currentopenings for all specialties. Please contact the site directly or MaryAmundson, MA, at the Center for Rural Health, University of NorthDakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences for more informationabout these opportunities at 701.777.4018 or by e-mail [email protected]

Innovis Health in Fargowelcomes new doctors SuimaAryal, MD, family medicine;Lisa Jamsa, MD, familymedicine; and Fady Nasrallah,MD, general surgery.

Ashley Medical Center welcomesGeorge Stenger, MD, a familyphysician from Wisconsin.


Kenmare Trinity HealthShawn [email protected]

Family medicine, internal medicine, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse

LintonLinton HospitalRoger Unger, [email protected]

X-ray, medical technologist

MayvilleMeritCare ClinicMark [email protected]

Family medicine

McVilleNelson County Health SystemCathy Swenson, Administrator701.322.4328 [email protected]

Family medicine, registered nurse

MinotSt. Alexius ClinicCarol Lindsey, [email protected]


OakesSoutheast Medical CenterTheresa (Terri) Kelly, Administrator701.742.4113 [email protected]


Park RiverFirst Care Health CenterLouise Dryburgh, [email protected]

Family medicine

RollaRolla Clinic June Banse, Clinic Manager701.477.3111 (ext. 9)[email protected]

Family medicine, nurse practitioner, physician assistant

RugbyJohnson ClinicBonnie Mattern701.776.5235 [email protected]


TiogaTioga Medical CenterRandall [email protected]


Valley CityMeritCareLinda Lane, Clinic [email protected]

Family medicine

WishekWishek Community Hospital & ClinicTrina Schilling, [email protected]

Family medicine, internal medicine,nurse practitioner, X-ray, laboratory technician

ND OPPORTUNITIES


ALUMNI NOTES

Nichol Jurgens-Dinius, MPT ’01,joined Medcenter One OccupationalHealth Clinic in Dickinson. As aphysical therapist, Jurgens-Diniusevaluates and treats work-relatedinjuries and oversees patientrehabilitation. She also performs pre-placement testing, pre-injuryscreening, functional capacityassessments, work-conditioning programs, job site analysis andergonomic assessments.

Stefanie Gefroh, MD ’00, joined theSoutheast Medical Center (SEMC).Gefroh is a specialist in obstetricsand gynecology. Prior to joiningSEMC, she was a staff physician atInnovis Health in Fargo.

Jodi Henrikson, MD ’00, has joined Northern ValleyObstetrics and Gynecology, Grand Forks, in conjunctionwith Towner County Medical Center, Devils Lake.Henrikson specializes in high risk obstetrics, infertility,laparoscopy, interstitial cystitis and evaluation and treatmentof incontinence and prolapse. Henrikson is a native ofPerth, ND, and said “he is excited to provide services in thearea.”

Chad Vandrovec, MD ’02,anesthesiology, has joined MeritCare,Fargo. He completed his residency inanesthesiology and his fellowship inpediatric anesthesiology at theMedical College of Wisconsin,Milwaukee. Prior to joiningMeritCare, Vandrovec practiced atthe Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin,Milwaukee. He is board-certified inanesthesiology.

Sara Knutson Vandrovec, MD ‘03,anesthesiology, recently joinedMeritCare, Fargo. Vandrovec isboard certified in anesthesiology.Prior to joining MeritCare,Vandrovec completed her residencyin anesthesiology and fellowship inpain medicine at the Medical Collegeof Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Grant Seeger, MD ’04, joined AltruCancer Center as a radiationoncologist. Seeger is a member ofthe American Medical Associationand is board-certified by theAmerican College of Radiology.

John Hoyt, MD ’07, has beenaccepted into the cardiovasculartraining program at the University ofMichigan. Hoyt will begin histraining in July 2010.

Matthew Fabian, DO (Surgery residency ’08), Aftercompleting a mini-fellowship in minimally invasive bariatricsurgery in 2008, Fabian began practicing general andbariatric surgery at MeritCare Health Systems in Fargo. InMay 2009, Fabian became board-certified in surgery by theAmerican Board of Surgery.

John Tate, MD ’91, has joined Lake Region Healthcare inFergus Falls, Minn. He formerly worked as a hematologistand medical oncologist and was a medical oncologyconsultant for the Cancer Risk Assessment program atMeritCare Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo. Tate alsoserves as a clinical associate professor for the UND medicalschool.

Robin Haaland, MD ’92, a pediatric psychiatrist atMedcenter One, Bismarck, was recently recertified ingeneral psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry andNeurology, Inc. Haaland has been board-certified ingeneral psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatrysince 1999.

Dawn Mattern, MD ’97, a sports medicine and orthopedicsspecialist at Trinity Health in Minot led an “Exercise isMedicine” initiative in Minot, including “Doc Walks” andpresentations on the benefits of exercise.

’00s

’90s


ALUMNI NOTES

’70s

Michael Schmit, MD ’99, (SurgeryRes. ‘04) a specialist in general andvascular surgery with Mid DakotaClinic, Bismarck, performed the first"sleeve gastrectomy" in NorthDakota last year. This surgerygenerates weight loss solely throughgastric restriction (reduced stomachvolume). The stomach is restricted bydividing it vertically and removing

more than 85 percent of it; however, it still functionsnormally, so most food items can be consumed in smallamounts.

Brad Meland, MD ’79, recentlyjoined Truyu Aesthetic Center inGrand Forks. Meland has 22 yearsof experience and is a member ofover 18 organizations, including theAmerican Society of Plastic andReconstructive Surgery.

David Baumgardner, MD (BS Med.’68), an internal medicine specialist,joined the staff at Southeast MedicalCenter (SEMC) in Oakes, N.D. Priorto joining SEMC he practicedmedicine at MeritCare in Fargo for15 years. Baumgardner receivedMeritCare’s Outstanding Physicianand Teacher of the Year award in1990 and the University of North

Dakota’s Internal Medicine Outstanding Clinical Instructorof the Year in 1980.

’60s

Jon Dangerfield, MD ’92, an obstetrician andgynecologist at MeritCare in Fargo, recentlyperformed North Dakota’s first robotic hysterectomyusing the da Vinci Surgical System.

“The patient benefits of this technique aresignificant, including a markedly shortened hospitalstay, shortened recovery time, less blood loss andreduced rate of infection,” said Dangerfield.


IN MEMORIAM

Robert Brandenburg (BS Med. ’43), 90, died June 5, 2009,in Friendship Village, Bloomington, Minn.

Robert Brandenburg was born in Lakota, N.D., Aug. 5,1918, to Edith and Dr. Tunis Brandenburg. He graduatedfrom North Dakota State University, which gave him itsAlumni Achievement Award in 1972, and the University ofNorth Dakota Medical School. He completed his medicaleducation at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School.Dr. Brandenburg met his future wife, Jean, a nurse, while hewas interning at Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia.

During his Army Air Force service in World War II, heand Jean were married. They settled in Rochester, whereDr. Brandenburg completed a residency in cardiology at theMayo Clinic and was asked to join the staff. He went on tobecome chairman of the cardiology department at MayoClinic. Later, he served as president of the AmericanCollege of Cardiology. The ACC gave Dr. Brandenburg itsDistinguished Fellowship Award in 1988. A year earlier, Dr.Brandenburg co-authored "Cardiology: Fundamentals andPractice."

Following his retirement from Mayo Clinic in 1984, theBrandenburgs moved to Green Valley, Ariz., whereBrandenburg taught at the University of Arizona MedicalSchool and was a consulting physician at the Tucson VAHospital until he was 81, served as president of the GreenValley chapter of the American Heart Association, wrote acardiovascular disease column for the Green Valley News,and was active in the Rotary Club. They moved back toMinnesota in 2002. Brandenburg is survived by his wife of64 years, Jean; a daughter, Carol; sons Rick, Scott and Mark;and nine grandchildren.

R. J. Rutten MD (BS Med. ‘52) died January 6, 2009. Ruttenwas a leader in the local medical community and served asthe Goleta Valley Community Hospital's first chief of staff.Ruben John “Jack” Rutten was born in Devils Lake, N.D.,on March 2, 1927 and grew up in Langdon, N.D. Ruttenleft high school early to serve in the United States Navy atthe end of WW II and later went back to serve in theKorean War. He attended the University of California, LosAngeles in 1947. He graduated from the University of NorthDakota in 1951 with a physics degree. He married his highschool sweetheart, Laura Mae Crockett, on August 20,1950, and they moved to Oregon so Rutten could beginmedical school at the University of Portland. In 1953 theymoved to San Diego, Calif., where he fulfilled his internshipat Balboa Hospital.

They moved to Goleta, Calif., in 1955, where hebecame Goleta's first general practitioner. Rutten served aspresident of the Goleta Lions Club and was their bulletineditor for 30 years. He served on the board of directors forthe Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital and the Santa BarbaraCottage Hospital's Board of Trustees and maintainedprivileges at both of these hospitals as well as Saint Francishospital in Santa Barbara. In 1971, Jack left his private

practice in Goleta and joined the Santa Barbara MedicalClinic.

In 1976 he took a two-year tour of duty as a regionalmedical officer based in Tehran, Iran, traveling toAfghanistan, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. Heand Laura renewed consecutive two-year commitments, andtogether they served in similar posts in Panama, AliceSprings, Australia, and finally in Kinshasa, Zaire, beforereturning to Goleta in 1987. Jack semi-retired then and onceagain became immersed in community service and part-time substitution for practicing physicians in northern SantaBarbara County.

Jack was bestowed the honor of the Goleta Valley Manof the Year in 1992. He served as a docent at the StowHouse in Goleta, as president of the Goleta ValleyHistorical Society and the Goleta Valley Chamber ofCommerce, and as a delegate for Santa Barbara County tothe California Medical Association. He donated his time tomany organizations over the years, including the Recordingfor the Blind & Dyslexic, Santa Barbara County VectorControl, and was a second baseman for the Goleta LionsAll-Thumbs softball team for many years.

Jack is survived by his wife of 58 years, Laura Mae, andtheir sons, Randy J. Rutten (wife, Kathleen, daughter, Kiana,and son, Aaron, and great-grandson, Landon) and RaulRutten (wife, Maya, son, Helek and daughter, Ila), andsister, Nora Johnson, as well as many nieces, nephews,cousins and their families.

Nancy Teigland (BS Med. Tech. ‘63), 67, of rural Oklee,Minn. died October 3, 2008.

Nancy Annette Stucy was born on September 12, 1941to Malcolm and Opal (Halvorson) Stucy in Thief River Falls,Minn. She grew up on a farm near Oklee and graduatedfrom Goodridge High School in 1959. She attendedBethany Lutheran Junior College and earned her bachelor’sdegree from the University of North Dakota in 1963.

On February 23, 1963, Nancy married Carl GeneTeigland of Grygla, Minn., and after briefly living in EastGrand Forks, Minn., they moved to Minneapolis, wherethey lived for nearly forty years. To this union were bornDaniel Gene (1963) and Debra Nell (1966). Nancy enjoyeda twenty-nine year career as a medical technologist: first atSt. Barnabus Hospital, which became MMC-Mt. SinaiHospital, from 1964 to1990, then at the University ofMinnesota Hospital’s Coagulation Lab until 1993. In 2002,Nancy and Gene moved to the Stucy home farm in ruralOklee to enjoy their retirement.

Nancy is survived by her husband Carl Gene, Oklee,Minn., her children, Daniel Teigland of Houston, Texas,daughter Debra (Matt) Haglind, Eagan, Minn., hergranddaughters Kristen Haglind and Kathryn Haglind, andsister Faye (Carl) Johnson, Chico, Calif., also by sisters-in-law Marian (Clayton) Ostby, Doris Smeby, Carole Teigland,Mavis (Robert) Smeby, Gloria (Richard) Ness, and Carol


(Andy) Wells, by brothers-in-law Glenn (Donna) Teiglandand Sheldon (Lucy) Teigland; and by many nieces andnephews.

Nancy Jones (BSOT ‘65), 66, of Wenatchee, Wash., diedNovember 20, 2008. An occupational therapist, Jones hadlived in Wenatchee for nine years.

Stuart H. Myster MD (BS Med. ’65), 68, of Corpus Christi,Texas, died March 20, 2008. A native of Bismarck, N.D., hewas a graduate of Bismarck High School. Myster continuedhis education at San Diego State University, the Universityof North Dakota, and the University of Pennsylvaniamedical school. He served in the Navy Medical Corps fortwenty years as a physician, retiring as captain. During hismilitary career, he worked in California, Japan, andWashington, retiring from the military in 1987. Mysterworked as a civilian pathologist in Washington, Texas, andfinally Sterling, Ill.

Bonnie Stjern (BSOT ’70), 61, of Anoka, Minn., died May30, 2008. She was born October 13, 1946, to Edward andMary Bertha Fischer and married James Stjern. She hadworked as an occupational therapist in the Anoka-HennepinSchool District since 1989.

Stjern is survived by her husband Jim, son Eric(Heather), grandsons Travis and Adam Stjern, brothers John(Mary) Fischer, Jospeh (Joann) Fischer, Thomas (Wendy)Fischer and Daniel (Pam) Fischer along with nieces andnephews.



PLANNING AHEAD


PARTING SHOTS

In July, 90 Native American students from across the UnitedStates completed the Indians Into Medicine (INMED) SummerInstitute, a six-week program designed to enhance theirpotential for success in health careers. Seventh- through 12th-grade students can take part in the program, which hasbeen offered for more than 35 years.

Second-year physical therapystudent Jeff Middleton, withwife Dee Dee and daughterAbigail, participated in thePhysical Therapy Department’s“Entrance into ProfessionalService” ceremony in July. An Air Force veteran, Middletonstarted clinicals this fall inGrand Forks and plans toreenlist after graduating in May 2011.

Joining former Dean H. David Wilson, MD, at his June farewell reception were (from left) granddaughter Madeline Fish, Lexington,Ky.; daughter Jackie Wilson, Louisville, Ky.; granddaughter Katherine Fish, Lexington, Ky.; fiancée Jan Nyflot, Thief River Falls,Minn.; and daughter Jennifer Fish, Lexington, Ky.

UND interdisciplinary studies/pre-dentistry senior NathanBurbach, Minot, N.D., constructs mutations in the humanserotonin transporter, and studies their effects on ion-coupled transport in the UND Pharmacology, Physiologyand Therapeutics lab. Burbach took part in ResearchExperiences for UND Undergraduates (REFUNDU), asummer research experience for UND undergraduates.

University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health SciencesA National Leader in Rural Health—Serving North Dakota since 1905501 North Columbia Road Stop 9037 ● Grand Forks ND ● 58202-9037 701-777-4305 www.med.und.edu

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Periodical POSTAGE PAID

Ashley Davis, a senior in neuroscience atWestminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah,spent her summer in the UND Pharmacology,Physiology and Therapeutics lab studyingserotonin transporters. Davis is at UND throughthe Research Experiences for Undergraduates(REU) program, which supports active researchparticipation by undergraduate students.

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