Spring 2014 North Dakota Medicine

Spring 2014VOLUME 39, NUMBER 1www.ndmedicine.org

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POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to:ND Medicine Address Correction UND School of Medicine and Health SciencesOffice of Alumni and Community Relations, Attn: Kristen Peterson501 North Columbia Rd. Stop 9037, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037 E-mail: [email protected]: 701-777-4305

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

FEATURESFrom Lab Bench to the Bedside 10 Improving patient care is the goal of Jau-Shin Lou’s research.More than Skin Deep 14 International grant will support UND investigators’ study of severe deep-tissue infections.

UND Physician Assistant Program Class of 2015 16 Twenty-six health professionals began the clinical portion of their studies in January.

The North Dakota Brain Injury Network 18 The NDBIN at the Center for Rural Health is designed to address the diverse needs of individuals with traumatic brain injuries.

A New Chapter 30 For Marilyn Martin, it all started at the age of 18.

Photo Synthesis 34 The new SMHS building will bring to light the future of healthcare

education.

DEPARTMENTS Dean’s Letter 4 News Briefs 6 Workforce 20 Guest Author - Lonnie Laffen 22 Student Profile - Haris Ali 24 Alumni Profile - Jason Switzer 26 Alumni Notes 28 In Memoriam 29 Philanthropy 32 Parting Shots 35

NORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE Spring 2014 3

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES

ROBERT O. KELLEY, President, University of North Dakota

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

EDITOR Denis MacLeodWRITERS Emily Aasand, Mark Barclay, Christalin Casinader, Alyssa Konickson, Lonnie Laffen, Denis MacLeod, Nikki Massmann, Juan Pedraza, Jessica SobolikCONTRIBUTOR Kristen PetersonGRAPHIC DESIGN Laura Cory, John Lee, Victoria Swift PHOTOGRAPHY Eric Hylden, Jackie Lorentz, Wanda WeberCOVER ART Eric Hylden; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (Creators: Carol N. Ibe and Eugene O. Major)

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WEBMASTER Eric Walter

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Let the building begin! The new School ofMedicine and Health Sciences facility isbeginning to take shape. Support pilingshave been hammered into the ground tosupport the new building, andgroundbreaking will take place early thissummer, with an expected completion dateof two years hence. The building will be afour-story facility with a north–southoriented “Main Street” around which willbe clustered various educationalclassrooms, small-group rooms, lecturehalls, simulation and gross anatomy labs,and other associated pedagogical supportspace. To the east will be a wing for facultyand administrative offices, and the westwing will house much of our researchenterprise. Our architectural consultantsfrom JLG Architects currently arepreparing construction blueprints that willbe used to solicit bids for the constructionphase of the project. One can feel theexcitement build as everyone realizes thatwhat once was a dream is fast becoming areality! One of the features of the layoutthat I really like are the two offices that willbe by the front door of the building toservice our two most importantconstituencies—students and the people ofNorth Dakota who are footing the bill forthe new facility. The Office of Student

Affairs and Admissions will be front andcenter to welcome prospective and to assistcurrent students. The Office of Alumniand Community Relations will similarlywelcome and assist the public and alumnivisiting the building. We very much hopethat the community will utilize theirbuilding, and to facilitate this, we’vedesigned a capacious learning hall(auditorium) right by the front entranceand adjacent to the two office suites. It is,after all, the people’s building! You can seerenderings and floor plans of the buildingat this link:http://www.med.und.edu/construction/renderings.cfm.

But let’s keep the excitement about thenew building in perspective—if that ispossible!—and recall that the primaryreason we need a new building is toaccommodate the class size expansion thatwill be required to provide the healthcareworkers we’ll need in the future as ourpopulation ages and grows. So how are wedoing on helping to provide the healthcareworkforce our citizens need and deserve?Pretty well, I think. We’ve alreadyexpanded the medical student class size byeight students this past year, and the healthsciences class size by 15. And we’ve addednew residency slots in rural family

DEAN’S LETTER

Building the Healthcare

”“It is, after all, thepeople’s building!

4 NORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE Spring 2014


e Workforce medicine, rural surgery, and hospitalistmedicine. Eight more medical students (atotal of 16 additional students) and 15more health sciences students (a total of 30additional students) will join us this fall.Thanks to enhanced emphasis during ouradmission process on the School’s rural-care-delivery mission, we’ve increased thepercentage of the matriculating class thathails from rural North Dakota. This isvitally important, since being raised in arural area is one of the best predictors ofsubsequently practicing in a rural area. Asa consequence of both the recruitment ofrural students and the expansion of classsize, we already have increased the numberof students in the first-year medical schoolclass that hail from rural North Dakota byfour students when comparing the Class of2017 to that of 2011. This occurred at thesame time that there actually has beenmore population growth in urban areasthan rural areas, oil boomnotwithstanding.

Importantly, several additionalresidency slots just were approved by theSchool of Medicine and Health SciencesAdvisory Council—two additional ruralfamily medicine slots, one in Hettinger andone in Williston; an additional ruralsurgery slot; and an additional hospitalistslot centered in Bismarck. We are pleasedto note that both the Hettinger andWilliston rural training tracks in familymedicine recently have been approved andendorsed by the governing AccreditationCouncil for Graduate Medical Education,thus validating the solid educationalexperience available in these two westernlocations (the first year of the three-yearrural-track family medicine residency isspent on the home campus of either theBismarck [Hettinger] or Minot [Williston]Center for Family Medicine). A secondround of residency slot competition willtake place this spring, with a focus ondeveloping residency programs thataddress behavioral and mental healthissues, and programs that suggest noveland innovative approaches to resident

education. Applications for the remainingresidency slots are due July 1, and theawards should be announced shortlythereafter. So between a new building andnew and expanded programs, the School isdoing its best to help address NorthDakota’s healthcare needs.

“It is, after all, the people’s building!”

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




In a discovery that may have implications for patients who sufferfrom chronic lung diseases, researchers in the Department ofBasic Sciences at the UND School of Medicine and HealthSciences have garnered international interest for their work onthe role a protein plays in regulating how neutrophils—the body’s“first responders” to an infection—capture and filter outpathogenic bacteria. The prestigious international Journal of Infectious Diseases(JID) will publish a paper by the research team led by AssistantProfessor Jyotika Sharma, PhD, amicrobial immunologist. Her team iscomposed of Atul Sharma, PhD,postdoctoral fellow; Anthony L. Steichen,third-year PhD student; Christopher N.Jondle, second-year PhD student; andAssistant Professor Bibhuti B. Mishra,PhD. The JID is the premier global journalfor original research on infectiousdiseases, describing research results frommicrobiology, immunology,epidemiology, and related disciplines, onthe pathogenesis, diagnosis, andtreatment of infectious diseases; on themicrobes that cause them; and ondisorders of host-immune responses. TheJID is an official publication of theInfectious Diseases Society of America,which has more than 9,000 members. The title of the paper by Sharma etal. is “Protective role of Mincle inbacterial pneumonia by regulation ofneutrophil mediated phagocytosis andextracellular trap formation.” Studies by Sharma’s team show theprotective role of a host protein called Mincle in defense againstbacterial pneumonia by coordinating bacterial clearancemechanisms of the body’s “first-responder” immune cells calledneutrophils. Specifically, they found a novel role for Mincle incontrolling a unique function of neutrophils called “NET”formation, (an acronym for neutrophil extracellular traps), whichmay have very widespread implications in lung disease conditionsbeyond pneumonia. While the NETs are known to trap and kill bacteria, theyhave also been shown to cause inflammation in someautoimmune diseases. Sharma and her team think that too muchNET formation in diseases where neutrophils are present in veryhigh numbers may be the root cause of inflammation in thesediseases. So the information about involvement of Mincle in NETformation can offer new means to design effective treatments forthese diseases. “Mincle-mediated NET formation is currently a very excitingarea of research in my lab,” Sharma said.

“And I can see how important these studies can be, not onlyfor understanding lung diseases per se but also severalautoimmune diseases like arthritis and lupus where too muchNET formation is already shown to be part of the problem. It is ofgreat interest for us to see if NETs or for that matter Mincle canbe used as a diagnostic biomarker or as a predictor for thesediseases. This will certainly open up new avenues for thedevelopment of therapeutic strategies for several inflammatorydiseases.”

Funding for Sharma and her team is provided by grants fromthe National Institutes of Health, the American HeartAssociation, and a UND Faculty Research Seed grant to Sharma. Sharma’s team has plans for future research. “We havealready started looking at NET formation and the role of Minclein this process by collaborating with clinicians at the Mayo Clinicin Rochester, Minn.,” Sharma said. “We are very excited about theprospects of these studies and have submitted a grant proposalbased on our findings.”

Seeking a better NET result

NEWS BRIEFS

Dr. Sharma's lab team, from left to right, in front are Jyotika Sharma and BrandilynBinstock, an undergraduate student. In back are Christopher Jondle, second-year PhDstudent; Atul Sharma, PhD, postdoctoral fellow; Anthony Steichen, third-year PhDstudent; and Benjamin Larsson, an undergraduate student.



NEWS BRIEFS

The University of North Dakota Schoolof Medicine and Health Sciences willpartner with West River Health Servicesin Hettinger and Mercy Medical Centerin Williston in training physicians topractice rural family medicine. The firstresidents will begin training on July 1. In order to practice medicine,medical school graduates must hone theirclinical skills in a post-graduate trainingprogram called a residency. Aftercompleting four years of medical school, newly minted MDs mustalso complete a three-year residency to gain board certification infamily medicine. The first year of each residency will be primarilysituated at the UND Centers for Family Medicine in Bismarck andMinot; the next two years of the three-year programs will beprimarily in Hettinger and Williston. “Where a doctor completes a residency is a good predictor ofwhere that doctor will practice,” said Joshua Wynne, MD, MBA,MPH, UND vice president for health affairs and dean of the UNDSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences. “As we expand ourmedical student class sizes, we are fortunate that we simultaneouslyare able to increase residency slots; otherwise, our students wouldbe destined to do training out of state. But if a UND medical schoolgraduate completes a residency in North Dakota, there is a 2 out of3 chance that graduate will practice within the state.” “We are excited to be offering the UND residency program inWilliston,” said Matt Grimshaw, president of Mercy MedicalCenter. “This will be a significant development for our community.We hope the program will increase the capacity for primary carewhile providing a very good experience for the residents.” In 2011, the SMHS and its Advisory Council instituted theHealthcare Workforce Initiative (HWI), a four-pronged plan tohelp address North Dakota's healthcare workforce needs nowand in the future by reducing disease burden, retaining moregraduates for practice in North Dakota, training morepractitioners, and improving the efficiency of the healthcaredelivery system. The new rural family medicine trainingprograms in Bismarck and Minot are a direct result of the HWI. “This program is a natural for medical students with strongleadership qualities looking for intense training opportunitiesthat can be customized to their particular needs and interests,”said Jeff Hostetter, MD, program director for the Bismarck–Hettinger rural training track. “The faculty members areexperienced clinicians with years of teaching experience, eagerto develop a program specifically designed to graduate familyphysicians prepared to work in the most rural settings.” Rural communities are very motivated to expand theircurrent commitment to medical education and to make theresidents a part of the community. Both programs areaccredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate MedicalEducation for one resident trainee per year; both are expandingto train two residents per year in the near future.

“The Rural Training Track (RTT) is agreat opportunity for WRHS and all ofrural North Dakota,” said Jim Long, CEOand administrator of West River HealthServices. “The state needs more primarycare physicians to meet the health needs ofour rural communities. The RTT not onlyassists in the education of these medicalprofessionals but also gives medicalstudents a real-life experience of ruralmedicine. Following such an experience,the physician can then accept what one of our former (retired)physicians described to be ‘The best job in the world.’” The Bismarck and Minot residency programs received strongsupport through an appropriation from the 2011 North DakotaState Legislature. The new residency programs will build on thelongtime core programs in Minot, which was the first residencyprogram in the state, begun in 1975, graduating a total of 160family physicians, and in Bismarck, which initially enrolledresidents in 1976 and has graduated 130 family physicians. “I am looking forward to enrolling medical school graduateswith a strong passion for full-spectrum family medicine,” saidKimberly Krohn, MD, program director for the Minot–Willistonprogram. “The residents in the program will have unlimitedopportunities in high volume emergency, obstetrics, andprocedural training. The leadership opportunities for the residentsin the program will be tremendous.”

New UND programs will train family medicine doctors in Hettinger and Williston

Jim LongMatt Grimshaw


Steve Wonderlich, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of NorthDakota School of Medicine and HealthSciences, recently was awarded a National Institute of Mental Health(NIMH) grant to study a new treatmentfor binge eating disorder.

Wonderlich—with a team that includes researchers from the Fargo-based Neuropsychiatric Research Institute (NRI) and colleagues at the University of Minnesota—will be conducting closely supervised trials of the new treatmentwith volunteers who suffer from binge eating disorder.

e grant from the NIMH, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, is part of a longer term strategy to uncoverbetter ways of treating this disorder. Binge eating disorder—newly introduced in the international manual of psychiatric disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of MentalDisorders, DSM-5—is a psychiatric condition characterizedby loss of control over eating, significant psychiatric distress, and increased risk of obesity and medical complications,Wonderlich explains.

"e project will compare a new treatment developedjointly at NRI and the University of Minnesota Medical School,"said Wonderlich, who was a member of the international teamthat draed the eating disorders portion of the DSM-5. NRI President Jim Mitchell, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor and chair of Clinical Neuroscience, and likewise an internationally renowned eating disorders expert, also was onthat DSM-5 team.

The three-year grant will fund completion of the treat-ment development and also a randomized controlled trialcomparing this treatment to another typical treatment forbinge eating disorder.

Wonderlich, the NRI’s director of clinical research, said thenew treatment is a variation of another treatment for bulimianervosa that was developed by the same research team and recently tested in a scientific study.

“Binge eating disorder is a condition that significantly impairs people’s lives and increases their risk of significant medical complications. New treatments for binge eating disorder are clearly needed, and we are looking forward to completing the trial and hopefully establishing another effectivetreatment," Wonderlich said.

Researchers on the NRI/UND team are affiliated withthe Sanford Health Eating Disorder and Weight Management Center.

Wonderlich

NEWS BRIEFS

UND eating disorder expert is awardedfederal grant


The UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences iscurrently recruiting for family medicine physicians to befull-time faculty members. The chosen applicants will beAssistant or Associate Professors (depending uponexperience) in fully accredited, university-administered,community-based family medicine residency programsin Minot or Bismarck, N.Dak.

Applicants need to elibible for medical licensure in thestate of North Dakota and must be ABFM certified oreligible. Responsibilities include teaching residents andmedical students, supervision, curriculum development,patient care, and scholarly activity. Competitive salaryand benefit package for the right candidates.

Send a letter of interest with CV and 2 letters ofrecommendation to Robert W. Beattie, M.D., Chair,Department of Family & Community Medicine,University of North Dakota School of Medicine andHealth Sciences, 501 N. Columbia Road, Stop 9037,Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037, e-mail:[email protected] or fax 701-777-3849.

University of North Dakota is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and womenand minorities are encouraged to apply. UND determinesemployment eligibility through the E-Verify System. Thisposition is subject to a background check. North Dakotaveterans' preference does not apply to this position.

Join our Family Medicine Faculty!


The National Institutes of Health awarded a $349,108 two-yeargrant to Assistant Professor Jyotika Sharma, PhD, a microbialimmunologist in the Department of Basic Sciences at theUniversity of North Dakota School of Medicine and HealthSciences, for her study of a respiratory infection from abacterium, Francisella tularensis, that causes a rare debilitatingdisease called tularemia,more commonly known asrabbit fever. People exposedto the disease develop flu-like symptoms, which, if leftuntreated, can lead to amortality rate of up to 40percent. Thus far, there areno vaccines available toprevent this infection. According to the Centersfor Disease Control andPrevention, naturallyoccurring infections from thebacterium have beenreported in every state exceptHawaii. Humans can becomeinfected by tick and deer flybites, skin contact withinfected animals, ingestingcontaminated food or water,and inhaling the bacteria.Franciscella tularensis is veryinfectious—it takes only 10 to50 bacteria to cause an infection. The virulence of the disease—particularly from inhalation—is a concern to the CDC because thebacteria could be weaponized and used by bioterrorists. When harmful bacteria invade the body, the immunesystem recognizes the antigens or chemical flags on the surfaceof the bacterial cells that tell the immune system that the cell isforeign. The immune system mounts a defense by preparingantibodies to attack and repel the infection. But if the immuneresponse is ineffective or weak, the body will succumb to theinfection. If caught in time, Franciscella can be combatted withantibiotics; however, given the widespread and deadly nature ofthe bacteria, vaccination before infection would be optimal. “The NIH has poured in millions of dollars so far to get avaccine made against this infection,” Sharma said. “While it hasvastly improved our knowledge about how this disease is caused,we are still far from formulating an effective preventive strategy.” Assistant Professor Bibhuti B. Mishra, PhD, is acoinvestigator and collaborator with Sharma. Their teamworking on this project includes Anthony Steichen, a third-year Ph.D. student, and Brandilyn Binstock, anundergraduate student. They have designed a unique way of identifying Francisellaantigens that produce the most protective antibodies to fight offthe infection. By “filtering out” the antigens that elicit a

nonprotective response from the immune system, they hope toyield the identity of antigens required for generating antibodiesthat will provide a protective immune response. “Currently, when NIH funding is getting harder to obtain,particularly on Francisella research, the NIH has welcomed ourunique approach that takes advantage of identifying differential

immune responses,” Sharma said. “We believe that this uniqueapproach can serve as a platform for identifying novel vaccinecandidates for other bacterial pathogens as well.” A part of the U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices, the NIH is the nation’s medical research agency. TheNIH is the largest source of funding for medical research in theworld. The mission of the NIH is to seek fundamentalknowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems andthe application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthenlife, and reduce illness and disability.

UND Scientists try to get a jump on rabbit fever

Left to right: Brandilyn Binstock, Jyotika Sharma, Bibhuti B. Mishra, and Anthony Steichen

NEWS BRIEFS




From Lab Bench to the Bedsidet’s tough to rate one person’s pain and suffering against another’s—the fact is, no matter what your symptoms are, no disease is fun. But can there be anything scarier than to feel yourself

steadily losing control of your body or fading into thethickening fog of memory loss? In North Dakota, where therising incidence of diseases such as Parkinson’s diseasereflects the demographic of getting older, such suffering is areality for many.

For Dr. Jau-Shin Lou, an expert and gifted researcher ofsuch diseases, there is no time to waste fretting about thesedegenerative effects—the new Dr. Roger Gilbertson Endowed

Chair of Neurology at the University of North Dakota School ofMedicine and Health Sciences is deep into clinical andadvanced research to find ways to fight back against thesedebilitating diseases.

“I focus on two areas of research—the first is moreclinically oriented research studying the therapeutics forneuromuscular diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), myasthenia gravis,and demyelinating neuropathy,” said Lou, a physician who alsoholds a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Minnesotaand an MBA. “My second area of research is Parkinson’sdisease.” Lou obtained his MD degree from National Taiwan

IBy Juan Pedraza

Dr. Lou examines a patient at Sanford Health in Fargo.

Improving patient care is the goal of Jau-Shin Lou’s research.



University, did his residency training atBaylor College of Medicine in Houston,and his fellowship at the National Institutesof Health.

The label neurodegenerative seems toimply a common scientific thread amongthese various diseases, syndromes, andconditions, notes Lou, widely recognizedfor his clinical trials in Lou Gehrig’sdisease and fatigue associated withParkinson’s disease.

“That’s exactly what scientists aretrying to find out: Is there one commonmechanism or cause behind theseneurodegenerative diseases?” Lou said.“The big three of these diseases areAlzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease,and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.”

One common factor—still not wellunderstood—among these three and otherneurodegenerative diseases is that thedeath of individual neurons factors intothe progression of the diseases.

“So we are searching for a commontrigger for these cell deaths that often leadto the death of part of the brain,” said Lou,who was voted to U.S. News & WorldReport’s Best Doctors 2011–12 list.

Some genetic factors may be playinga role.

“But most of the factors in these diseasesare not genetic,” Lou said. “Even if youdescribe some genetic link, there are manydifferent genetic factors that can causedifferent mutations that lead to cell death.”

As a result, most basic research intothese diseases is examining genetic,environmental, dietary, behavioral, andother factors that play into theirdevelopment. And the long-term challengefor researchers in the quest is this: theneurological system is so dynamic thateven if one finds a particular connection—say a particular environmental toxin—thatdoesn’t necessarily mean one has found theor even a cause.

“No, for sure, just because we findsomething, that doesn’t mean we candeclare cause and effect,” Lou said. “Infact, what we find may be a product ofthe disease, not the cause orcontributing factor.”

Working at UND“My appointment specifies that I

spend one day a week at UND, mostly inan administrative and educational role,”Lou said. “My major function is to developtranslational research, bringing UNDscientists together with clinicians whopractice medicine in the region so that wecan answer the same questions, workingtoward a common goal—to find cures forneurological diseases. We need basicscience to enlighten us about possiblemechanisms in these diseases. We can thentranslate this kind of research into humantrials. At the same time, I’m focused onexpanding the scope of neurologicalteaching for our students.”

“I surely hope that we’ll see more MD-PhDs,” Lou said. “But the MD-PhD degreeis not right for everyone. For one thing,educating an MD-PhD is very expensive.And it takes even more time than an MDdegree alone. People are around 30 yearsold before they complete such programs.”

Lou adds that research now hasbecome very competitive.

“I was lucky in my previous positionthat I had continuous funding for morethan 10 years—but funding now is down toone or two out of 10 applications,” he said.

The aim of medical education parallelsthe ultimate goal in medicine“Ultimately, what medicine is about istaking care of patients—providing the bestcare possible with the aim of improvingtheir quality of life,” said Lou. “So theclassroom education of medical studentsneeds to be connected with medicalpractice.”

A good part of that education inNorth Dakota is tied to the volunteerism ofthe state’s physicians.

“I deeply admire the many physiciansin this state who volunteer their valuabletime to teach medical students,” said Lou,who will be teaching neurology to medicalstudents later this spring at UND. “A keypart of my job description as a chair is toconnect with all the neurologists in the statewho’re donating their time to teach ourmedical students. That is my bigger hat. My

”“Ultimately, what

medicine is about is taking care of

patients—providingthe best care possiblewith the aim of improving

their quality of life.



smaller hat is to tell them what researchneuroscientists at the UND SMHS andclinician-scientists at Sanford Health areinterested in. I’m definitely lookingforward to driving around North Dakotato meet our physicians.”

There is more than visiting going on,though.

“I’d like to see more collaborationamong researchers and clinicians—that’sgood for the state, good for patients,” saysLou, whose department at Sanfordcomprises 10 physicians and six advancedpractice providers, including nursepractitioners and physician assistants withneurological specialties.

Research agenda“I’m going to focus on the ability ofParkinson’s disease patients to sustain theirattention, which is related to theircognitive impairment,” says Lou. It’s vitalresearch in this state, where moreParkinson’s is showing—just like it iselsewhere where the population is aging.It’s also important for medical education.

“Neuroscience education at UND

already is very good,” Lou said. “But weaim to recruit more clinician-scientists, notjust to expand our clinical neuroscienceresearch base but also so that they canparticipate in teaching more clinicallyrelevant knowledge—more patient-centered teaching—and this will enhancethe education of both the next generationof physicians and new neuroscientists. Wewant to increase our rotation of neurologycourses from two weeks to four weeks. Sowhen they go out to practice in ruralareas—where in many cases the populationis older than average—they have moreknowledge of neurology, to make judgmentsabout the conditions that they are seeing intheir rural patients for which they mightneed to refer the patient to a neurologist.”

The business dimensionBut there’s another dimension to Lou’s

professional relationship with medicine:like an increasing number of healthadministrators, including UND VicePresident for Health Affairs and Dean Dr.Joshua Wynne and Senior Associate DeanDr. Gwen Halaas, he holds a master’s

”“I deeply admire

the many physiciansin this state whovolunteer their valuable time

to teach medicalstudents.



degree in business administration (MBA).“I think that my MBA has played a

very critical role in what I do and how Ido it,” said Lou. “For one, the specializedknowledge and background that Ideveloped through the MBA helped meto view medicine differently than I didwith an MD.”

He says that before he got hisadvanced business degree, he focused onmedicine almost exclusively from thepatient perspective.

“I really never took costs intoconsideration,” Lou said. “Now, I have amore holistic view of medicine. I thinkmore about delivering care in the mostefficient way. Now when anadministrator comes to me and says,‘Listen, this thing is too costly,’ I totallyunderstand where they’re coming from.”

There’s no denying the obvious here,Lou said.

“Our cost of healthcare is too high interms of per capita spending—thehighest in the world, as a matter of fact,even though one-sixth of our populationis not currently covered by healthinsurance,” said Lou. “But our healthcare,measured in life expectancy and infantmortality, isn’t very good—among theindustrialized nations, the United Statesranks very low.”

When one takes into considerationeverything that’s taking place inhealthcare, Lou said, the MBA for aperson in his position really makes sense.He notes that things are changing quicklyin healthcare, mostly for the better.

“This is an exciting time for theSchool of Medicine and Health Sciencesand an exciting time for healthcare inNorth Dakota,” Lou said.

Lou joins a school already known forits pioneering neuroscience research. Thenationally recognized Center ofBiomedical Research Excellence(COBRE) neuroscience group—headedby neuroscientist Jonathan Geiger,PhD—is searching for the underlyingcauses of and possible treatments for anumber of neurodegenerative disorders,including Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease, traumatic braininjury, and epilepsy.

For James Volk, MD, MBA, CPE (certified physician executive)—an internistwho is Sanford-Fargo’s chief medical officer—landing Dr. Jau-Shin Lou was abig coup.

“He’s going to revitalize our neurology department here,” said Volk, whocochaired the committee that recommended Dr. Lou for his new jobs as Dr.Roger Gilbertson Endowed Chair of Neurology at UND and chair ofneurology at Sanford in Fargo.

The hire is also part of Sanford’s longer-term strategy of enhancingmedical education at UND.

“We want to play a very participatory role in medical education—all ofour physicians here are clinical faculty with the UND School of Medicine andHealth Sciences,” said Volk, a 1984 alum of the School. “We are a majorteaching institution for the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. So it’s anexpectation of all of our physicians (including Dr. Lou) when we hire themthat they participate in teaching medical students and the residents that theywork with here.”

With the new position of chair of neurology at Sanford, Lou aims—withthe backing of Sanford’s administration—to attract a larger percentage ofUND medical students who go into neurology.

“We’d like to have more of them work with Sanford neurology and in thestate,” said Volk, who spends part of every year teaching residents andmedical students. “We want to bring more of them who complete fellowshipsafter their residency back to the state to provide services locally.”

Ultimately, Volk said, with the expanding need for neurological expertisein the state, more neurologists will mean patients will no longer have to travelto the Twin Cities or farther to get their neurological care.

About the Dr. Roger Gilbertson Endowed Chair of NeurologyJau-Shin Lou, MD, PhD, MBA, is the founding Dr. Roger GilbertsonEndowed Chair of Neurology at the UND School of Medicine and HealthSciences. In 2010, Sanford Health donated $1.5 million to the University ofNorth Dakota Foundation for this chair. Endowed chairs provide the meansto ensure academic excellence in teaching and research.

The Dr. Roger Gilbertson Endowed Chair in Neurology will provideleadership in developing projects involving students in support of the Schoolof Medicine and Health Sciences mission to discover knowledge that benefitsthe people of North Dakota and enhances their quality of life.

Dr. Roger Gilbertson was president and chief executive officer ofMeritCare (now Sanford Health) for 17 years, from its beginning in 1993 untilhis retirement in 2009.

Community of purpose:UND, Sanford collaborate to educate nextgeneration of healthcare professionals



With a macabre descriptor andmanifestations to match, necrotizingfasciitis, or flesh-eating bacteria, is at leastas bad as it sounds. And that’s perfectly OK with Dr.Malak Kotb, founding chair of theDepartment of Basic Sciences at theUniversity of North Dakota School ofMedicine and Health Sciences and aninternationally known expert in suchinfectious diseases. She’s also known forher related expertise in biodefense. Kotb, a biochemist and immunologistby training, recently was awarded $1.9million by Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, ahighly unusual grant from the EuropeanUnion to an American researcher. “I am really excited about thisopportunity to advance translationalresearch,” said Kotb, who is the U.S.’sprincipal investigator on the three-yeargrant, part of a collaborative project toinvestigate the biological details of flesh-eating bacteria. “We are going to study thisdisease and other severe deep-tissueinfections using mouse models andcomputational biology to analyze the data.The goal is develop both effective ways todiagnose predisease susceptibility andeffective therapeutics.” Kotb aims to dig deep into thebiological mechanisms of physicallydevastating and potentially lethal diseasessuch as necrotizing fasciitis—and topinpoint the disease pathways once theygrab hold. “And we aim to do this by under-standing the genetics that predispose oneperson to get such diseases while anotherperson is protected,” said Kotb, who beforecoming to UND was chair of theUniversity of Cincinnati’s Department ofMolecular Genetics, Biochemistry, andMicrobiology. To get at those biological and geneticfacts, Kotb’s research team will use a largepanel of genetically diverse mice. “We will have a detailed geneticprofile of each mouse type, and we will,therefore, have a detailed profile of the

genetic differences among these types,” shesaid. “Thus we will understand the geneticcontext of each strain of mice that we willuse in our model. Computational modelswill then allow other investigators toanalyze the data to parallel our own work.” Once the researchers have thatinformation relative to the disease they’restudying, they’ll know which genes areinvolved in the disease. “In essence, you’re mapping thedisease pathways, and you’ll know whichindividuals—and which genotypes—arehighly susceptible to infectious agents suchas flesh-eating bacteria and which arehighly resistant,” she said. “The goal is todiscover drugs that will work for differentdiseases. Knowing the disease mechanismwill suggest to us how best to intervene. Ifyou know the disease pathways, you’ll bebetter able to target the therapeutics. It’s adifferent approach to medicine.” Kotb found her way to this researchearlier in her career working withCanadian collaborators to figure out whysome individuals could get infected andwhy others—exposed to exactly the samepathogens—were not. “The most exciting part of this newresearch is that, in defining the pathwaysof a particular disease such as necrotizingfasciitis, we may also find similar pathwaysfor other diseases,” she said. “Thus we maybe able to find existing compounds to treatthese diseases.” There’s an added dimension to Kotb’sresearch quest: “We want to do follow-upin a hyperbaric chamber to learn whetherintense oxygen therapy will facilitatehealing from these infectious agents.” Kotb’s team at UND comprises severalscientists and technicians including PhDsSanthosh Mukundan, a microbiologist andinfectious disease expert; and SubaNookola, an immunologist; and PhDcandidate Karthickeyan Chella Krishnan,a bioinformaticist. “We’re developing new approachesthat lend themselves very well to clinicalapplication, patient care, and case

”“If you know the diseasepathways, you’ll be better

able to target thetherapeutics. It’s adifferent approach

to medicine.

More Than Skin DeepInternational grant will support UND investigators’ study of severe deep-tissue infections.By Juan Pedraza



management,” Kotb said. “These are theclear targets in my research, and that isamong the reasons that the KarolinskaInstitute awarded me the grant. Thetranslational aspect of this research is key.” She noted that previous research inthis area has focused on a limited numberof individuals. “So we use a large panel of geneticallydiverse mice,” she says. “Each mouse strainis genetically unique and replenishable, buteach one of the members of the strain isidentical. So it’s not a one-shot experiment.” It’s a great step forward. “Otherwise, if you were to do all yourstudies on one person, or one line of mice,you wouldn’t discover all the details suchas biomarkers and symptoms,” she said.“Then when you try to translate yourresults to other individuals, it won’twork because individual genetics affecteverything. In other words, you couldn’tdevelop an effective drug based on thatone-person study; a drug that was verysafe in one could be very toxic toanother person.” Kotb said that between her lab and hercolleagues in Sweden, they’re going to definethe circuitry of these dreaded diseases. “Once we understand that circuitry,we will know which genes are workingor modulating the diseases, we willknow the biomarkers, and if our analysisand findings are correct, we will trulyhave identified and mapped the correctpathways. That will help to predict howindividuals with certain genotypes willrespond to certain infections or anydisease, even cancers and neurologicaldisorders.” “What we’re doing is like doing aclinical trial in a highly controlled way, soyou can go back and repeat yourexperiments exactly,” Kotb said. “We’re nolonger shooting in the dark.” The Karolinska Institute serves as thegrantor for the European CommunitySeventh Framework Program (FP7) forResearch and Innovation, which is themain instrument for funding research forthe 28 member states of the EuropeanUnion. The institute is known worldwidefor the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded by the Nobel Assembly,

which consists of 50 professors at the Karolinska Institute. FP7 grants normally are restrictedto scientists in Europe; however, theKarolinska Institute in Sweden and theEU’s central administration becameaware that Kotb's expertise would bevital in focusing research that will beconducted by several participatingEuropean partners.

Malak Kotb’s lab team. Front row, from left are Malak Kotb and Donna Laturnus,AAS, lab technician. Back row, from left, are Karthickeyan Chella Krishnan, BTech,research specialist; Suba Nookala, PhD, research assistant professor; and Santhosh Mukundan, PhD, research assistant professor.



Twenty-six health professionals began theclinical portion of their studies in Januaryto earn the Master of Physician AssistantStudies degree at the University of NorthDakota School of Medicine and HealthSciences.

e White Coat Ceremony was heldon Friday, Jan. 17, in the Reed T. KellerAuditorium at the UND School ofMedicine and Health Sciences. JoycelynDorscher, MD, associate dean for StudentAffairs and Admissions, presented thekeynote address, focusing on the role ofthe physician assistant in primary care.Welcome remarks were given by Gwen W.Halaas, MD, MBA, SMHS senior associatedean for Academic and Faculty Affairs.

“e presentation of the white coat is

symbolic of the new profession thestudents are entering,” said Jeanie McHugo,PhD, program director. e coats will beworn by students through the clinicalphase of their training and denote theirinvolvement with the Physician AssistantProgram at UND.

The individuals in this class comefrom a wide variety of professionalhealthcare disciplines, which throughclass interaction will strengthen eachstudent’s ability to return to his or herrural clinical site as a well-roundedprimary care provider.

e PA Program admits healthprofessionals who have years of experienceworking as nurses, respiratory therapists,radiology technologists, paramedics,

UND Physician Assistant ProgramClass of 2015By Denis MacLeod



”“Quote, Minion 13 pt,

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military healthcare providers, and related professions. This group averagesseven years of previous professionalhealthcare experience uponmatriculation into the program.

Enrolled students come fromthroughout the United States, fromCalifornia to Florida, but this particularclass is very regional, with more than 50percent of the students from the tristatearea of North Dakota, South Dakota, andMinnesota. Students range in age from 25to 52 years, with an average age of 32; theclass includes 10 men and 16 women.

Students spend their first four weeksin Grand Forks before returning to theirhome communities, where most of theirtraining will take place under thesupervision of physician-preceptors. Overthe next two years, they will return toUND for several weeks at differentjunctures for education and training.

Physician Assistant Class of 2015• Cristin Altendorf, Lubbock, Texas

• Jody Bauer, Bismarck, N.Dak.• William Cody, Hayesville, N.C.• Jessica Curcio, Waterloo, Iowa• Lena DeLuca, Louisville, Ky.• Taylor Fontaine, Moorhead, Minn.• Tamara Hein, Willmar, Minn.• Austin Heneman, Fairmont, Minn.• Lindsay Kyte, Brookings, S.Dak.• Jessica Lahti, Hibbing, Minn.• Parker Martin, Oklahoma City, Okla.• Christina McOwen, Beaufort, N.C.• Brittany Michels, Fargo, N.Dak.• Ethan Morris, San Jose, Calif.• Kayla Olson, New York Mills, Minn.• James Ramos, Sioux Falls, S.Dak.• Morgan Reese, Bismarck, N.Dak.• Nicholle Rothengass, Merritt Island, Fla.• Jenna Schiefelbein, Sioux Falls, S.Dak.• Lindsey Siemens, Bottineau, N.Dak.• Troy ompson, Sturgis, S.Dak.• Michael Trimble, Hermitage, Tenn.• Lucas VanEmelen, Millington, Tenn.• Heather Watkins, Dothan, Ala.• Sarah Winter, Fargo, N.Dak.• Randy Yergenson, Lake Arrowhead,

Calif. For more information, please contact

the PA program at (701) 777-2344, or visitwww.med.und.edu/physicianassistant/.

John R. Adams, PA-C ’04, is one of only 108certified physician assistants (PA-Cs)nationally to recently earn a specialtycredential called a Certificate of AddedQualifications (CAQ) from the NationalCommission on Certification of PhysicianAssistants (NCCPA). Adams, who is employedat High Plains Radiological Association inAmarillo, Texas, was awarded a CAQ inemergency medicine, a distinction earned bymeeting licensure, education, andexperience requirements and then passingan exam in the specialty. He is one of only 36 certified PAs in Texas, and530 certified PAs nationally, to earn a CAQ since the program’s inceptionin 2011.

The NCCPA is the only certifying organization for physicianassistants in the United States. Established as a not-for-profitorganization in 1975, NCCPA is dedicated to assuring the public thatcertified physician assistants meet established standards of clinicalknowledge and cognitive skills upon entry into practice and throughouttheir careers. All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S.territories have decided to rely on NCCPA certification as one of thecriteria for licensure or regulation of physician assistants. More than100,000 physician assistants have been certified by NCCPA since 1975,and more than 95,000 are certified today.

The following are the graduates of the School of Medicine andHealth Sciences Physician Assistant Program who have earned aCertificate of Added Qualifications listed by name, graduation year, andtheir certification specialty:• Joan L. Meyers, Physician Assistant Certificate 1989, Psychiatry• Candyce Evanson, Physician Assistant Certificate 1996, Nephrology• Martha Jo Linn, Physician Assistant Certificate 2000,

Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery• Karyn Thornton, Physician Assistant Certificate 2001, Emergency

Medicine• Stacey Lee Konzak, Physician Assistant Certificate 2003, Psychiatry• Deborah Koschak, Physician Assistant Certificate 2003, Emergency

Medicine• Claude DeVeair Ray, Physician Assistant Certificate 2003, Psychiatry• Cal Anthony Domingue, Physician Assistant Certificate 2004,

Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery• John R. Adams, Physician Assistant Certificate 2004, Emergency

Medicine• Nicole Amsbaugh, MPAS 2007, Psychiatry• Patrick Paulsen, MPAS 2008, Emergency Medicine

PA Earns CAQ



NDBIN staff, left to right: JeremiahNeal, social work intern; CarmenHickle, resource facilitator;Rebecca Quinn, program director;Nickie Livedalen, resourcefacilitator; and Allyssa Olson,resource facilitator.

The NDBIN at the Center for Rural Health is designed to address thediverse needs of individuals with traumatic brain injuries.

The North Dakota Brain Injury Network

By Nikki Massmann

e North Dakota Brain Injury Networkwants you to know that brain injuries don’tjust happen to professional footballplayers. National news headlines haverecently brought mainstream attention tothe effects of brain injuries on professionalsports athletes, particularly in the NationalFootball League. But people are dealingwith the oentimes debilitating aermathof brain injuries here in North Dakota,from multiple concussions to severetraumatic brain injuries.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) canpresent a complicated set of health issuesthat last long aer the initial cause of theinjury. Changes to thinking, behavior, andemotions are oen not readily apparent ordon’t present themselves until later. As aresult, individuals who have suffered abrain injury (and their families) findthemselves attempting to navigate a

labyrinth of healthand human servicesranging fromsupport groups torehabilitation. esystem throughwhich these servicesare provided isn’tsimple, andindividual supportisn’t always offeredfrom organizationsthat are collaboratingon care. Furthercomplicating mattersis the fact that eachindividual’s needs areunique; a child witha fall and resultingseizures has verydifferent needs thana 35-year-old carcrash survivor whoneeds a nursinghome level of careor a veteran with a

concussion and consequential emotional outbursts.

e North Dakota Brain InjuryNetwork (NDBIN) was recentlyestablished at the Center for Rural Healththrough funding from the North DakotaDepartment of Human Services. eprogram is designed to address the diverseneeds of individuals with traumatic braininjuries by providing one-on-one resourcenavigation services through designatedresource facilitators. ese facilitators arelocated throughout North Dakota: one inGrand Forks, one in Towner, and one inBismarck. Individuals with TBI issues andtheir families can call these facilitators toreceive assistance in locating services intheir area that are specific to theindividual’s needs. e program’s director,Rebecca Quinn, has been working withindividuals with traumatic brain injuries



”“...families can call . . .

facilitators to receiveassistance in locating

services in their area thatare specific to theindividual’s needs.

since 2007. She draws on her backgroundin social work to be able to assist theseindividuals, which sometimes includesadvocating on their behalf. Her day doesn’tstart at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. A typicalday could mean anything from simplylistening to a family member’s concerns torunning an evening support group todriving across the state to educate thepublic on brain injury prevention. Herexperience is the basis of the North DakotaBrain Injury Network, the foundation onwhich the program is being built.

e NDBIN is a natural extension ofthe Center for Rural Health’s commitmentto improving the health status and lives ofrural North Dakotans. e Center isdedicated to building local organizationalcapacity and the NDBIN offers not only theopportunity to build educational andinformation pathways and to further thelinkage with rural and urban healthprofessionals but it also engagesindividuals and families in a more directand personal manner.

In addition to helping individuals withTBIs, there is a great need in assistingproviders so that they may best meet theneeds of their patients. e NDBIN isworking toward bridging gaps ininformation for providers by offeringeducation on available services andensuring their resource facilitationexpertise is well-publicized in hospitals andclinics that see patients with TBIs. eprogram has developed a referral processfor providers, social workers, and partnerorganizations to provide to their clients orpatients. e process is simple: the patientor their family member fills out a fewquestions on a form and submits it to theNorth Dakota Brain Injury Network. esubmission of the form prompts a resourcefacilitator to follow up with the client andgives them permission to initiate aconsultation for the individual. isreferral process creates a single point ofcontact for locating services and supportsthat are tailored to the individual’s needs.

An important aspect of living with theeffects of a brain injury is peer-to-peersupport. Family members and TBI patientsalike can sometimes feel like they are alonein their situation, or aren’t aware of othersgoing through some of the same struggles.

e effects of brain injuries can still carry astigma similar to that which surroundsmental health issues. Patients sometimestry to hide their symptoms or feel ashamedthat they don’t have more control over theirbehavior. Adult TBI patients can havedifficulty returning to work, and childrenwho have suffered a TBI can have problemsin school that didn’t exist before theirinjury. Relationships for all TBI patientscan be strained because of the changes thathave occurred as a result of their injury.e everyday struggles of a TBI patient caninclude anything from headaches, difficultyconcentrating, and depression to severecognitive or physical impairment. eNDBIN works to assist those individuals byconnecting them with peers, ideally withintheir own communities, so that they havesomeone to talk to who is experiencing asimilar situation.

A conversation about brain injurycannot take place without mentioningprevention. e NDBIN also providespresentations and information on howbrain injuries can be prevented in the firstplace, from wearing a helmet during sportsactivities to implementing policies inschools for concussion treatment before astudent can return to activities. enational headlines regarding the long-termeffects of multiple concussions have shed amuch needed light on these issues thatQuinn says have been around for quitesome time. “Traumatic brain injuries andhealth costs associated with them aren’tnew,” she said. “But general publicawareness of the lingering effects of a braininjury is something that is more recent. eattention has helped to improve our abilityto increase the public’s understanding ofwhat a TBI patient deals with day to day.”

Brain injuries can affect anyone at anytime. No group understands this better thanthe North Dakota Brain Injury Network.eir expertise and the assistance they areproviding are available to all individualswho have suffered a TBI and their families.e NDBIN is helping to navigate the pathfor their clients and serving as a bright lightin what is oen a dark tunnel. e staffwants everyone to know they are not aloneand have an ally in improving their livesthrough support from the North DakotaBrain Injury Network.



Much has been written about thecontinuing oil boom in western NorthDakota. Increased oil development has ledto unprecedented economic times, but hasalso ushered in struggles with housing,services, and infrastructure. These struggleshave been exacerbated in the healthcaresector. Competition for healthcare laborhas always been fierce, but has grown to anew level. Because of federal regulationsand tight operating budgets, healthcarewages can’t keep pace with the rest of theeconomy, and even when qualifiedapplicants are found, adequate housing canbe difficult to find. Despite these challenges,healthcare infrastructure in western NorthDakota continues to adapt, survive, and insome cases, thrive. Mountrail CountyHealth Center (MCHC) in Stanley is onesuch example of a facility that is facing theregion’s tremendous struggles head on, andbecoming better because of it.

Located about halfway between Minot

and Williston on US Highway 2, MountrailCounty Health Center has seen its share ofoil-related activity. According to MCHCCEO and Hospital Administrator DorisBrown, “We have seen a dramatic shift inthe number of patients we serve; volume isup exponentially across the board.” Evenwith this increased patient load, MCHChas been able to rely on its stable providergroup to meet the challenges. “Ourmedical director, Dr. Longmuir, isfantastic. He has helped foster a teamenvironment where our patients get thebest care from our providers workingcollaboratively together. We are extremelygrateful to have him.”

For Mark Longmuir, MD ’09,however, his connection to Stanley goesback much further than the three years hehas practiced there. “I was born in theStanley hospital,” he said. “One of thenurses I work with now helped deliver me.”With the current physician shortage across

Success in StanleyBy Mark Barclay

WORKFORCE

Abbey Effertz and Mark Longmuir



”“With the great people we

have... we can impact thecommunity in a positive way.

the nation, Longmuir is a perfect exampleof how the medical education model inNorth Dakota is designed to work. “Istarted as a CNA (certified nurse assistant)in 1997, and worked in that role untildoing my undergrad at UND.” Not onlydid Longmuir complete his undergraduatedegree at UND, he also continued histraining at the state’s only medical school:the UND School of Medicine and HealthSciences. Following graduation, hespent three years completing his familymedicine residency in Minot beforereturning to Stanley to practice.

Of course, not all of the MCHCproviders followed the same path asLongmuir. Physician Assistant AbbeyEffertz grew up in North Dakota, but wasnew to the Stanley area when she startedpracticing at MCHC in January 2013.When looking for a position, Effertzconnected with the UND Center for RuralHealth and took advantage of theirworkforce services. Through the Center forRural Health, Effertz was informed aboutnumerous openings and ultimatelyconnected to Stanley after reviewing theoptions. For Effertz, the small-townlifestyle coupled with a diverse patient loadwas the ideal fit. “It’s an incredibleopportunity for me to learn,” she said. “Ilearn more every day.” This learning issupported by Longmuir, her supervisingphysician, and others. “The support I havehere is really great. Dr. Longmuir is reallyaccessible, and with our great relationshipwith Trinity in Minot, their specialists arealways very helpful and just a phone callaway.”

Despite the challenges of the oil boom,both Longmuir and Effertz agree that theever-growing Stanley is a great fit for them.For Longmuir, the city looks significantlydifferent than it did when he was growingup, but to him, that’s a positive thing. “Ourculture has really expanded, which benefitseveryone.” The influx of new business is alsovery welcome. “There are businesses herenow, chain restaurants, that you would havenever imagined 10 to 15 years ago.”

For Effertz, she enjoys the small-town life and new amenities coming to the town.

“I love attending the high school sportingevents and local events that differentgroups put on. Even with all the craziness,Stanley still feels like a community.”

Longmuir echoes this notion ofcommunity. “There is a misconceptionthat it’s the Wild West out here,” he said.“With a wife and four kids, I have neverbeen in a situation where I felt unsafe orwas concerned for my family’s safety.”

With Stanley’s growing populationand a stable set of providers, MCHC hasbeen able to look to the future. Thiscommitment to the future wasdemonstrated when the hospital recentlyrevealed plans to expand their facility. ForBrown, the addition is a chance to furtherserve the community. “With theexpansion, we will be able to better servethe patients of our community, andcontinue to provide them the quality,patient-centered care they have becomeaccustomed to,” she said. The expansionwill add an in-house CT scanner, anexpanded clinic, and a remodeledemergency department. “We aren’t goingto shy away from the struggles of agrowing community. With the great peoplewe have, from support staff to nurses andproviders, we believe we can impact thecommunity in a positive way, and that iswhat we are working for.”

Abbey Effertz

490332_kp2.qxp_Layout 1 3/21/14 2:51 PM Page 21


GUEST AUTHOR

Design Development Phase of New SMHS BuildingTake a quick walk through the School’s new facility.

The last time I wrote, the design team ofJLG Architects, Steinberg Architects, andPerkins+Will were preparing to publiclypresent the schematic design phase of thenew UND School of Medicine and HealthSciences facility. Let me take you on aquick walk through the building.

You will enter into a sunlit “MainStreet” atrium. To one side is a sharedLearning Hall with fixed tables andmoveable chairs for interaction andcollaboration between classes. On theother side is a café with views of one of twooutdoor courtyards for students andfaculty to enjoy warm days. Also on theground floor are simulators for communityand student training and offices to

welcome potential graduates and theirparents.

In front of you is a collaborative focalstair, where students will hang out betweenclasses. On the second, third, and fourthfloors, dynamic, interactive learningcommunities surround open meeting andevent spaces. Each learning communitywill be the home base to approximately 100students with individual private studyareas, collaborative group space, andcommon space.

The new facility will include medicineand health sciences education, simulationand clinical skills, occupational therapy,sports medicine, research and a satellitevivarium, and existing buildings will house

By Lonnie Laffen

South view of Main Street for new SMHS facility.



”“The new SMHS building willincrease the occupancyof the entire health affairs

community . . . .

shared clinical practice space, the UNDvivarium, epigenetics, neuroscience,undergraduate education, and additionalresearch labs.

The new SMHS building will increasethe occupancy of the entire health affairscommunity by roughly 20 percent throughthe following:• A 20 percent increase in teaching

functions.• A 24 percent increase in research

functions.• A 112 percent increase in clinical

spaces.• A 29 percent increase in offices in

carrels.Interestingly, it was determined the

biggest inefficiencies in the existingfacilities were in the faculty andadministration space, and so those areaswill actually decrease by 13 percent in thenew building to make way for more opencollaboration space.

We are now in the designdevelopment phase, in which final designdecisions and tweaks are being made withinput from many user groups, includingSMHS faculty, staff, researchers, UNDfacilities and planning personnel, andstudents. The planning to this point hasinvolved over 150 meetings and more than300 people have participated in theprocess!

Building materials (such as brick,glass, and flooring) are being reviewed bythe Building Committee and finalselections are being chosen. You will beable to view these materials at the currentSMHS facility soon. The design team isreviewing everything to make sure that thebuilding’s structure, mechanical, andelectrical systems all work together.

The UND School of Medicine andHealth Sciences building is being deliveredby a construction manager at risk (in ourindustry called a CM@r). In a traditionaldesign-bid-build construction method, thearchitects would design the entire facilityand then hire a construction team to buildit. In a CM@r delivery system, theconstruction managers, in this case PCL

Construction Services and CommunityContractors, were selected at the sametime as the architect. This has not onlykept the entire project team on the samepage in terms of the building’sconstructability in order to minimizecostly or time-consuming issues out in thefield but has also allowed for some of thesite construction to commence while thedesign is being completed.

The site, on the highly visible cornerof North Columbia Road and GatewayDrive, was cleared in early November, anddeep soil borings were finished just beforeThanksgiving. Steel piles—each 165 feetlong—were driven into the ground at thebeginning of March. Once in place, these350 piles will be the backbone of theSMHS building and the first pieces of thetotal building construction, which willbegin in May.

Keep your eye out for anotherCommunity Presentation this spring, aswell as the much-anticipated officialgroundbreaking ceremony. Stay warm!

Lonnie Laffen



STUDENT PROFILE

”“Haris is unlike any PhD

student we have hadbefore—he is truly aunique student.

Haris Ali presents an anatomy demonstration for high school students touring theSMHS.

Unlimited PossibilitiesThis educator-scholar delves into the field of medical education research.

Haris Ali has a thirst for learning. His desire to learn has taken him

around the world and brought him here toUND. “I have always loved learning and,along with it, teaching others. I wanted tofollow a teaching track” said Ali, who first

heard of UND while completing hismaster’s in biomedical science in Norway.

Born and raised in Pakistan, Ali wasencouraged to pursue studies in the field ofmedicine by his father. His interest inanatomy led him to complete his MD in

By Christalin Casinader


“ ”


Pakistan and to later study abroad inNorway, where he graduated with hismaster’s degree. It was here that he firstheard of UND and applied for a PhDprogram in Anatomy and Cell Biologywith a research emphasis in medicaleducation.

“Haris is unlike any PhD student wehave had before—he is truly a uniquestudent,” said Kenneth Ruit, PhD, assistantdean for Undergraduate and GraduateEducation, and Ali’s advisor. “He came toUND with significant experience, and hisinterest in medical education research wasnot something that had been seen amongstudents (when choosing a research topic).”Ruit said that Ali brings a “uniqueapproach as a graduate student who iscurious to learn more about medicaleducation and ask research questionsthat have really contributed to theexisting data.”

Ali will be presenting his research thisspring at the Experimental Biology 2014Conference in San Diego, one of the largestconferences of biomedical researchers andeducators. Ali said he is excited about thepresentation and is proud of the work hehas been able to contribute. “It waschallenging at first, but I am very happywith the results. I couldn’t have done itwithout the support of my advisor Dr. Ruitand other faculty members like JonJackson, Pat Carr, Linda Olson, WoeiHung, and Clint Hosford who have beengreat mentors to me.”

Apart from his work in medicaleducation, Ali is an instructor of anatomy,a preceptor of clinical skills, and serves as apatient-centered-learning facilitator at theSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences.He also volunteers as a presenter for highschool groups who tour the School. “I amfascinated with anatomy, the way so manycells can combine to form an organ andperform a single function. The humanbody is amazing, and there is so much tolearn about how it works. Being able toteach this to students, explain what we doand why it is important gives me a greatamount of satisfaction. I find theirenthusiasm to be contagious, and I enjoythe tours very much.”

When he is not conducting researchor teaching, Ali spends time on his

hobbies, which are cooking and traveling.He compares cooking to research andreckons that is why he likes it so much.“They both require attention to detail; youhave to be knowledgeable about whatyou’re working with,” he said. “Sometimes,especially at first, it doesn’t always workout, but when it does, it is worth it.”

As for travel, Ali likes to explore newplaces whenever he gets some time off.However, he quickly finds himself wantingto come to back to Grand Forks. “It is verypeaceful here. I really love this community,and I am glad to be a part of it,” he said.Although he grew up in a big city inPakistan, Ali is more at home in the quiet,slower-paced lifestyle and the togethernessof small communities like Grand Forks. “You don’t get North Dakota niceeverywhere; the people here are so warmand welcoming.”

In fact, Ali met his wife Courtney, anative of Reynolds, North Dakota, whilegoing to school at UND. “We have a lot incommon. She has been instrumental in mysuccess and has been a great supporter ofmy work, along with my parents.”“I am also lucky to be surrounded bybrilliant and supportive colleagues, and Iknow they value me as well.” In the future,Ali hopes to continue his work in medicaleducation research and says he would loveto be an academic physician, preferablyhere at UND.

I am also lucky to besurrounded by brilliant

and supportive colleagues.



ALUMNI PROFILE

Keeping Them on the MountainUND alumnus and Lisbon, N.Dak., native Jason Switzer worked as atrainer for U.S. Olympic snowboarders in Sochi.

The mountains are all different; the tripsradical, the payoff might be Olympic gold.The journey to the 2014 Winter OlympicGames in Sochi, Russia, for athletic trainerJason Switzer started in Lisbon, N.Dak.,and coursed through the University of

North Dakota Division of Sports Medicine.“I was kind of a jock in high school; Iexcelled in several sports,” said Switzer,who normally works as a certified athletictrainer for St. Luke's Health System inBoise, Idaho, but who's now on leave with

By Juan Pedraza

UND alumnus Jason Switzer, a native of Lisbon, N.Dak., talks to a member of the United States Ski & Snowboard Associationteam at Whistler, British Columbia, during training events for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Phot

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”“It is great from an

educational programperspective

to see when anemployer hires one ofyour graduates andthen hires anotherright away to fill that

same position.

the U.S. Olympic Slopestyle SnowboardTeam. “I knew I wanted to work in thesports field, and I had an amazingexperience at UND in the sports medicineprogram with Steve Westereng and all thefolks there.”

Westereng, director, Division of SportsMedicine in the UND School of Medicineand Health Sciences, said Switzer followsin a strong tradition of excellence.

“It was neat from my position becauseJason took the place of another graduate ofours who moved up the ranks in the DallasStars organization,” Westereng said. “It isgreat from an educational programperspective to see when an employer hiresone of your graduates and then hiresanother right away to fill that sameposition. It is easy to see why Jasonwould fit in as he is knowledgeable,professional, hardworking, and alwayshas a positive attitude.”

Positive is the working principle.“I've worked with professional hockey

teams, and I was the lead athletic trainerfor the (East Coast Hockey League team)Idaho Steelheads,” Switzer said. “It's (all

about) watching the athletes, assessing andtreating injuries quickly and effectively,making a plan of treatment, and stayingfocused on keeping them healthy and inthe game.”

Getting to work in the Olympics as anathletic trainer is a long and hard journeyto follow.

“You have to have an employer thatsupports you so you can do this kind ofactivity since many of the positions are notfull-time jobs,” Westereng said. “You haveto have the right skill set, be willing towork in unfamiliar settings, possibly workwith various athletes in various sports, andhave the flexibility in life to be away forweeks to months leading up to the games.”

For his work with the Olympic snow-boarders, Switzer noted, “It's all aboutkeeping them on the mountain. I'm there to help facilitate their success at Sochi.”

Jason Switzer cares for a member of the United States Ski & Snowboard Associationteam during training events. Photo courtesy of St. Luke's Sports.

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ALUMNI NOTES

Bree Dewing, Surgery Res ’12, weight-loss and general surgeon at SanfordMedical Center in Bismarck, is nowboard-certified in surgery by theAmerican Board of Surgery, whichmeans that the surgeon has met theboard’s standards specifically in the areaof general surgery and its relatedspecialties. To receive certification, asurgeon must meet the necessary

requirements and complete an extensive examination. Boardcertification reflects a surgeon’s commitment to lifelonglearning and quality patient care. Dewing also recently performed the first robotic-assistedgastric sleeve weight-loss surgery in North Dakota.

Jay MacGregor, Surgery Res ’12, is now practicing colorectalsurgery at Sanford Health in Fargo.

Misty Anderson, IM Res ’11, was elected Speaker of the Houseof the North Dakota Medical Association during its annualmeeting Oct. 3–4, 2013. Anderson practices internal medicineat Sanford Health in Valley City.

Ravinda Samaraweera, MD ’08, is now at SanfordNeuroscience Clinic in Fargo. He completed his residencytraining and fellowship training in epilepsy at the University ofCincinnati College of Medicine.

Kara Johnson, MD ’06, is now at Sanford Medical Center inFargo, practicing internal medicine. She has completed afellowship in critical care and pulmonology.

Diane Kraft, MD ’06, has joined thecardiology team at Sanford Clinic inBismarck. Kraft, a native of Bismarck,completed a fellowship in cardiologyand also her residency at the Universityof Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in IowaCity. She is board-certified by theAmerican Board of Internal Medicine.

Lance Norman, MOT '06, has been named vice president ofancillary services at River View Health in Crookston, Minn.,where he has worked since 2011. Lance teaches modalities as along-term adjunct faculty member for the Department ofOccupational Therapy at the SMHS.

Nathan Hall, MD ’05, has joined Sanford Health in Fargo. He isan interventional cardiology specialist.

Denise McDonough, MD ’95, is afamily physician with St. AlexiusMandan Clinic–North. McDonoughcompleted her family medicineresidency at the UND Center forFamily Medicine in Bismarck. She has aspecial interest in pediatrics,dermatology, women’s health, andglobal health. McDonough is board-

certified in family medicine, is a member of the AmericanAcademy of Family Physicians, and has provided care in theBismarck–Mandan community since 1998.

Stephen Guertin, BS Med ’73, directorof the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit(PICU) at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing,Mich., was named Children’s MiracleNetwork Caregiver of the Year.

Guertin received the award duringthe charity’s 30th annual Celebrationheld at the Walt Disney World ResortOct. 10–12. The award recognizes acaregiver, team, or unit that has

significantly elevated the care of children and has specificallybeen impacted by Children's Miracle Network Hospitals' funds. Throughout Guertin’s 31 years at Sparrow Hospital, he hascared for more than 10,000 critically ill children. He has heldvarious positions including medical director of the SparrowRegional Children’s Center and chief of staff. When Guertinarrived at Sparrow in 1982, the Children’s Center did not exist.He was instrumental in its initiation and growth, and it now hasa PICU offering some of the best care in the region. “We are delighted to honor Stephen as our Caregiver of theYear during this milestone year for Children’s Miracle NetworkHospitals. He truly exemplifies the quality and compassion-driven care we see at so many of our hospitals,” said John Lauck,Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals president and CEO.

Dale Moquist, BS Med ’71, retired from practicing familymedicine on July 1, 2013. Moquist most recently was thegeriatric coordinator at the Memorial Family MedicineResidency in Sugar Land, Texas, for nine years, where he wasnamed Full-Time Faculty of the Year. He practiced familymedicine in Grand Forks for 22 years until moving to Texas in1998. Moquist served on the American Academy of FamilyPhysicians Board of Directors from 1993–1996 and was the onlyNorth Dakotan to serve in that position. Moquist currently ispresident of the Texas Academy of Family PhysiciansFoundation. He and his wife Carol have three sons.

’00s

’10s ’90s

’70s



IN MEMORIAM

Albert J. Myers, BS PT ’77, 66, Fargo, N.Dak., died Wed., Feb.5, 2014, at Rosewood on Broadway, Fargo. Albert Joseph Myerswas born June 30, 1947, to Thomas C. and Rita (Miller) Myersin Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He attended St. Peter’s Parochial School,where he was an active member and altar boy. He also attendedOur Lady of Lourdes High School, graduating in 1966. Heenlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended Naval HospitalCorpsman School, Great Lakes, Ill. He was sent to Vietnam inMay 1967; in the midst of battle, Al was injured whileattempting to rescue injured marines. After his time in thejungle, he assisted in setting up a children’s hospital in Dang Ha,Vietnam, with the Third Marine Division. He was discharged in 1970 and utilized the GI bill to attendNorth Dakota State University. He then went on to UND andwas accepted into the Physical Therapy Program. This field wasa great passion for Al as he loved caring for and rehabilitatingadults and especially children. Al worked with F-M Ambulance and taught CPR classes for

the American Heart Association. Al had several hobbies andtalents—a great artist, author, and poet. His book Mankind ManUnkind, published in 2011, is an autobiography of his tour inVietnam. Al is survived by his wife, June; children, Aryca (Win),Minn., Andrew (Sophie), Mich., Chad (Lynn), Mich., Jeannine(Margaret), Minn.; grandchildren, Chloe, Ana, Audrey,Alexandra, Jacob, Isabel, Austin and Lula Than; siblings,Thomas, Ohio, Doug, N.Y., Barbara, N.Y., Tammy, Ore., andElizabeth, N.Y.; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Dr. Richard D. Rottschafer, BS Med ’73, 68, of Merrifield,Minn., died at his home on Friday, January 10, 2014. Richardwas born on November 26, 1945, in Grand Rapids, Mich., toRichard and Jennette (Batts) Rottschafer. He graduated fromhigh school in Grand Rapids, Minn., and Calvin College also inGrand Rapids, Mich. Richard received his master’s inmicrobiology from the University of North Dakota. He spenthis first two years of medical school at the University of NorthDakota and then moved to Southern Illinois University inSpringfield. He did two years of his residency at Ramsey in St.Paul, Minn., and then two years at Miller Hospital. Richardworked for the St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd, Minn.,for 20 years. Richard was also the coroner for Crow Wing,Aitkin, Cass, and Wadena Counties. He married DeborahSagsveen on December 22, 1971, in Landford, N.Dak. Richardenjoyed being outdoors, bowling, and working on his yard. Healso liked to garden, fish, and to go camping. Richard enjoyedspending time in his greenhouse. Richard is survived by hiswife, Deborah; children, Jeffrey, Laura (Mark) Ehlen, andJoshua; and sister, Mary Beth Van Singel. He was preceded indeath by his parents.

Dr. M. Duane Sommerness, BS Med ’43, 95, died Dec. 3, 2013,in Peoria, Ariz. Born in Columbus, N.Dak., on Sept. 5, 1918, Dr.Sommerness was the son of Martin D. Sommerness and LouiseHansch Sommerness. He earned his first bachelor’s degree fromLuther College in Decorah, Iowa, and a second bachelor’sdegree from the University of North Dakota Medical School. Hesubsequently earned his MD degree from Temple University inPhiladelphia. Following service in the United States Army AirForce, he completed a residency in psychiatry at the famedMenninger Foundation in Topeka, Kans. There he marriedTrudy Titus. Upon leaving the Menninger Foundation in 1950,he served as chair of the Department of Psychiatry at theUniversity of North Dakota Medical School and, at the sametime, as clinical director of the state hospital in Fergus Falls,Minn. In 1956, he became medical superintendent of theTraverse City State Hospital, a position in which he served untilhis resignation in 1972. During his time at the Traverse CityState Hospital, he oversaw the construction of the completelyprivately funded All-Faiths Chapel as well as the ArnellEngstrom School for mentally ill children. During his tenure, heincreased the number of physicians on the hospital staff fromseven to 34. The concomitant increase in personalized patientcare reduced the number of patients from 3,000 to 1,300. Dr.Sommerness served as an associate clinical professor in theCollege of Human Medicine at Michigan State University, aswell as a board member of the Northwest Michigan Symphony,the Northwestern Michigan Fair, the Salvation Army, the ScenicTrails Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the NorthCentral Michigan Comprehensive Health Planning Council. Hewas also an active member of Rotary International and theBenevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was preceded indeath by his parents; his sisters, Yvonne and Esther; and hiswife, Trudy. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, of Sun City,Ariz., and his son, Martin, of Flagstaff, Ariz.



For Marilyn Martin, it all started at the ageof 18, working for the University of NorthDakota’s Correspondence Department inthe Continuing Education Division.

Little did she know that she was ontrack to dedicate 47 years to UND.

The journey Martin was born in Grafton, N.Dak.,

and lived there for six years before herfamily relocated to Grand Forks. Sheattended school in Grand Forks until thetenth grade, when her family moved backto Grafton. She graduated from Grafton

A New ChapterBy Emily Aasand

Marilyn Martin

For Marilyn Martin, it all started at the age of 18.



”“I’m definitely going to

miss the interactionI had with the students,

various offices, and ofcourse my colleagues.

High School before attending NorthDakota State College of Science (NDSCS).

Martin attended NDSCS for one yearto obtain a certificate in their secretarialprogram before moving back to GrandForks to work. She later earned herBachelor of Science in InformationManagement from UND by takingadvantage of the opportunity to take onecourse a semester as an employee.

“Whether I ever said it or not, I thinkit was always my intention to come back toGrand Forks,” Martin said. “Two of myfriends and I went to Wahpeton togetherthen we all got jobs in the area, movedback to Grand Forks, and got anapartment together.”

Martin worked on UND’s maincampus for four years before quitting tostart a family.

“I was ready to start a family andfigured that I’d want to stay home,” Martinsaid. “I soon realized that being homewasn’t for me, so that’s when I decided toapply for the position at the medicalschool.”

Martin began her 43-year journey atthe medical school as the admissions andrecords officer at the School of Medicineand Health Sciences on December 1, 1970.

As the admissions and records officer,Martin worked with students applying togain entry to the school, reported grades,verified enrollment, and also completedthe medical students’ registrations for theircourses.

“I loved working with all theapplicants and the current medicalstudents,” Martin said.

Her love for her job is what kept her atthe university for 40-odd years.

“It’s hard to describe,” Martin said,when asked about what she liked bestabout her job. “I loved working with theapplicants and the medical students.Working with the staff and variousdepartments to find information aboutstudents’ registrations, double-checkinggrades on evaluations, I liked all of it. I hadmy fingers dipped into a lot of things whileworking there.”

Four decades of changeWith putting in over 40 years at UND,

Martin has experienced incredibleexpansions with the medical school.

“The biggest thing to have happenedwas the school going from a two-yearmedical school to a four year one,”Martin said.

There are always new things comingalong and new programs being developedthat Martin has played an integral role in.Her position allowed her to have someinvolvement in various curriculum aspectsat the School.

Retirement lifeAfter working in this environment for

as long as she has, Martin admits it’s goingto be an interesting change.

“I’m very much a people person,”Martin said. “I’m definitely going to missthe interaction I had with the students,various offices, and of course mycolleagues.”

The retirement life, however, issomething she could get used to.

“I don’t have a lot planned as ofright now,” Martin said. “My cousins are talking about going on a tour ofPoland in July, so it’s something I’mconsidering taking part in. It’d be a greatopportunity to go somewhere and to seesomething different.”

Being able to spend time with herchildren and grandchildren is somethingshe’s looking forward to enjoying as well.

“Both of my children and my threegrandchildren live in East Grand Forks, sonow I’ll be able to go to all of their sportingevents and band concerts,” Martin said.“It’s nice to be able to go to their activities.Spending time with them and with familyis important to me, and I’m glad I’mgoing to have more time to do just that.”



Wesley Hoffman was a farmer, outdoorsman, and woodworker.But after he suffered a brain stem stroke in his 50s, he becameparalyzed on his left side and was admitted to MeritCare (nowSanford Health) in Fargo. Wesley was told he would never walkout of the hospital. His therapists, physical therapy andoccupational therapy alumni of UND, helped him defy theodds, and six weeks later, Wesley walked out the door and wenthome.

Several years later, on October 2, 2013, Wesley passed away.Shortly thereafter, the School of Medicine and Health Scienceslearned that he was so impressed with his care from UNDalumni years ago that he designated $100,000 in his will to theOT and PT departments at the UND School of Medicine andHealth Sciences.

Thanks to Wesley Hoffman’s gift, occupational therapy andphysical therapy students will receive scholarship support andremember his legacy for years to come.

What is a bequest?A bequest is a gift made by including language in your will.

You can specify a gift to be made to family, friends, or charities. A bequest is perhaps the easiest and most tangible way to makea lasting effect at the University of North Dakota School ofMedicine and Health Sciences.

It may be an effective way to make a gift and at the same timelessen the burden of taxes on your family and estate.

Can I change my designation?Yes. A bequest can be revoked or changed. You can remove or

modify your designation to leave a portion of your estate to theUND Foundation and other beneficiaries at any time.

How do I make a bequest? With the help of an advisor, you can make multiple bequests

to various individuals or organizations. You can specify abequest in a few ways: • Gift of a specific dollar amount or percentage of your estate. • Gift of a specific asset (e.g., real estate). • Gift of the residue of your estate. • Contingent bequests allow you to leave a portion of your

estate if your named beneficiary does not survive you.

Can I specify how I want my bequest gift to be used?Absolutely. We encourage you to notify the UND Foundation

of your plans so we can work with you to document your intentand ensure your gift is used for the area or purpose you desire.You may also fund a charitable arrangement for surviving lovedones through a bequest. Gift designations may include thefollowing:• Establishing a named endowment to fund a student

scholarship or endowed faculty position at the SMHS.• Funding priority projects within the SMHS.• Supporting programs or departments within the SMHS.

Is a bequest through my will the only way to leave a legacy orestate gift?

No. Certain types of property pass outside your will ortrust. These assets require you to name a beneficiary bycompleting a beneficiary designation form. To make abequest of these assets, you should contact the company orentity from which you purchased the asset. Examplesinclude an IRA or insurance policy.

By Alyssa Konickson

Legacy of a Grateful Patient

PHILANTHROPY

Dave Miedema, Senior Director of Development

School of Medicine and Health SciencesUND Foundation

[email protected](701) 777-4933(800) 543-8764

Jessica Sobolik, Director of Alumni and Community [email protected](701) 777-6048

For additional information on how to best structure your bequest or gift to benefit the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, please contact:



Bethel Bank of Grand Forks, N.Dak., has established theKriegl and Gorter Family Endowment, which will providescholarships for second- or third-year occupational therapystudents. Three of her family members earned OT degrees at UND.

Dr. Philip, BS Med ’62, and Sandy Barney of Tucson, Ariz.,have established the Dr. Philip and Sandy Barney MedicalScholarship Endowment, which will provide scholarships formedical students with preference given to first-year studentsfrom Montana. Dr. Barney worked as a pathologist atCommunity Medical Center in Missoula, Mont., before retiringin 2003. He earned his medical degree from the University ofPennsylvania in 1964.

Dr. G. Franklin, BS Med ’64, and Rosemary Welsh ofCincinnati, Ohio, have established the G. Franklin Welsh, MD,Endowment, which will provide annual awards to medicalstudents who demonstrate academic excellence throughcompletion of a research project that focuses on anatomicalsciences or development of an innovative resource for teachinganatomy. Dr. Welsh, a native of Bismarck, N.Dak., is a retiredAir Force colonel and plastic surgeon at Aesthetic PlasticSurgery Center in Cincinnati. He earned his medical degreefrom Harvard University in 1966.

Mary, MS Med Tech ’96, and MichaelColeman of Grand Forks, N.Dak., haveestablished the Mary Coleman MLSScholarship Endowment, which willprovide scholarships to full-time seniorstudents majoring in medical laboratoryscience. Mary, a native of Warren, Minn.,is an assistant professor for the MedicalLaboratory Science Program at UND.

A bequest from the estate of Wesley Hoffman of Ellendale,N.Dak., has established the Wesley Hoffman OccupationalTherapy Endowment and the Wesley Hoffman Physical TherapyEndowment. While Wesley did not graduate from UND, he felthe received exceptional care from UND OT and PT alumniwhile hospitalized in Fargo. Both endowments will providescholarships for current OT and PT students (see page 32).

Judy DeMers, BS Nursing ’66, hasestablished the Judy L. DeMersScholarship Endowment, which willprovide scholarships to medical studentsin good academic standing withpreference given to students who aresingle parents. Among many distinctionsin her career, DeMers most recentlyserved as the School’s associate dean forstudent affairs and admissions until sheretired in 2010.

Kimberly Krohn, MD ’96, and herhusband John Fishpaw of Minot,N.Dak., have established the MinotCenter for Family Medicine Endowmentfor Excellence, which will providefunding for the highest priority needs ofthe Center for Family Medicine Clinic inMinot. Krohn is director of the UNDFamily Medicine Residency Programthere.

Robert, BS Med ’62, and Kay Hedger of Oak Park, Ill.,continue to support the Dr. Walter Wasdahl and Dr. Robert andKay Hedger Endowment, which provides scholarships tomedical students who demonstrate financial need. Dr. Hedger isassistant professor of clinical medicine at Associates inNephrology in Chicago, and director of the Foundation forNephrologic Science Inc. and National Medical Care Inc.

who recently gave gifts or made pledges.to our thoughtful donors



“Form ever follows function,” is the architectural principle coined by the famous American architect Louis Sullivan.Using a corollary of Sullivan’s principle, the architects for the new SMHS building aredesigning it so form facilitates function.

e design team from JLG Architectsand JLG's design partners fromPerkins+Will and Steinberg Architects are designing the new building so students, researchers, and scholars can better connect, interact, and collaborate to fosterlearning and research to improve thehealthcare and health of North Dakotansand all Americans.

At the SMHS, eight learning communities with 100 students each willbe paired around a shared student loungeand practice exam room; students willhave their own group study rooms, tutor-ing rooms, open work environments, andindividual study stations and lockers. Eachlearning community will gather studentsfrom disciplines across the medical andhealth science spectrum—medical

students, graduate students, occupationaltherapy, physical therapy, and more—inorder to encourage collaboration between departments and promote interprofessionalism. The new facility isforgoing the rows and rows of stacks ofbooks and journals for a limited print library. A new digital library will fosterthe growth in using technology as an educational tool in healthcare.

e archictects have designed, positioned, and oriented the building sothey can optically plumb the interior bydrawing the flow of sunlight that washesover the building and pool it in “lightwells”—daylight atriums that, no matterthe season, will bathe with natural light thestudents and researchers who study andwork deep within the building. Additionalinterior elements that will highlight andsynthesize collaboration are classroomsand laboratories with a transparent wall orwalls to optimize natural lighting as well asto make the rooms visible to people onthe floors above or below.

Photo SynthesisBy Denis MacLeod

A rendering of the southeast profile of the new SMHS building as seen from North Columbia Road.

The new SMHS building will bring to light the future of healthcare education.


On Founders Day, Feb. 27, Dean Wynne waspleased to join the University community inhonoring the following faculty and staff at the131st UND Founders Day Banquet.

Congratulations to Associate Professor AnneHaskins, PhD, OTR/L, pictured at right, whoreceived the UND Foundation/Thomas J. CliffordFaculty Award for Graduate or ProfessionalTeaching Excellence from President RobertKelley.

Recognition for 25 Years of Service•Mary Amundson, Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine

•Eugene DeLorme, Director, Indians Into Medicine

•Connie Diede, Administrative Assistant, Department of Internal Medicine

•Dianne Hamre, Medical Cataloger, Harley E. French Library of the Health Sciences

•Debra Hanson, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy

•Marilyn Klug, Associate Professor of Rural Health•Debra Kroese, Administrative Officer, Department of Basic Sciences

•Vikki McCleary, Associate Professor, Physician Assistant Program

•Rhonda McDaniel, Administrative Assistant, Physician Assistant Program

•Cindy Stromme, Administrative Assistant, Student Affairs and Admissions

Retired and Retiring Faculty and Staff•Gail Bass, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy•Sandra Elshaug, Financial Aid Administrator, Student Affairs and Admissions

•Patricia Hoeper, Administrative Secretary, Indians Into Medicine

•Jacque Jones, Administrative Clerk, Department of Occupational Therapy

•Arlinda Kristjanson, Associate Professor of Clinical Neuroscience

•Terri Lang, Project Coordinator, Center for Rural Health•Marilyn Martin, Admissions and Records Officer, Student Affairs and Admissions

•Marlene Zimmerman, Office Assistant/Account Technician, Bismarck Center for Family Medicine


PARTING SHOTS

Students gathered to sign thank-youcards on Thursday, Feb. 27, near theLibrary of the Health Sciences at theSMHS in Grand Forks. The studentswere grateful for the donations alumnihave made to the School.

The temperature was minus 10outside; however, the studentsimmediately warmed to the idea ofthanking the generous donors who havehelped to make students' dreams of acareer in medicine, the health sciences,and biomedical research a reality.

The event was a part of Spirit Weekon campus to celebrate those who’vehelped make UND great!


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 l Grand Forks ND l 58202-9037 701-777-4305 www.med.UND.edu

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Periodical POSTAGE PAID

Invites are sent via e-mail or mail. To ensure you receive this information and that our records are up-to-date, please submit your contact info at www.med.UND.edu/events/contact.cfm.

Alumni ReceptionsUpcoming

Athletic Training

June 26, 2014, Indianapolis

www.med.und.edu/events/at-2014.cfm

Occupational Therapy

April 4, 2014, Baltimorewww.med.und.edu/events/o

t-2014.cfm

UND Homecoming

Oct. 6-11, 2014, Grand Forks

www.med.und.edu/events/homecoming-2014


Documents

Spring 2014 North Dakota Medicine