north dakota medicine

Fall 2010

VOLUME 35, NUMBER 4

www.ndmedicine.org

High, Wide,

and DeepHow high technology

extends the breadth and depth

of medical knowledge and medical education

Brain Candy

From the Trenches to

the Boardroom—and Back Again

Dr. Edward Carlson

cesetters

Growing Season

Brain Candy

From the Trenches to

the Boardroom—and Back Again

Dr. Edward Carlson

cesetters

Growing Season

2 NORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE Fall 2010

YOU ARE INVITED!Join fellow School of Medicine

and Health Sciences alumni

and friends, students, faculty

and staff at three UND

Homecoming 2010

events on Friday, Oct. 8

in Grand Forks.

Celebration of Sioux Award Winners

Henry C. “Bud” Wessman and Mary Wakefield

10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Vennes Atrium, School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Clinical Education and Simulation Center Open House

11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

725 Hamline Street

All-School Social

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Alerus Center Eagle Room, Room 10

Please RSVP for each of these events to Shelley Pohlman,

SMHS Office of Alumni and Community Relations,

[email protected] or (701) 777-4305.

NORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE Fall 2010 3

10

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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: Shelley Pohlman501 North Columbia Rd. Stop 9037, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037 e-mail: [email protected] phone: 701-777-4305

nOrtH DaKOta meDICIne is available online at www.ndmedicine.org

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES

ROBERT O. KELLEY, President, University of North Dakota

JOSHUA WYNNE, Vice President for Health Affairs

and Dean, School of Medicine and Health Sciences

eDItOr Denis MacLeod

WrIters Denis MacLeod, Gary Niemeier,

Juan Pedraza, Laura Scholz,

Jessica Sobolik

COntrIBUtOrs Alexander Cavanaugh, Shelley Pohlman

GrapHIC DesIGn Laura Cory, John Lee, Victoria Swift

pHOtOGrapHY Chuck Kimmerle, Wanda Weber

COver art Chuck Kimmerle

www.ndmedicine.org

WeBmaster Eric Walter

nOrtH DaKOta meDICIne (ISSN 0888-1456;

USPS 077-680) is published five times a year (January

March, June, August, November) by the University of

North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences,

Room 1106, 501 N. Columbia Road Stop 9037,

Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037.

Periodical postage paid at Grand Forks, ND.

Printed at Forum Communications, Fargo, ND.

All articles published in nOrtH DaKOta meDICIne,

excluding photographs and copy concerning patients, can

be reproduced without prior permission from the editor.

Want more NORTH DAKOTA MEDICINE?

Look for this symbol, and check out our

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Features

High Wide, and Deep 10How high technology extends the breadth and depth of

medical knowledge and medical education

Brain Candy 14Pharmacologist and neuroscientist Lucia Carvelli uses C. elegans,

not gummi worms, as a tool to explore the molecular basis for

addiction in the brain.

From the Trenches to the Boardroom—and Back Again 16A health care leader shows the way through her service in Haiti

Dr. Edward Carlson 18Abiding scientist, teacher, and mentor

PAcesetters 20Graduates of the Physician Assistant Program hit the ground running

Growing Season 22

INMED’s annual Summer Institute

Departments

Dean’s Letter 4News Briefs 6Student Profile - Bobbi Rae Thuen 24Alumni Profile - Katrina Gardner 26Alumni Notes 29In Memoriam 32Planning Ahead 34Parting Shots 35

20

22

18


dean’s LETTER

THIS IS A TIME OF TRANSITIONS. The School had no sooner finishedgraduating 285 medical and healthscience students who constituted theClass of 2010 than it is welcoming anew class of eager and motivatedstudents. The first-year students arewell-prepared for the challenges that lieahead, and all of the faculty and staff ofthe School look forward to workingwith them to make the most of theirexperiences here at UND.

Other transitions are occurringelsewhere in the School. As you mayknow, I was recently named the deanof the School of Medicine and HealthSciences after serving as interim dean foralmost a year. I very much appreciatethe confidence that President Kelley hasshown by his selection of me, and I willdo my utmost to live up to the highexpectations that he—and you—havefor this important position. I’d like toshare with you some of the changesthat are occurring at your School, andoutline some of our goals for the future.

My trusted assistant, Judy Solberg,has joined me in the Office of the Deanas my chief of staff. She will coordinatethe activities of the office, and ensureoptimal collaboration with SeniorAssociate Dean Dr. Gwen Halaas andher operation in Academic and FacultyAffairs. I am pleased that Lori Sanneswill continue as the administrativeofficer to the dean, and TinaGreenwaldt, who recently joined us asadministrative secretary, will continueto ably handle many of the supportfunctions for the office.

Another office undergoing majortransition, physically, structurally, andphilosophically, is the Office of Alumniand Community Relations. Previouslycalled the Office of Public Affairs, theoffice has moved down the hall of the

first floor of the School to occupy theoffice suite across from Academic andFaculty Affairs. More important than thephysical move is the change inpersonnel in the Office. The newdirector of the office is Jessica Sobolik,who comes to us from the UNDAlumni Association. A former All-American athlete at UND, Jessica bringsa wealth of experience in alumni andcustomer service and support. She israpidly building a range of services andproducts for our alumni, who deserveour gratitude for their generouscontributions to the School and whowe recognize as vital to the future ofmedical and health science education.For those who are Twitter or Facebookfans, please check out these websites tosee a small sample of our newofferings: http://twitter.com/undsmhsand http://www.facebook.com/undsmhs.Supporting Jessica in the office is AssistantDirector Denis MacLeod, who previouslysplit his time serving both the School andits Center for Rural Health. He is a mediaand content expert, and is of particularhelp with our printed communications.Rounding out the office is ShelleyPohlman, assistant to the director, whoseoutstanding support was essentialduring the transition phase of the office.The most important change in the officeis a shift from focusing on news mediaadvocacy to building relationships withour alumni and other stakeholders—including the media, to be sure, butalso including national, state, and localgovernment leadership; other universityand college officials; UND faculty, staff,and students; communities; and mostimportant of all, the citizens of NorthDakota, who foot the bill for about30% of our operating expenses!

To better serve our students, we’remaking some changes in the

Transitions

”


administrative structure of the School as well. Since educationis the cornerstone of our mission, Dr. Gwen Halaas willassume expanded responsibilities as senior associate deanof Academic and Faculty Affairs. Although her oversight ofthe academic, faculty, and educational enterprise of theSchool is wide-ranging, areas of particular focus thisacademic year will include enhancing and updating themedical student curriculum, faculty development, andexploring ways to enhance our interprofessional offeringsthrough cooperation, coordination, and integration withother health care educational resources at UND, in theNorth Dakota University System, and throughout the region.

Supporting Dr. Halaas in these efforts will be threeassistant deans and one associate dean—two new part-timeand two revised positions. We were able to create the newand revised positions in a budget-neutral manner byutilizing funds that were freed when I relinquished myformer position as vice dean. The need for a new assistantdean for undergraduate and graduate education may not beapparent, yet it may surprise you that we help educate over600 undergraduate students each year, including manynursing and premedical students. Our graduate (master’sand PhD) students also deserve more attention, and the newassistant dean will be charged with optimizing theireducational experience. The call for faculty development byfull-time and voluntary faculty members has been loud andclear, and we are responding. Our talented and skilledfaculty members want to become even more effectiveteachers and mentors, and the new assistant dean for facultydevelopment will be charged with helping them do so.

The first revised dean’s position is a refocusing of thecurrently vacant associate dean for education slot. Since Dr.Charles Christianson has been appointed associate dean ofclinical education, the pre-clinical phase of medical studenteducation has been underrepresented. Accordingly, this revisedposition of assistant dean of pre-clinical education will focuson this important component of medical student education.Finally, the associate dean for clinical education, Dr. CharlesChristianson, will assume additional supervisory responsibilitiesfor the oversight of our regional campuses, which constitutea vital component of our clinical education experience.

Other transformations are in the planning stages, but it’simportant to emphasize that we’re not changing just for thesake of change. We’re adapting to better meet ourresponsibilities to our students, the people of North Dakota,as well as our faculty and staff. To paraphrase UNDPresident Kelley, we’re a great School of Medicine andHealth Sciences, and we aim to become exceptional. Theseimprovements will help us do so.

What is on my docket for the coming year? First of all, Iplan to visit all four quadrants of the state to listen andlearn, and to share our story with North Dakotans. Part ofthat story will be to help build understanding and supportfor our plan to expand the class size for both medicalstudents and the allied health science professions, and to

add additional residency slots for post-graduate training ofphysicians. North Dakota is already experiencing a providershortage, and it is forecast to get much worse. We have aplan to address the health care workforce needs of NorthDakota, but the plan is not cheap, and will requirecommunity and legislative support.

Second, we will continue to work with the leadershipof UND and North Dakota State University to offer a Masterof Public Health degree and certificate program. The MPHprogram will be unique when implemented, as it will be atruly collaborative undertaking by UND and NDSU.

Third, we will continue to build and develop ourresearch prowess. Already acknowledged for ouraccomplishments in focused areas of research, includingneurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, eatingdisorders like bulimia, aging, vaccine production andinfectious diseases, cancer research, the impact of theenvironment on health, and research into health caredelivery to vulnerable populations, particularly ruralresidents and Native Americans, we plan to continue toenhance our research enterprise. Our research mission isimportant for reducing death and disability in our state butalso important as an economic engine. It may, for example,surprise you to learn that over a quarter of the School’sbudget comes from external grants and contracts, much of itfederal. Overall, the School of Medicine and HealthSciences generates $2.61 for every appropriated dollarinvested in us!

Fourth, I hope to see the School have an enhanced rolein health care advocacy, as we work with other state andlocal leadership in helping to forge a more efficient, lessexpensive, more patient-friendly, and better health caredelivery system for the citizens of North Dakota.

Most important of all, I hope to help ensure an optimaleducational experience for every student we touch. If we dothis well, we will help ensure that we have the health careproviders we need now and in the future.

I’m excited about the future, and look forward toworking with all of you. Please feel free to be in touch. Ican be reached through my office (701-777-2516) or e-mail([email protected]).

Joshua Wynne, MD, MBA, MPHVice President for Health Affairs and Dean

...the school of Medicine and Health sciences

generates $2.61 for every

appropriated dollar invested in us!


neWs BRIEFS

WEB ExCLUSIVE: For expanded versions ofthese stories, visit: www.ndmedicine.org

On July 9, UND President Robert O. Kelley as well as city,state and regional leaders welcomed Joshua Wynne, MD,MBA, MPH, as the new vice president for health affairs andthirteenth dean of the UND School of Medicine and HealthSciences (SMHS). The reception was held in the VennesAtrium of the School.

Wynne began his new duties as vice president of healthaffairs and dean on May 18. Wynne has served as interimvice president for health affairs and interim dean of theUND SMHS since 2009.

Wynne said he looks forward to this opportunity for thecommunity to get to know him. He plans to hold “Get toKnow the Dean” events at the other SMHS campuses inFargo, Bismarck, and Minot.

Wynne is a senior physician executive with strongleadership, administrative, clinical, educational andanalytical skills, and extensive experience in multipleaspects of academic health care systems. He is a 1971graduate of Boston University, magna cum laude and PhiBeta Kappa, and an MD graduate of the same school, alsomagna cum laude and Alpha Omega Alpha, the nationalhonor medical society. He completed his internal medicine

residency and cardiology fellowship at Peter Bent BrighamHospital, and spent the subsequent six years at the HarvardUniversity-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Healso holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and anMPH degree in Health Management and Policy from theSchool of Public Health, University of Michigan. He servedin the United States Army as a battalion surgeon whilestationed in the Republic of Korea from 1973 to 1975.

Wynne came to UND in 2004 as executive associatedean for the SMHS. Before that, he was senior analyst at theInstitute for Strategic Analysis and Innovation, DetroitMedical Center. He was president of the faculty senate atthe Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit,where he was vice president of Affiliated Internists. Wynnealso served as chief of Wayne State’s Division of Cardiology.

He has more than 200 publications, including 77papers, 19 review articles, 45 book chapters, and 72abstracts, as well as 23 grants. Wynne has delivered morethan 250 talks and presentations to the medical and laypublic in the local region, state, nation and internationally,including talks in Ireland, France, Poland, Hungary, India,Thailand, and the Dominican Republic.

Welcome reception for new uND Medical school Dean Joshua Wynne

On June 1, University of North Dakota (UND) PresidentRobert Kelley, PhD, welcomed 50 undergraduate studentsfrom across the state, region and nation who will conductresearch this summer at the UND School of Medicine andHealth Sciences. Kelley spoke with the students about hisundergraduate research experience in the field ofdevelopmental biology and how it sparked his curiosity, athirst for knowledge that continues 45 years later.

President Kelley speaks with

summer research students.

Stephanie Lee, a second-year medical student at the UNDSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Joshua Wynne,MD, MBA, MPH, vice president for health affairs at UNDand dean of the SMHS, signed the first RuralMed Scholarcontract on May 20. Lee is a native of Mercer, a communityin west-central North Dakota with a population of 75 people.

“As Stephanie Lee and Dean Joshua Wynne signed thefirst RuralMed Scholarship contract, I was visualizing thelong-term potential benefit of this new program,” said JudyDeMers, associate dean for student affairs and admissions atthe UND SMHS. “It is simply a win-win program.”

First ruralMed scholar inks contract with uND school of Medicine and Health sciences

Nicole Haese, a first-year graduate student in the Departmentof Microbiology and Immunology at the UND School ofMedicine and Health Sciences, presented research at theBiennial National Beta Beta Beta Convention in Durango,Colorado, in May.

Haese presents research at National

Biological Honor society Convention

Dean Joshua Wynne has namedJessica Sobolik director of the Officeof Alumni and Community Relationsat the UND School of Medicine andHealth Sciences. She will work inconjunction with the UNDFoundation Director of DevelopmentDave Miedema to foster relationshipswith alumni of the SMHS, includingmedical doctor, bioscience and allied

health programs. Sobolik joined Assistant Director DenisMacLeod and Assistant to the Director Shelley Pohlman inthe Office.

Jessica sobolik named director at uND

school of Medicine and Health sciences


neWs BRIEFS

Judy DeMers, the longtime associatedean for student affairs and admissionsat the UND School of Medicine andHealth Sciences, will retire Dec. 31.

DeMers says this about her tenureat the SMHS: “Over the past 27 yearsas associate dean, it has been mygreat pleasure to have worked withfive medical school deans, manycreative administrators, a highly

talented faculty, truly dedicated staff, and very importantly,with more than 1,500 medical students. Although I like tothink I have contributed to and enhanced the high quality ofour programs and the successes of our students andgraduates over the years, I know I will leave this winterhaving gained much more than I have given. It was never ajob for me; it has always been a commitment to thestudents and to the state of North Dakota—a commitment Ihope to continue in other ways in future years.”

DeMers, a Grand Forks native, and valedictorian andsumma cum laude 1966 graduate of the UND College ofNursing, is both a registered nurse and certified publichealth nurse who earned an MEd from the University ofWashington in 1973.

As a nurse, health educator, and administrator, DeMershas earned several dozen awards and honors going back tothe very start of her career, garnering the Beck Award forNursing in 1965, several Nurse of the Year awards,including the statewide award in 1983; and several listingsin Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who of AmericanWomen. She was named to the North Dakota NursesAssociation Hall of Fame in 2002.

Dr. Joshua Wynne, UND vice president for healthaffairs and dean of the SMHS, had this to say aboutDeMers: “Judy embodies the best of the North Dakotanethic, and all that is good at the School of Medicine andHealth Sciences. She is honest, hard-working, smart,dedicated, helpful, and dedicated to her students. As chairof the executive associate dean search committee, she wasresponsible for attracting me to UND almost six years ago.So in no small measure, I owe Judy a debt of gratitude formy appointment as dean. She has given extraordinarilyoutstanding service to our students for decades, and whileshe will be irreplaceable, she has earned her ‘retirement.’Knowing Judy, though, her retirement likely will beanything but ‘retiring,’ and I suspect she will continue tofind ways to serve, as she has for decades. All of us wishher the best in the next phase of her illustrious career.”

DeMers joined the UND faculty in 1969 as aninstructor in public health nursing and was the associatedirector of, and instructor in, the MEDEx project in the

SMHS Department of Family and Community Medicinefrom 1970 to 1972.

DeMers then spent time as a research associate in theOffice of Research and Medical Education at the Universityof Washington’s medical school through 1977 beforereturning to UND as assistant professor and director of theFamily Nurse Practitioner Program, where she served until1982. She also was director of the UND medical school’sFocal Problems Course until 1989, and she served for ayear as director of undergraduate medical education in theDepartment of Family Medicine.

From 1982 through 1983, DeMers was associatedirector of the SMHS Office of Rural Health and waspromoted to the rank of associate professor. In 1983,DeMers was appointed to her current position. In 1982DeMers was elected to the North Dakota House ofRepresentatives, where she served until 1992. She waselected to the North Dakota State Senate in 1992 andserved there until 2000.

Among many other consultancies, DeMers was an on-site evaluator for the American Medical Association’sCommittee on Allied Health Education Accreditation from1979 to 1983. She also was a consultant to the NorthDakota state Office of Protection and Advocacy.

In 2009, DeMers received the SMHS HippocraticDignity Award. This year, she earned the OutstandingService Award from the American Association of MedicalColleges Central Group on Student Affairs at the group’snational meeting in Austin, Texas.

In nominating DeMers for the award, Daniel A. Burr,PhD, assistant dean for student financial planning at theUniversity of Cincinnati College of Medicine, said, “In the30 years that I have been a member of the Group onStudent Affairs, I know of no other colleague with a moreimpressive involvement in educational, social, and healthcare issues. We have been fortunate to have her as amember of our region for 27 years.”

“Judy has never hesitated to challenge the status quo orask the difficult question,” said Burr. “She is a woman offew words, but they are strong. It is clear she speaks as oneclosely involved with her students and aware of the effectsassociation policies can have on their lives.”

DeMers has been, and remains, extraordinarily active inmany national, regional, and local organizations andcommittees—the North Dakota Nurses Association,Development Homes Inc., the Red River Community ActionProgram, the UND Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, andDemocratic NPL Party, to name a few—underscoring herongoing professional and personal commitment tocommunity service.

Judy DeMers announces retirement


neWs BRIEFS

A retirement reception to honor Dr.David R. Antonenko, professor ofsurgery and director of the SurgicalSimulation and Education Center atthe UND School of Medicine andHealth Sciences, was held onMonday, June 7. Antonenko wasrecognized for his 21 years ofteaching and leadership in theDepartment of Surgery at the SMHS.

He practiced critical care medicine and general surgery forAltru Health System in Grand Forks, where he was directorof Surgery Critical Care and director of Trauma Services.

Colleagues from around the region joined SMHS DeanDr. Joshua Wynne in paying tribute to Antonenko’s storiedcareer. “He contributed to the education of a generation ofmedical students and surgical residents,” said Wynne.

Dr. Robert Sticca, professor, current chair and programdirector of the Department of Surgery, noted Antonenko’snational influence on the progress of surgery. Dr. MarkSiegel, medical director of Surgical Services at Altru HealthSystem, said Antonenko was vital in the establishment ofAltru Hospital as a Level-II trauma center. “He always hasthe care of the surgical patient in mind,” said Siegel.

“Dr. Antonenko manifested three qualities: vision,tenacity and leadership,” said Dr. Mark Jensen, chief of surgeryfor the VA Hospital in Fargo. “He provided exemplaryservice and support for our veterans, and he provided yearsof guidance and wisdom for our surgical faculty.”

“He was a great teacher, great to work with, and a lotof fun,” said Sandy Swanson, Dr. Antonenko’s nurse for

over 18 years. Antonenko, MD, PhD, FACS, FRCS (C), FCCP, received

his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University ofAlberta in Edmonton and completed his general surgeryresidency training at the University of Alberta. He was alsoa Fellow in general surgery at the University of Alberta andRoyal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton. Dr. Antonenkocompleted a Trauma Critical Care Fellowship at WayneState University in Detroit, Mich., and obtained his PhD inExperimental Surgery from the University of Alberta.

Antonenko was an associate professor of surgery at theUniversity of Alberta as well as a tenured associateprofessor of surgery at Wayne State University School ofMedicine, Detroit, before arriving in Grand Forks inDecember 1989. He was director of surgical education forthe Department of Surgery from May 2005 to June 2008and chair of the Department of Surgery from December1989 to May 2005. He was program director of surgeryfrom July 1990 to December 1992. Antonenko is BoardCertified in General Surgery from the Royal College ofPhysicians and Surgeons of Canada with special interests insurgical critical care and trauma.

Antonenko played a pivotal role in establishing theSurgical Simulation Center for the SMHS in 2008. TheCenter helps to train general surgery, family practice, andinternal medicine residents as well as medical students andsome allied health professionals.

“By stimulating the desire to learn, you help the studentand ultimately the patient,” said Antonenko in thanking his colleagues. “Teaching surgery has been my life.”

Dr. David antonenko honored by uND school of Medicine and Health sciences

Lucia Carvelli, PhD, has joined the Department ofPharmacology, Physiology, and Therapeutics (PPT) at theUND School of Medicine and Health Sciences as anassistant professor. Her position will involve teaching andresearch. She will conduct research on the mechanism ofaction in drug addiction, specifically the effect of drugs,such as amphetamine and cocaine, on the dopaminetransporter, which is a protein localized in thedopaminergic neurons in specific areas of the braininvolved in movement, reward, and memory processes.

Before joining UND’s PPT department, Carvelli was aresearch assistant professor and a research associate in theDepartment of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University fornine years.

Drug addiction researcher Joins uND

school of Medicine and Health sciences Mariaha Lyons, a junior undergraduate student at theUniversity of North Dakota, was recently awarded a 2010Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship. This is acompetitive national award from The AmericanPhysiological Society, which gives Lyons hands-on researchexperience in the lab of an established investigator, learningto develop a hypothesis, design and troubleshootexperiments, collect and analyze data, and write up andpresent results. Each fellow receives a $4,000 stipend tocover living expenses during the 10-week fellowship.Fellows also receive travel funds to present their research atthe Experimental Biology 2011 meeting in Washington,D.C., which is expected to attract nearly 14,000 scientists.

Lyons was the recipient of an Advanced UndergraduateResearch Award from North Dakota EPSCoR in 2009.EPSCoR is the Experimental Program to StimulateCompetitive Research.

uND undergrad Wins

National research Fellowship

WEB ExCLUSIVE: For expanded versions ofthese stories, visit: www.ndmedicine.org


neWs BRIEFS

Nine senior medical students from the UND School ofMedicine and Health Sciences were inducted into the GoldHumanism Honor Society on June 17. Keynote speakerGwen Halaas, MD, MBA, associate dean for academic andfaculty affairs, provided an inspiring commentary on theimportance of community to the humanistic physician.

Joshua Wynne, MD, MBA, MPH, dean of the UNDSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences gave the openingremarks and initiated the new members. He was assisted byJon Allen, MD, assistant dean of the northeast campus anddirector of the School’s simulation center.

In 2009, the UND chapter joined 72 other medicalschool chapters across the country in recognizing seniormedical students who demonstrate exemplary humanismand professionalism throughout their medical education.Creation of the chapter was made possible by a grant from theArnold P. Gold Foundation. Fifteen percent of the class wasselected through a process that included peer nomination andsubsequent confirmation by the School’s Gold HumanismHonor oversight committee. Each student’s clinical performanceand record of community service was considered.

Members of the class of 2011 include • Tyler Brolin • Andrew Burgard • Brennan Forward • Michael Greenwood • Evan Kemp • Jared Mahylis • Taylor Mertz • Morgan Skalsky • Jason Van Valkenburg

school of Medicine and Health sciences inducts

members of Gold Humanism Honor society

Heidi M. Bittner, MD, clinical assistantprofessor of family and communitymedicine at the UND School of Medicineand Health Sciences, recently was honoredwith the prestigious Leonard TowHumanism in Medicine Faculty Award.Katrina Gardner, MD, a 2010 UNDmedical school graduate and Dickinson,N.D., native, received the Tow awardfor graduating medical students.

The Leonard Tow Humanism inMedicine Awards are sponsored by theNew Jersey-based Arnold P. GoldFoundation. The awards recognize aphysician and a graduating medicalstudent who best demonstrate thefoundation’s ideals of outstandingcompassion in the delivery of care;respect for patients, their families andhealth care colleagues; as well asdemonstrated clinical excellence.

Bittner was nominated by Gardnerfor the award because “she makes her patients feel at the centerof her attention, and she does this with humor, humility andunderstanding,” said Gardner. “It is powerful medicine.”

Bittner graduated from the UND School of Medicine andHealth Sciences in 1991. She is certified by the AmericanBoard of Family Medicine and has completed a fellowship inhigh-risk obstetrics and neonatology. She has been practicingat Altru Clinic–Lake Region in Devils Lake since 1995. In 2007,Bittner was named the North Dakota Family Physician of theYear by the North Dakota Academy of Family Physicians. Shehas been a key to the success of UND’s Rural Opportunitiesin Medical Education Program, a seven-month educationexperience for third-year medical students where they learnabout problems commonly encountered in rural primary care.

Gardner was nominated for her award by a peer and byStephen Tinguely, MD, associate professor and chair of theDepartment of Pediatrics at the UND SMHS. “Katrinaexemplifies the characteristics of humanism and altruismthat define the meaning of being a ‘good doctor,’” saidTinguely. “I hope and pray that this soon-to-be youngdoctor will someday return to North Dakota as I would beso honored to be listed as one of her colleagues.”

For her last medical school elective, Gardner worked ata missionary hospital in Cameroon. She is collecting PDAsfrom her classmates in order to provide “point of contact”medical information resources for the resident doctors at thehospital. Gardner is an inaugural member of the GoldHumanism Honor Society at the UND SMHS; she is aformer two-year Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal; and shevolunteered during a college summer in Quito, Ecuador.

uND Doctors receive Humanism inMedicine awards

(bottom, left to right) Jason Van Valkenburg, Jared Mahylis, Morgan

skalsky, Brennan Forward and andrew Burgard; (top, left to right)

evan Kemp, Taylor Mertz, Tyler Brolin and Michael Greenwood

Heidi Bittner, Md

Katrina Gardner, Md


”

ITH A GLASS TUBE BARELY LARGER than a human hair, Dr. Lucia Carvelli probes the surface of a single neuron for just the right spot.

The University of North Dakota (UND)pharmacologist and neuroscientist is looking for aconnection—from the surface of that single neuron toan amplifier that’ll tell her exactly when the dopaminetransporter she’s tracking crosses the neuron’s wall.Carvelli (profiled elsewhere in this issue) aims todecipher the neural code that spells out why somepeople but not others get addicted to drugs.

Carvelli, a researcher and professor in the UNDSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS)Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, andTherapeutics, is one of dozens of scientists at theSchool who daily reveal more about the innerworkings of the human body, the diseases thatattack it, and ways to cure or prevent them. It takespowerful technologies—and teams of people tosupport them—to produce, analyze, store, and retrievethe mountains of data produced by this work.

There’s a keen relationship betweenbiomedical research—the kind that happens everyday at the UND School of Medicine and HealthSciences—and the technology advances thateventually will lead to improved health care.

“We’re all part of a big team,” said Dr. EdwardSauter, the School’s associate dean for research anda professor of surgery who pioneered noninvasiveand minimally invasive techniques to predict breastcancer risk.

For Sauter, today’s research enterprise—including all the advanced technology that supportsit—is about collaboration.

“One of my first tasks when I arrived at UNDwas to explore ways to increase collaborations withother productive researchers,” said Sauter, who earnedhis MD at the Louisiana State University School ofMedicine and his PhD in molecular biology fromthe University of Pennsylvania. Sauter also holds a

master’s degree in health administration.For Sauter and other SMHS faculty, technology,

from ever-faster computers in every facet of teachingand research to the cyclotron and the scanningelectron microscopes that the School operates, isvery simply part of that equation. Today, Sauter notes,physicians, researchers, and teachers in a medicalschool setting demand the latest connectivity,electronic equipment, and productivity software toremain competitive. Everyone needs “right-now”access to relevant information.

No need, he says, to be wowed by the technologybecause its job is to serve, not overpower.

“The technology we use is always about eitherpreventing or curing disease,” he said.

In this story, we’ll explore the work of 10faculty members and staff from the School and thetechnologies they work with.

For example, some of the people work with theend product of a technology, such as an electroniccontent management system and special smartclassroom electronics. Others use the power ofhigh-speed computer clusters, which work like asupercomputer, to delve into the secrets of proteinfolding that, they hope, will tell us a lot more aboutdrug addiction. Others handle the hardware; theyinstall, manage, troubleshoot and maintain all the(mostly) electronic bells and whistles essential tokeeping the School’s research and teachingenterprises humming.

How high technology extends

the breadth and depth of medical

knowledge and medical education

By Juan pedraza

W

The technology we use is always about

either preventing or curing disease.


“...researchers,

bioinformaticians, physicians,

and willing participants.

They are all critical.

edward sauter, mD, phD, mHaassociate Dean for research,

professor of surgeryAfter getting his MD and PhD degrees,Dr. Edward (Ed) Sauter followed hisdream of becoming a cancer surgeonand researcher. The two in his life aretied closely together. Sauter wasrecruited to UND because, amongother talents, he is an accomplishedsurgeon with expertise in translationalresearch, especially the early detectionof breast cancer.

Translational research is aboutdeveloping the results of research intoreal-world solutions for patients.Today’s translational science is like justabout every other field of research—technology-intensive.

”When you conduct clinical andtranslational research, you can’t reallyseparate the patients you take care offrom your search for new cures for thediseases you’re dealing with,” Sautersaid. “Ultimately, you want to cure thedisease that they have.”

“Although we’d like to find diseaseearlier or ideally to prevent it, we don’tknow if the new or additional intervention,which the clinical trial provides, willhave the desired outcome,” Sauter said.“Some patients are willing to participatein a clinical trial to investigate whethera new intervention will be better thanthe standard of care; others elect not to.It is essential for a clinical andtranslational researcher to rememberthat both patients under your care aswell as other potential study participantshave the right not to enroll in a clinicaltrial, despite your belief that they aregood candidates for enrollment and thatstudy findings may lead to improvedcare for a given disease in the future. Ifthe researcher also serves as thepatient’s doctor, the care of the patientalways comes first.”

Of course, Sauter said, withoutadvances in technology, such as thekinds he uses daily in his work,advances in treatment and preventionwould not be possible.

”In my field, the technology forcollecting samples to detect breast cancerdidn’t exist 10 years ago,” he said. “For

example, I use a micro-endoscope, witha tip that’s the diameter of a hair, thattraverses the milk ducts in the breast toidentify cellular changes in the ductlining before they become evident onmammography. Before this technologywas available, it was impossible tocollect these samples for determiningdisease risk. Today we can evaluatethese samples for mutational and other‘epigenetic,’ or nonmutational, changesin DNA, which increase the chances thata woman will develop breast cancer.”

Sauter sees this technology drivinga major paradigm shift in medicine.

“The micro-endoscope is an exampleof the current direction of medicine topersonalize patient care,” Sauter said.“Another critical component in our goalto personalize care is the assessment oflarge data sets from single- and multi-institution clinical trials, which requiresrobust computational power, as well asbiostatisticians working with researchersto make sense of the vast amount ofdata that are generated in these studies.”

“There is no doubt thatpersonalized medicine will becomeincreasingly important in patient care,”Sauter said. “We already know that notevery adult individual should receivethe same dose of most medications,since we have different circulatingblood volumes, and activate andmetabolize the medications at differentrates. The ability to dose medicationsconsidering these individualcharacteristics is on the horizon.”

Genetic technologies also are vitalcomponents in the advancing standardsof medical care.

“With cancer, for example, eachtumor has a different genetic profile,”Sauter explained. “To optimally treat apatient’s cancer, we have to know themutational and epigenetic events thatled to its formation. This means we’llneed to profile the tumor in order forthe physician to prescribe the rightmedication(s) at the correct dose(s) tomaximize tumor kill while minimizingnormal cell kill and thereby side effects.”

Sauter is already using such agenetic profile, Oncotype Dx BreastCancer Assay, created by a company


called Genomic Health, to optimizecare delivery to his patients. It’s anoninvasive assessment of the tumor, a21-gene test that provides informationon whether or not to treat the womanwith newly diagnosed breast cancerwith tamoxifen or chemotherapy.

“There’s also a 70-gene assay calledMammaPrint (developed by Amsterdam-based Agendia), a molecular diagnostictest used to assess the risk that a breasttumor will spread to other parts of thebody,” Sauter said. “I call it genomic

personalization for breast cancer therapy.Basically it helps us determine whethera patient should get chemotherapy.”

There’s a similar test for coloncancer, and others are on the way.

“These are examples of geneticmedicine that are already in the clinic.This wave of personalized care is justgetting started,” Sauter said. “It takesbig teams of people to do this:researchers, bioinformaticians,physicians, and willing participants.They are all critical.”

James Haselton, PhD, Assistant ProfessorPhysiology, Pharmacology, andTherapeuticsDirector, Graduate Studies

Jane Dunlevy, PhD, Associate ProfessorAnatomy and Cell Biology

Jon Allen, MD, Assistant Dean, Northeast CampusAssociate Professor of Internal Medicine and Director, Simulation Center

Jonathan Geiger, PhD, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professorand ChairPharmacology, Physiology, andTherapeutics

Keith Henry, Assistant ProfessorPharmacology, Physiology, andTherapeutics

Kenneth Ruit, PhD, Associate Professor and Vice ChairAnatomy and Cell BiologyDirector of Graduate Education

Jon Jackson, PhD, Assistant ProfessorAnatomy and Cell Biology

Mario Borboa, BSN, BS Computer Information SystemsInformation Systems Specialist and TechnicianInformation Resources

Nasser Hammami, MS, Assistant Professor, CIOUND School of Medicine and Health Sciences

editor’s note: To fully grasp the extent of the School’s use of high technology, we have had to extend the boundariesof the magazine. Please continue reading the full story online at www.ndmedicine.org, where the following talentedindividuals share how their innovative use of technology keeps the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at theforefront of research and teaching.

(From left) Cheryl stauffenecker, director Jon allen, Tim shea, and Jamie Hamilton at the

sMHs simulation Center


“

SO WHAT DOES BRITISH ROCK-’N’-roll bad boy Ozzy Osbourne share withthe lowly nematode C. elegans?

Well, nothing really, except that thisminuscule, transparent worm could clueus in on why Osbourne survived afteryears of flagrant alcohol and drug abuse.

“Osbourne will be studied byresearch teams and physicians at theCambridge, Mass.-based companyKnome, which provides whole genomesequencing and interpretation servicesto researchers and families, to find outif there’s a genetic component to hissurvival,” said Dr. Lucia Carvelli, apharmacologist who recently joined Dr. Jonathan Geiger’s team at theUniversity of North Dakota School ofMedicine and Health SciencesDepartment of Pharmacology,Physiology, and Therapeutics.

Carvelli, who grew up in Milan,Italy, is working with C. elegans todetail exactly what amphetamines,cocaine, and other addictive drugs doat the molecular level in the brain.

Her research could also shed light onParkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerativecondition with no known cure, andattention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD), both related to themalfunction of the dopaminergicsystem, the same system that causessome folks to get hooked on booze,crack, and other addictive drugs.

Carvelli got her PhD at the world-famous Mario Negri Institute ofPharmacological Research, where shedeveloped her intense interest in thechemistry of pleasure-seeking neurons,the little guys that give us a kick whenwe eat a nice chunk of chocolate ice

cream or kiss our favorite person. At theInstitute, Carvelli received the AlfredoLeonardi Award as the top PhD studentof the year in 1999.

Joining the UND SMHS’neuroscience research team in March,Carvelli quickly started some microscopicelectrical detective work: she probesthe molecular basis of drug addictionby systematically testing the electricalenergy released when individualneurons release or receive dopamine.

“Basically, I’m researching themechanism of action in drug addiction,specifically the effect of drugs, such asamphetamine and cocaine, on thedopamine transporter, which is a proteinexpressed only in the dopaminergicneurons that are localized in specific areasof the brain involved in movement,reward, and memory processes,” saidCarvelli with a grand smile, drawingrapidly on a whiteboard to explain theresearch she’s so passionate about.

“It has important roles in learningand memory, in movement, and manyother brain functions, including eatingand sex,” she said. “It’s what helps us putpleasurable experiences in our memoryand urges us to repeat those experiences.But, Carvelli said, this dopaminergicsystem is susceptible to tricks.

“Sure, that’s how drugs of addictionwork—they trick this system,” she said.“They push some people to repeatedlyengage in the pleasurable experience sothat they become addicted, say, to eating,drinking, or injecting an addictive drug.You can say that these substances messup the system. We know now that somepeople have a genetic predisposition tobecoming addicted to certain substances

By Juan pedraza

By studying this system,

we learn about

basic life functions.

Pharmacologist and neuroscientist Lucia Carvelli uses C. elegans, not gummiworms, as a tool to explore the molecular basis for addiction in the brain.


or to addictive behavior—in other words,they cannot control their addictivebehavior. That loss of control can lead tobehaviors such as chronic overeating.”

With more than 1 billion neuronsand more connections than mostmodern computers, the human brain isstill impossibly complex to probedirectly, she explained.

“So that’s why I use C. elegans in myresearch,” Carvelli said. “Specifically,I’m studying how the dopaminetransporter (DAT) functions and how it’simplicated in the dopamine-relateddisorders I mentioned earlier, includingADHD and Parkinson’s but also inbipolar disorder and schizophrenia.”

She’s doing all of this on the greenfluorescent-dyed neurons—all eight ofthem—in the 1-millimeter-long, clear-skinned nematode that is the basic toolof her research, which is supported bya $500,000 grant from the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH) NationalInstitute on Drug Abuse.

“Right now I’m focusing on theaddiction-related effects of thedopaminergic system,” she said. “Whenwe say ‘addiction,’ it could be addictivedrug abuse, such as amphetamines andcocaine. But addiction can also include

things such as food, so by studying thissystem, we learn about basic life functionssuch as eating and sex, functions thatare fundamental for life and areregulated by the dopaminergic system.”

“So basically, the body has evolvedso that every time you do somethingthat’s essential for life, it’s pleasurable,”she explained. “So you want to repeatthat pleasurable activity. The brainmemorizes that these are good things,and you learn that you want to do themagain. The dopaminergic system isinvolved in that memorization processthat tells us those things are good. Thefact that some people are very much incontrol of themselves and some othersare not is very appealing for me to study.”

Before joining the School’s PPTdepartment, Carvelli was a researchassistant professor and a research associatein the Department of Pharmacology atVanderbilt University for nine years.She completed her postdoctoral researchat the University of Texas HealthScience Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Carvelli is a member of the Societyfor Neuroscience. She has authored andcoauthored numerous articles, and haspresented at national and internationalscientific conferences.

Lucia Carvelli in her laboratory.


to the Boardroom

TO HEAR MARY ANN LAxEN, PA-C,MAB tell it, the equation is really quitesimple: we are all equal, though notequally in need. Nowhere is this moredramatically apparent than in Haiti,struck on January 12 by the strongestearthquake there since 1770, leavingmore than 3 million inhabitants in direneed of emergency aid. For Laxen, whoretired in March as director of UND’sPhysician Assistant (PA) Program, it wasa coming together of calamity andconviction. Although a year-long stay inHaiti had already been in the works,the disaster provided added impetus.She left Grand Forks immediatelyfollowing her retirement.

Laxen is no newcomer to the region.

She first visited Haiti in 1991 as part ofan outreach effort, teaming up with theHaitian Health Foundation (HHF) and itsmedical director Dr. R. Bordeau. Thishuman services organization, founded inthe mid-80s, is based in the mid-sizedtown of Jérémie, about 150 miles westof Port-au-Prince. According to Laxen,over 30,000 people displaced by theearthquake have streamed into Jérémie,a place ill-prepared to receive them.“They come with nothing,“ Laxen said.“They’ll need housing, food, and medicalcare. They need everything.” They arethe lucky ones: ten times that numberperished in the quake and its aftermath.

She notes that medical care in Haitiis unlike anything Americans are used

a health care leader shows the way through her service in Haiti

—and Back again

From the trenches

By Gary niemeier

except for the woman holding

the box of candles, each of the others

represents one family displaced by the

Port-au-Prince earthquake.

That day alone, 300 families were helped.


to. “In Jérémie,” she said, “if you gointo the hospital, you have to bringyour own gloves, your own IV, yourown medicine, and sometimes yourown mattress.”

Laxen will devote her energies tothe Center of Hope, an HHF facility fortwo of Haiti’s most at-risk groups:children and pregnant women. Laxenadmits a special interest in the children,many of whom suffer from a severeform of malnourishment calledkwashiorkor. A diet lacking in proteinallows the cells in the body to breakdown, resulting in swollen limbs.Ironically, the mother assumes the childis gaining healthy weight. “Before theyrealize it’s abnormal, it’s too late,” shesaid. “We know we’re going to loseabout half these kids.”

The situation with women is just asdire. “In Haiti, all women are high risk,”Laxen said. “The Center of Hope focuseson very young pregnant women, 12-and 13-year-olds, and also women withmultiples (twins), or women with highblood pressure or diabetes. They arewatched and checked every day. They dotheir own cooking.” Laxen is keenly awareof the social pressures on women in acountry where they have no power. “Thewomen can’t say no,” she said. “They mayhave many pregnancies and still end upwith no children, or maybe one, after afew years.” As a result, Laxen said theHHF pushes for breast-feeding, which notonly provides much-needed nutrition butis also a natural form of birth control:“You will never at HHF find a bottle.”

This kind of service comes naturallyto Laxen, a native of Winsted, Minnesota.As a member of the Franciscan sisterhood,she developed early the egalitarian idealsthat would mark her career. Armed witha nursing degree, she served during muchof the 1970s as a nurse/coordinator inTaiwan, already displaying the talent forleadership she would tap in later years.She spent a decade in hospitaladministration, rising through the ranksand adding the titles chief operating officerand vice president along the way. Eventhen, thoughts of the underprivilegedwere never far away. Laxen said, “I didn’tcare if I was in the boardroom talking

to people who own great organizations,or talking to the person cleaning theroom. It didn’t make any difference.”

As a registered nurse, Laxen qualifiedfor the PA program at UND, graduatingin the spring of 1991. Then, she got anovel idea: “The nurse practitionerboards weren’t until September, sorather than find a job, I volunteered towork in Haiti for those months. I loved it,but after taking the boards as planned,President Aristide was deposed, and Icouldn’t get back in the country.” Sheworked as a PA and FNP on SouthDakota’s Rosebud Indian Reservation.By 1994, her experience and leadershiptalents came together in the field of PAeducation. After a stint as associate—and later acting—director at St. LouisUniversity’s Department of PhysicianAssistant Education, she was hired byUND as director of the PA program.

Laxen moved swiftly to change thecurriculum from a certificate to amaster’s degree program (the first classgraduated in 2005). To further broadenthe appeal and utility of the program,she then moved to open admissions toa much wider group of health careprofessionals: physical and respiratorytherapists, paramedics, chiropractorsand pharmacists. Along the way, Laxenenjoyed the support of Dr. H. DavidWilson, former dean of the School ofMedicine and Health Sciences, and Dr.Elizabeth Burns, former chair of theSchool’s Department of Family Medicine.

For all her achievements, Laxen ischaracteristically proudest of thesimpler, more personal dimension—“that we’ve instilled in our students abasic value in treating the patient firstof all as a human being, how we’d liketo be treated.” She’s deeply committedto confronting inequalities in healthcare. “All of my jobs have made mevery aware of the incongruities in a richcountry like ours: the haves and thehave-nots,” she said. Typically, hersolution is simplicity itself, puttingherself where the need is greatest. “I dobelieve the way the Haitians do:‘What’ll happen . . . si Dieu veut . . .God willing.’ That’s certainly how thisone’s ending for me.”

WEB ExCLUSIVE: For links to Mary Ann’s blog and to The Haitian Health Foundation,visit: www.ndmedicine.org

Mary ann Laxen


EDUCATION IS IN DR. EDWARDCarlson’s blood. His mother Racheltaught eight grades in a one-roomschoolhouse in rural Wisconsin, andCarlson knew he’d follow in herfootsteps the first time he stepped infront of a classroom.

“I had a brilliant high school biologyteacher, and one of our assignmentswas to give a short lecture to the class.

I really enjoyed the whole experience—prepping the materials, being in front ofthe classroom, and teaching my fellowstudents. I was immediately hooked,”said Carlson, who recently completed40 consecutive years in medicalteaching, including nearly 30 as chairof UND’s School of Medicine andHealth Sciences’ Department ofAnatomy and Cell Biology.

What you might not know aboutthis soft-spoken, dedicated professor,who retired as department chair onJune 30, is that his teaching careernearly took an entirely different direction.

As a college student, the scienceaficionado was also a budding musicianwho played both trumpet and piano.He was unsure which path to pursuewhen freshman music theory got thebetter of him.

“I just wasn’t into sight-singing andall that solfège stuff,” he joked.

So, he switched his major to biology,and music’s loss was UND’s gain.

Carlson first came to UND as a PhDstudent in 1966 at the recommendationof an undergraduate professor at BethelCollege in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“He was an alum andrecommended that I apply to the PhDprogram,” said Carlson.

A National Defense Education Actfellowship paid for his four years ofschooling at UND and launched hiscareer teaching future physicians.

After graduating from UND in1970, Carlson moved on to warmerclimes, spending seven years teachingat the University of Arizona and fouryears at UC-Davis.

What lured him back to North Dakota?

“Well, the opportunity to becomechair of the department from whichyou’ve obtained your PhD only comesonce in a lifetime, and it was such a

Dr. edward CarlsonBy Laura scholz

abiding scientist, Teacher, and Mentor


remarkable offer, I couldn’t pass it up.But beyond that, it’s absolutely the bestenvironment for teaching, learning, andresearching,” said Carlson.

“The honesty and integrity of theadministration and our studentscontinually amaze me and inspire meto do my best. Our students are sobright and have an amazing workethic—they help keep me feeling youngand constantly thinking and discoveringnew things about science.”

His favorite class to teach?“As macabre as it sounds, gross

human anatomy. You get to see thebody in three dimensions. It’s veryhands-on, and you can actually reach inand feel and touch and experience howthe body works. It’s fascinating, and it’sthe one time during their training whenstudents have that experience.”

When he’s not teaching studentsthe complexities of human anatomy,you’ll find Dr. Carlson in the lab, wherehe and his team are working on researchthat could have a huge impact on thosesuffering from type 1 diabetes. Hisspecialty is in the body’s connectivetissues—basically the glue that holdsthe body together—and, specifically,the basement membrane, which coversthe cells that line interior surfaces ofblood vessels. In diabetics, high bloodglucose damages these membranes,causing significant injury to majororgans, like the kidneys and the eyes.

Carlson first became interested inthe basement membrane during histeaching tenure in Arizona, when heworked on a research team trying todetermine its composition and how toisolate it from the surrounding bloodvessels. He and two other researchersfigured out how to isolate themembrane, which led to NationalInstitutes of Health-sponsored researchinto how alterations of the membraneaffect diabetics.

“We’re all familiar withantioxidants and how good they are forthe body,” said Carlson. “That’sbecause they destroy oxidants andallow for repair of basement membranedamage caused by chronic diseases likediabetes. Right now, you can only

inject and ingest antioxidants, butneither method is as effective as thebody manufacturing its own.”

Enter Carlson and his student researchteam, which together with their majorcollaborator, Dr. Paul Epstein, at theUniversity of Louisville, have successfullytested the effects of an antioxidant genein mice kidneys. So far, the gene hasproduced remarkable success ingenetically engineered mice, where it hasreduced the complications of diabetes by30 percent to 40 percent. More recently,another gene was constructed in theCarlson lab that has the potential foreven more protection against damageddiabetic blood vessels. The ultimategoal: develop these genes for humans.

That is why Dr. Carlson’s “retirement”will be a phased one, taking place overthe next five years, where he’ll have fulluse of his laboratory, technician, andstudents, and will maintain hisendowed professorship.

“I’m basically retiring to something,and that’s my research. This phasedretirement gives me a flexible scheduleand allows me to continue my research,as well as the opportunity to teachpatient-centered learning curriculumclasses during one block each year.”

And what will he do when he’s notin the lab?

“I used to run, but I recently had aknee replacement, so now I enjoyworking out with the cardio machinesin our wonderful UND WellnessCenter. I also enjoy working in mybackyard, mowing the lawn, and takingcare of our home.”

He and wife Pam have beenmarried for 15 years.

But most of all, his heart is with theuniversity, where he’s proud to haveplayed his part in the education of someof the state’s best young doctors.

”Our students are so bright...

they help keep me feeling

young and constantly

thinking and discovering

new things about science.


THEY HAIL FROM ALASKA TO Florida and from Washington to RhodeIsland, representing 11 states. They rangein age from 24 to 59, are smart—scholarsmart—and possess serious street “cred.”Actually, it’s med cred: they have anaverage of 11 years of clinical experience.They are the Physician Assistant Classof 2010 at the University of NorthDakota (UND) School of Medicine andHealth Sciences (SMHS).

Here is a sampling of the 60 talentedindividuals in the class. Lucy Gambrill,RN, CEN, MSN, has 20 years of ERexperience. Grant McFadden, MT (ASCP),has a BS in Clinical Laboratory Scienceand five years of experience as a clinicalscientist. Joshua Slatky, MEd, ATC, LAT,OTC, has seven years of experience insports medicine. Chuck Waltman, MS,ATC, has an MS in Sports Medicine fromthe United States Sports Academy andmore than seven years of experience.

Their reasons for pursuing a physicianassistant (PA) degree are as varied as theirbackgrounds. Gambrill’s father died ofacute leukemia when she was ten yearsold, which impressed upon her the needto seek a career in a medical professionwhere she could broaden her skills andshe would always have a job.

“Being a PA gives me many moreopen horizons of practice andexpanded autonomy compared tonursing,” said Gambrill.

Slatky always enjoyed athletics, soa career in athletic training provided a“good balance between medicine andsports.” An AT fellowship exposed himto the clinical setting, which allowedhim to offer more to patients. Waltmanwanted to further his career so he could

extend his ability to “practice inorthopedics, sports medicine, or in anemergency room.” McFadden’s firstinterest was science, but over hiscareer, he was drawn toward “beingmore involved with patient care.”

The Physician Assistant Program islocated in the Department of Family andCommunity Medicine in the UND Schoolof Medicine and Health Sciences. Sinceits inception in 1970, the PA programhas had continuous accreditation by theAccreditation Review Commission onEducation for the Physician Assistant.Over the course of the program, studentsrotate between the classroom on theUND campus in Grand Forks and aphysician’s practice (preceptorship) inthe student’s home community.

The Scholarly Project became partof the PA curriculum in 2004 when theprogram transitioned from a certificateprogram to a Master of Science program.The project is part of the course taught bySusan Kuntz, PhD, assistant professor inthe Physician Assistant Program. TheScholarly Project has evolved over theyears to include a written paper and anoral presentation. The students beginwork on their scholarly projects in thefinal two semesters of the program. Thetopics of the papers are current medicalquestions that the students would liketo further investigate. They perform athorough search of the medical literatureto answer their questions and furtherdiscuss how this information can applyto clinical practice.

The Scholarly Projects pursued byGambrill, McFadden, and Waltmanreflect the broad practice areas andcomplex nature of their profession:

Graduates of the Physician Assistant Program hit the ground running

Joshua slatky


”...these future

physician assistants

were able to develop

insightful questions

pertinent to clinical practice.

� Gambrill from Houston, Texas,researched “Sitagliptin:Competition to Metformin inDiabetes Type Two Management.”

� McFadden from Maple Grove,Minnesota, investigated the “Use ofStool Replacement Therapy inTreatment of Clostridium difficile

Associated Disease in the Elderly:An Alternativeto ConventionalAntibiotics.”

� Waltman fromSebring, Florida,studied “TheEffects ofSwimmingLessons inChildren toReduce andPreventDrowning.”

Slatky had the winning presentationduring the 2010 Scholarly Projectsession at the SMHS. Slatky, fromLubbock, Texas, won for hispresentation titled “Long-TermComparison of Conservative andOperative Management of AnteriorCruciate Ligament Injuries.”

“The posters displayed by thePhysician Assistant Scholarly Projectdemonstrated that these future physicianassistants were able to develop insightfulquestions pertinent to clinical practice,and demonstrated their ability to reviewand assess published literature,” saidRoger Schauer, MD, associate profesor,Department of Family and CommunityMedicine, UND School of Medicineand Health Sciences.

In 2008, the PA program beganstarting a new class every two years andincreased the class size from an averageof 30 to an average of 60 students.This larger class size prevented thestudents from performing oralpresentations, since they are only oncampus for three weeks for the finaldidactic session. Therefore, this year the

students were giventhe option to presenteither orally or inposter format: sevenstudents gave oralpresentations and 53presented posters. Theposters were madeavailable to otherfaculty and students inthe SMHS on May 4and 5 in the VennesAtrium. Thepresentations were

evaluated by faculty, and the studentsalso completed a peer assessment ofeach other’s projects. This year Dr.Vikki McCleary and Dr. Jeanie McHugoassisted Dr. Kuntz in advising studentswhile they prepared their projects.

“The poster presentations were avery effective learning environment foractively engaging the students andallowing for more extensive discussionthan would be possible in the classroom,”said Kuntz. “It is possible that this maybecome a biennial event after review ofthe student and faculty evaluations.”

By Denis macLeod

slatky during his presentation


TRAVELING FROM ALL OVER THEUnited States, 84 young adults came toUND to take part in the Indians intoMedicine (INMED) yearly SummerInstitute over six weeks in June andJuly. The academic enrichment programprovided the students with room andboard in a UND dormitory and sawthem through six advanced courses.The students, under the direction ofINMED’s permanent staff, SummerInstitute coordinator, nine counselors,two head counselors, and six

instructors, spent the six weeksbecoming familiar with life on auniversity campus away from theirfamilies and home communities.

The Indians into Medicine programis a component of the School ofMedicine and Health Sciences (SMHS)that recognizes and works to correct thelow number of American Indian doctorsserving tribal communities. ThroughINMED’s services during the academicyear and its three summer programs—Summer Institute, Pathway, and MedPrep—INMED has assisted a significantnumber of American Indian studentsthrough their undergraduate and medicalstudy careers. As of 2010, the programhas seen 188 medical doctors graduate.However, before these young studentspick up an application for UND, theyhave the opportunity to take part in theSummer Institute, which serves formany as the first steps to becoming asuccessful student and doctor.

While the students come from allover the country, the majority ofSummer Institute participants representthe five-state area of North Dakota,South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, andWyoming, the states that are INMED’sgeneral focus. The goals of the SummerInstitute, as explained by INMEDDirector Eugene DeLorme, are toprovide students with the academicskills and preparedness to successfullytransition into a university setting, andto familiarize the students with thephysical environment at UND byacquainting them with the availabilityof resources and establishing somedegree of comfort in the community inorder to assist their social andpsychological adjustment to attendingan institution of higher learning awayfrom their home communities.

During the program, the studentstook part in six high-level courses inchemistry, biology, physics, algebra,health, and communications. It wasn’t allwork for these students, however, as theytook part in various evening activitiesthat were offered in conjunction withthe UND Wellness Center, theMemorial Union, and the Hyslopswimming pool. The students also

Brianna Bradley (left) and JoMarie

Garcia study hard over the summer.

seasonBy alexander Cavanaugh

INMED’s Annual Summer Institute


participated in educational field trips toSully’s Hill and Fort Totten; Minnesota’sAgassiz Environmental Learning Center,and the White Earth Indian HealthCenter in Fertile, Minn., where Dr. ZaneRising Sun, the clinical director of thefacility, is a former INMED SummerInstitute participant. To conclude thestudents’ six weeks of hard work, theywent on a three-day trip to Minneapolisand St. Paul, where the students visitedthe Underwater Adventures Aquariumin the Mall of America, the ScienceMuseum of Minnesota, Valley Fair, andthe Minnesota Zoo.

“One might think that taking 84teenagers to a large place likeMinneapolis and St. Paul might be adaunting challenge,” DeLormecommented. “But in fact, we as a programhave never experienced a singlecomplaint about our students’ behavior.”He attributes this successful reputationnot only to the dedicated staff but alsoto “these youth that have decided forthemselves that they are going toadvance themselves at each and everyopportunity that presents itself.”

Funding for the INMED SummerInstitute comes from a grant providedby Indian Health Service and a grant in

association with INBRE, the IdeaNetwork of Biomedical ResearchExcellence. While these contributorsprovide the funds that support theprogram, the Summer Institute wouldnot be possible without the dedicatedefforts of Eugene DeLorme and the restof the INMED staff, including ThelmaMartin, Kathleen Fredericks, NancyMartin, Colleen Clauthier, Pat Hoeper,and Alexia Riely.

“The opportunity to work withthese young people who largely comefrom tribal communities, for myself andthe staff, is one of the highlights of theyear,” DeLorme said. “These studentsare amazing. They give up their summerswhen others are playing or relaxing toachieve academic excellence.”

At the end of the program, thestudents board buses, trains, andairplanes to travel back to their homecommunities. As they return to theireveryday lives, they find the INMEDSummer Institute to be a source of greatmemories and an experience they canlook forward to and work toward asthey excel in their studies during therest of their school years and preparefor successful college careers.

Jeremy silva studies with

sierra Rain sun.


sTudenT PROFILE

saddleIn the

Bobbi Rae Thuen receives congratulations from dean Wynne at the 2009 White Coat Ceremony

By alexander Cavanaugh


Bobbi Rae Thuen has completed herfirst year of medical school, after twovigorous semesters of study, and isenthusiastic about her upcoming careeras a medical professional.

Thuen was born and raised in Minot,North Dakota. An enrolled member ofthe Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa,Thuen attended Des Lacs-BurlingtonHigh School in Minot and started herundergraduate study with nursing in mind,but after shadowing a pediatrician atTrinity Hospital the summer betweenher freshman and sophomore years, sheknew that being a doctor was hercalling. With this goal in mind, Thuencompleted her undergraduate degree inMinot, majoring in biology with achemistry minor.

Besides medicine, Thuen’s passion ishorseback riding. She and her sister startedriding when Thuen was 8 years old; thefamily had attended a local rodeo funnight and later got involved with theamateur rodeo. After a couple of years,Thuen was driving all over the Midwestand competing in the professionalrodeo circuit. Her youngest brother isalso competing in rodeo events.

As of late, Thuen has temporarilyleft the rodeo lifestyle to pursue hermedical training at UND. She appliedto the School of Medicine and HealthSciences through INMED (Indians intoMedicine), and after admission, she andher husband of two years moved toGrand Forks. “I like it,” Thuen saidabout the School. “It’s a really goodprogram, and a bit more self-study.Students need drive, and there is lots ofstudying and group work.” Moreover,she is happy that “the INMED ladies arealways there to help,” in reference toKathleen Fredericks, Nancy Martin,Colleen Clauthier, and Pat Hoeper.

Thuen has applied for an IndianHealth Service scholarship that wouldrequire her to work at an IHS hospitalon the Turtle Mountain reservation forabout a year after graduating, whichThuen is excited about. “I would get todo more of everything,” she says aboutthe versatility of IHS doctors. She feelsthat it will be more beneficial for her asa doctor to work in every area before

she works directly in her field, whichwill be either pediatrics or familymedicine. She narrowed her focus tothese two fields both because of herlove for children and her experienceshadowing a pediatrician. In addition,she wants to serve a rural population,which is a dream that her service onthe reservation will bring to reality.

Thuen cites her family as a majorsource of support for her. “My momand dad were so supportive and alwaystold me I could do anything that Iaspire to. Also, my husband has been bymy side throughout the whole process,and I couldn’t make it through withouthim. They all keep my feet on theground and hold me to my study breaks.”

After her first year of medicalschool, Thuen has a few words ofwisdom for those aspiring youngmedical students following her. “Try tohave a life, too,” she said, regarding thebalance of study and personal time.“Some people study too much, so don’tforget about family and hobbies. Keepwhat makes you, you.”

Over the summer, Thuen returnedto her family’s ranch in Minot and gavehorse riding lessons, broke horses,traveled to some rodeos, and shadoweddoctors in family medicine and pediatrics.

There is no doubt that Bobbi RaeThuen will be a great addition to thegrowing and diverse community ofdoctors and professionals in themedical field, and as medicinecontinues to advance in the comingyears, Thuen and her classmates of2013 will be the catalysts of change.

”Keep what makes you,

you.


aLuMnI PROFILE

Making a

a maternity ward teacher and her baby with Gardner.

WEB ExCLUSIVE: Read Gardner’s full story behind this picture at www.ndmedicine.org.

DifferenceofW rld

By Denis macLeod


“I NEED PIGS’ FEET,” WAS KATRINAGardner’s first thought. That evening,she bought some at a local meat market,so she could practice suturing. Gardnerknew she would need that skill for herwork the next day at the largest publichospital in Quito, Ecuador, where shewould be put in charge of the burn unitand debride the flesh of burn patientsand suture their wounds. As a junior atSmith College majoring in neuroscience,Gardner found her summer fellowshipto create your “dream job” to be aformative clinical experience, especiallysince her initial goal was to improve hermedical Spanish. Gardner, a native ofDickinson, N.D., doesn’t come from afamily with a medical background: theyare farmers and ranchers, self-starterswho make do with what is available toget the job done in spartan conditions.

For Gardner, service to others is thewarp and woof of her character. She wasactive in student government at SmithCollege; in her senior year, she servedas president of the Student GovernmentAssociation and was named studentgovernment trustee in 2000. Gardnerwas a finalist for a Rhodes Scholarship(for study at Oxford University) and canclaim the distinction of being Smith’s firstAmerican Rhodes finalist on record.After graduating from Smith in 2000,she joined the Peace Corps and was offto Nepal to help with water sanitation.However, an ongoing war cut off the roadto the area where she was assigned towork, so Gardner shifted her focus andbecame a teacher for fourth- and fifth-graders in the village of Baitadi andundertook many other community-building activities for the children andfamilies in the village. During her twoyears in Nepal, Gardner met Ben Munro,an Australian member of VolunteerService Overseas whom she would marry.

Gardner returned to North Dakotaand received her white coat in August2006, the start of another journey ofservice as a member of the School ofMedicine and Health Sciences Class of2010. “I had to go halfway across theworld to realize that you are the greatestagent of change in the community youcome from,” said Gardner. In Gardner’sthird year at the School, she completeda five-month Rural Opportunities inMedical Education (ROME) rotation inDevils Lake under the supervision ofSMHS alums Dr. Heidi Bittner and Dr.Derek Wayman.

“ROME made me feel like I wasdrowning at first,” said Gardner. However,she gained valuable experience workingon a medical team, learning inpatientand outpatient medicine, writing orders,and dictating medical records. All ofwhich prepared her for a dauntingrotation in Cameroon as a senior. “TheROME program is what prepared me,”she said. “ROME for me was a life high.There isn’t a better program out there.”

For a fourth-year elective inobstetrics and gynecology, Gardner choseMedicine in West Africa, a rotation withMbingo Baptist Hospital in rural northwestCameroon, a seven-hour drive from theairport in the port city of Douala. UNDalum Dr. Rodney Zimmerman helpedto create this medical student electivein Cameroon. He is now practicing inHazen, N.D., and spent the majority ofhis last 31 years performing medicalmission work in Cameroon. Bittnerconnected Gardner with a scholarshipfrom the community of Devils Lake tohelp finance the trip.

“I am forever grateful to thecommunity, the physicians and thepeople of Devils Lake,” said Gardner. She was accompanied in Cameroon byher husband. Munro built a micro damwhile he was there to help retain waterfor use during the dry season. Given itslocation, the hospital provides its entireinfrastructure: electricity, water, sewagetreatment. The hospital has a foundry toproduce metal beds and even maintains300 head of cattle; biogas for cookingstoves is derived from the dungproduced by the herd.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

—Mahatma Gandhi

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

—T. s. eliot, The Four Quartets

”The ROME program

is what prepared me.

ROMe for me was a life high.

There isn’t a

better program out there.


Gardner visits with friends from the Fulani tribe.

Mbingo receives patients fromhundreds of kilometers around thehospital. The facility is a full-servicereferral hospital for the westernprovinces of Cameroon. Mbingooriginally was started to treat Hansen’sdisease (leprosy); 30 of the hospital’s270 beds are still allocated to thatpurpose. Mbingo relies on medical stafffrom the United States and Europe tomake up for a shortage of health careproviders. The goal of its residencyprogram is to bring residents from thegovernment-run schools up to speedwith modern medical practice.

“I feel fortunate to have receivedmy medical education in the UnitedStates,” said Gardner.

Dr. Dennis Palmer, the medicaldirector of Mbingo, knew Gardner wasinterested in obstetrics, so he had Gardnerindependently conducting rounds rightaway, and she ended up supervising theOB ward and the neonatal intensive careunit. The midwives on staff handlednormal deliveries, while Gardner tookcare of the complicated cases of motherswho were experiencing preeclampsia,delivering twins, or undergoing C-sections.

“Practicing in Cameroon was arewarding way to end my fourth year ofmedical school,” said Gardner.

Before returning to the UnitedStates, Gardner’s final gesture was toserve future patients of Mbingo. Shereached out to her 2010 classmates andbegan a grassroots effort to collect theirused PDAs for use by the resident

physicians at Mbingo. The PDAs wouldhelp residents to treat their patients byproviding point-of-care medicalinformation, knowledge that isn’t easilyaccessible because Internet service isprohibitively slow or unavailable, andcomputers are scarce.

“I had an incredible response.Every person I talked to wanted todonate,” said Gardner.

On Match Day this year, Gardnerwas thrilled to learn her familymedicine–rural track residency trainingwould be with Providence Sacred HeartMedical Center in Spokane andColville, Washington, the nation’s firstrural training track program, whichprovides a comprehensive educationalexperience and will give Gardnerintensive practice in obstetrics. Herexperience in Cameroon and herresidency training will have her well-prepared to work in a rural area.

“There are a lot of similaritiesbetween someone who is trained in arural area and someone who worksoverseas. I think UND does a fantasticjob with rural medical education. I gotinvolved with the National Rural HealthAssociation when I was at UND. I wasa Student Caucus Board member fortwo years, and I saw other ruralprograms across the country, and Idon’t think there is a better program outthere than ROME,” said Gardner.

Eventually, Gardner’s worldjourney will bring her home. “I do wantto practice in rural North Dakota.”

“Practicing in Cameroon

was a rewarding way

to end my fourth year

of medical school.


aLuMnI NOTES

Brad Hoff, pa ’10 has joined the medical staff at CarringtonHealth as a physician assistant.

Hoff, a native of Bowdon, N.D., graduated from theUniversity of Mary with a bachelor’s degree in RadiologicSciences in 2004 and was employed at MeritCare inInterventional Radiology for five years. Brad continued hiseducation at the UND School of Medicine and HealthSciences, where he received his Master in PhysicianAssistant Studies on May 15. Todd Schaffer, mD ’02, servedas Hoff’s precepting physician.

Chuck pelton, pa ’10, a certified physician assistant, has joinedAvera Neurosurgical Specialists in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Pelton earned his Master in Physician Assistant Studiesfrom UND in Grand Forks in May and recently completedclerkships with Avera Aberdeen Family Physicians,Aberdeen Surgical Associates, and Avera St. Luke’semergency room.

emily Kringle, Ot ’10 and a member of the Kappa chapterof Pi Theta Epsilon, was recently elected to serve as vicepresident at the national level for Pi Theta Epsilon, an honorsociety for occupational therapy students and alumni. Thesociety recognizes and encourages superior scholarshipamong students enrolled in accredited professional entry-level educational programs across the United States.

Wendy Brown, pa ’08, was therecipient of the Innovative PharmacyPractice Award 2010 for NorthDakota, a national award sponsoredby Elan Pharmaceuticals. The awardis granted to recognize and honor apharmacist who has demonstratedinnovative pharmacy practice,method, or service directly resultingin improved patient care. Brown

ascribes her selection to her adding the physician assistantcredential from the University of North Dakota School ofMedicine and Health Sciences to go along with her Doctor ofPharmacy degree from North Dakota State University (NDSU).In November 2009, Brown joined the independent allergypractice of Dr. Dan Dalan in Fargo, where she works part-time as a physician assistant and clinical office manager.She continues to teach in the pharmacy program at NDSU.

Joellen roller, Dpt ’05, was selectedto serve as the first dean of theSchool of Health Sciences at theUniversity of Mary in Bismarck onJuly 1. Dr. Roller has served theuniversity with distinction since1995. She has served as programdirector of the Physical TherapyDepartment, chair of the Division ofHuman Performance Science, and

was promoted to the rank of professor in 2009. Dr. Rollerholds two doctorates, one in educational leadership fromthe University of St. Thomas and a second in physicaltherapy from the University of North Dakota. She hasserved as a physical therapist for more than 23 years and asan educator for more than 15 years. She has a distinguishedrecord of scholarship and has published in the Journal of

Physical Therapy Education; Neurology; and Aquatics.

Kevin Karls, mD ’04, recently joined Mid Dakota Clinic inBismarck. He will practice in the Gastroenterology Department.

andrew Hetland, mD ’04, has joinedMid Dakota Clinic in Bismarck. He will practice in theOtolaryngology Department.

Kamille sherman, mD ’99, Fp res’02, a family medicine doctor atMedcenter One Dickinson Clinic,successfully completed the AmericanBoard of Family Medicine’srecertification examination recently.

Board certification in familymedicine is a voluntary process bydoctors who successfully completean examination process and work

diligently in their family practices.

’00s

’90s

’00s’10s


aLuMnI NOTES

monica mayer, mD ’95, Fp res ’99,has been named the new clinicaldirector of the Indian Health ServiceQuentin Burdick Memorial HealthCare Facility in Belcourt, N.D. Read more at http://bit.ly/aEVYWy

Lynn ashley, mD ’95, has joined Medcenter One inBismarck. She will practice family medicine at thedowntown walk-in clinic.

eric L. Johnson, mD, Fp res. ’92,assistant professor in the Departmentof Family and Community Medicine atthe University of North DakotaSchool of Medicine and HealthSciences, was honored by the GrandForks City Council as a Public HealthCommunity Champion at the councilmeeting on April 5. Johnson wasrecognized for his work with patients

and the community during National Public Health Week.“His no-nonsense and nonjudgmental methods in

providing direct patient care have been noted by patients,” saidTheresa Knox, a public health nurse with the Grand Forks PublicHealth Department who nominated Johnson for the award.

Johnson earned the award from the selection committeeby furthering public health principles and practices. Heserves the community, county, and state in several roles.Johnson is the assistant medical director of Altru HealthSystem’s Diabetes Center, the physician consultant for theNorth Dakota Tobacco Quitline/Quitnet, and assistantmedical director of Valley Memorial Homes. He providesexpert health and medical information to communitymembers, policymakers, and the media.

“He has been tireless in his efforts to educate andadvocate for the health of all workers in the community,”said Knox. “He is a true public health advocate.”

Laura schindler, pt, nCs, COmt’92 received the honor of WomanEntrepreneur of the Year inFayetteville, N.C., where she isowner of Advanced Physical TherapySolutions. The recipient of the awardmust be a North Carolina residentwho owns, has established, ormanages a small business. Otherconsiderations for the nomination are

creativity, innovativeness, and personal contributions to and

involvement with the community.Opening her business in 2004 with two pieces of

equipment—a therapy ball and a piece of PVC pipe—Schindler has seen growth from a staff of two to a staff of 25.In addition to providing top-quality, one-on-one patient care,her goal was also to offer a facility that could provide jobopportunities for independent practitioners to collaborate andexpand their practice in a progressive, state-of-the-art clinic.

Schindler’s business has progressively expanded over theyears, and she purchased a 12,000-square-foot building thatbecame the permanent home of Advanced Physical TherapySolutions this summer. She currently employs nine full-timephysical therapists, three full-time physical therapy assistants,and three full-time certified athletic trainers. Many of thestaff graduated from local universities or technical schools,wanting to sharpen their skills in a welcoming environmentthat offered mentorship and support to a new graduate.

Under her direction and guidance, Schindler’s practicehas become the largest outpatient physical therapy clinic inFayetteville to be owned by a physical therapist. Her clinicis affiliated with Campbell University, MethodistUniversity’s Athletic Training Education Programs, and asFayetteville Tech’s Physical Therapy Assistant Program. Sheand her clinicians provide a site for students from theseschools to learn and expand their knowledge base in aprofessional environment. Schindler also helps high schoolstudents make career decisions by providing job shadowingopportunities at her facility.

Her business stands apart by providing outstandingpatient care and by providing the most current, evidence-based interventions. In addition, Schindler’s generosity hasbranched out to other areas of the community as well.Wounded soldiers from Fort Bragg have been treated at nocost and she has also donated her time and facility to theFayetteville Care Clinic to treat patients who have fallenthrough the cracks.

Many nominators spoke of Schindler’s dedication andeffectiveness as a physical therapist and successfulentrepreneur. The words from one of her staff memberssummed it up: “Five years ago, Laura Schindler had a visionfor herself and the Fayetteville community. She wanted toown a business that was unique and provided a valuablemedical service to the community like no other in town.She wanted the consumers to be her best advertisement.She sought after additional staff that shared her same valuesand drive for success. Advanced Physical Therapy Solutionshas become all she had dreamed and more. The potential ofher practice in the community is without limit under hervision and leadership.”

’90s ’90s


aLuMnI NOTES

mary Dockter, Bspt ’89, has beenchosen to be chair of the Departmentof Physical Therapy at the Universityof Mary in Bismarck. Dockter hasbeen with the physical therapyprogram since 1998 and has servedin the capacity of assistant academiccoordinator of Clinical Education andmost recently, director of ClinicalEducation. Dockter holds an MEd in

College Teaching from the University of Mary, and a PhDin Higher Education from the University of North Dakota.She has published and presented in the areas of women’shealth, service-learning, and professional practice areas. Shehas been actively involved professionally in the NDPTA andAPTA—most recently completing her role as director ofeducation for the Section on Women’s Health, duringwhich time the Section was granted permission to awardWomen’s Health Specialist Certification through theAmerican Board of Physical Therapist Specialists. Dockterhas taught primarily in the areas of professional practiceissues, integumentary management, and women’s health.She initiated the first PT Service-Learning team toGuatemala in 2002 and has led six teams to Guatemala. In2008, Dockter initiated the first in-country GOD’s CHILDProject Service-learning team, for which the project wasawarded a $10,000 Make a Difference Day Award fromNewman’s Own. Dockter was awarded the HigherEducation Teacher of the Year Award by the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce in 2004.

thomas arnold, mD ’84, anobstetrician/gynecologist atMedcenter One Dickinson Clinic, hasbeen elected chairman of District VI ofthe American Congress of Obstetriciansand Gynecologists. The organizationis the premier women’s health careorganization in the United States andhas more than 47,000 members inthe western hemisphere. District VI is

one of 11 districts in the congress and represents sevenMidwest and Northern Plains states and two Canadianprovinces. The district includes about 4,000 physicians.

Dr. Arnold is a fellow of the American Congress ofObstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Collegeof Surgeons. His three-year term as district chairman beginsin the fall of 2010. Dr. Arnold joined Medcenter OneDickinson Clinic in 1988. He is a member of the UNDSMHS Advisory Council.

Janet Jedlicka, phD, Otr/L, Bs ’82,was recently recognized by theAmerican Occupational TherapyAssociation (AOTA) as a fellowduring the association’s annualmeetings held in Orlando, Fla. Dr. Jedlicka was recognized forexcellence in leadership andprofessional education. To berecognized as a fellow, you need to

be an occupational therapist and a current member of theAOTA, have made a significant contribution to theprofession, be considered to be well-rounded, and havemeaningful occupational therapy and other relevantinvolvement at the local, state, or national levels.

Debra J. Hanson, phD, Otr/L ’79, has been elected to aposition on the American Occupational Therapy Association’sCommission on Education (COE). The COE is a visionary groupthat identifies, analyzes, and anticipates issues in education.It generates education-related policy recommendations,works in conjunction with the Education Special InterestSection, and has interactions with the Accreditation Councilfor Occupational Therapy Education. Hanson will berepresenting academic fieldwork on the COE.

rup nagala, mD, Family practiceresidency ’78, is the National RuralHealth Association’s 2010Practitioner of the Year. Nagala is aphysician at Southeast MedicalCenter in Oakes, N.D., and a clinicalassistant professor at the University ofNorth Dakota School of Medicineand Health Sciences. He helpedestablish a network of seven rural

clinics, sponsored the education of nine physician assistantsto staff the clinics, and provided leadership in theconstruction of the area’s first assisted living center in 1996,a new hospital in Oakes in 2007, and a dialysis center inOakes in 2008.

’80s ’80s

’70s


In MEMORIAM

Harold r. piltingsrud, Bs med ’41 of Wadena, Minn., andformerly of Park River, N.D., passed away on June 2, at theElder’s Home in New York Mills, Minnesota, after a periodof illness resulting from a debilitating stroke. He was 91years old. He was born in Leeds, N.D., on September 11,1918, to Harry and Ruth (Gronvold) Piltingsrud. Harold wasthe sixth child and first son of seven children. He grew upin Leeds, and while in high school was an active swimmer,played in sports, and achieved excellent grades.

He attended UND for four years followed by two yearsof pre-med at the University of Minnesota. He completedhis MD at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa., and servedhis residency in Wilmington, Del. Harold specialized insurgery and obstetrics to prepare him for family practice.Harold enlisted in the United States Army in 1942 and wasa captain in the medical corps. From January 1944 toOctober 1946, he served overseas in Austria and France.On June 24, 1943, he married Susan Selkregg of North East,Pa. They were married for 60 years.

Upon returning from the war, Harold worked at theGrafton State School for two years. He joined Frank E.Weed at the Weed Clinic in Park River in 1948, where hepracticed medicine for 34 years, retiring in 1982. An activeman, Harold served on the Park River City Council for 11years. He belonged to the Park River Federated Church, theMasonic Lodge, American Legion and VFW. He enjoyedreading, listening to music, traveling, and camping with hiswife. He was an avid golfer and UND sports fan. He valuedthe time he had with his family and friends, and had aspecial relationship with his patients.

Harold W. taylor, Jr., Bs med ’49, 88, of Milwaukee, Wis.,formerly of Cuba City, Wis., passed away on May 20 at St.Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee. He was born on March 9, 1922,to Harold Sr. and Louise (Wehlitz) Taylor in Jamestown, N.D.

After completing officer training at Columbia Universityin New York City, he served as naval navigator of LST-746in World War II in the Pacific. While attending the two-yearmedical school at the University of North Dakota, he wasmarried to Alice Mae Lawler and then transferred tocomplete his doctorate at the University Medical College inNorman, Okla. Harold then completed surgical residency atToledo University Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, and moved toCuba City, Wis., with his new wife. There he established amedical practice at the new Cuba City Hospital in 1954 andcontinued to practice there until his retirement in the mid1980s. In 2003, Harold was awarded a 50-year membershipto the Wisconsin State Medical Society.

William r. “Bill” taylor, Bs med ’49, 83, of Aberdeen, S.D.,passed away April 22, at the Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.William Romayne Taylor was born Dec. 13, 1926, toPhineas Romayne and Mildred Almyra (Jacobson) Taylor inMinot, N.D. He was raised in Kenmare, N.D., andgraduated from Kenmare High School in 1944. He attendedNorth Dakota Agricultural College (NDSU today) in Fargofor one year and UND in Grand Forks for three years,where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Heattended the University of North Dakota School ofMedicine and graduated with a Bachelor of Science inMedicine in 1949. He then attended medical school at theBowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest College inWinston-Salem, N.C., where he was a member of Phi SigmaPi Fraternity. His internship in internal medicine was at theTouro Infirmary in New Orleans, La., where he wasrecognized as Intern of the Year in 1952. His residencies ininternal medicine were at St. Luke’s Hospital in Fargo, andWood VA Center in Milwaukee, Wis. He received hismedical licensure in 1958.

arthur e. mukomela, Bs med ’55, a longtime Escondido,Calif., resident, passed away on May 21 at the age of 82.He was born on October 5, 1927, in Langdon, N.D. Heattended Jamestown College and the University of NorthDakota Medical School in Grand Forks before receiving hisMedical Doctorate from McGill University in Montreal.Arthur served in the Navy for 25 years before retiring as acaptain and later worked as a pathologist for Palomar andPomerado Hospitals for 25 years. He was a fantastic cookwho was known for his candy caramels. He enjoyed 40 yearsof marriage to his wife Shiela before her death in 1997. Hemarried his wife Marilyn on September 17, 2000, with whomhe enjoyed his retirement years of travel, square dancing,and attending his grandchildren’s school and sport functions.

robert e. (skip) shaskey, Bs med ’56, of Sun City West,Ariz., died June 23 at age 77.

Skip was born May 29, 1933, in Fargo to Edward andMabel Shaskey. His mother died when he was six years oldand his father remarried Eileen Dale who parented both himand his brother Larry.

Skip graduated from Central High School in GrandForks in 1951, where he discovered his love of academicsand sports. He married Jacqueline McCreary in 1953. Hecompleted his undergraduate degree and two years ofmedical school at the University of North Dakota. Thefamily moved to Kansas City, Kan., for Skip to completemedical school.


In MEMORIAM

John F. Wallerius, Bs med ’59, of Green Bay, Wis., andThe Villages, Fla., passed away on April 15, at the age of78. Born September 13, 1931, in Grand Forks, N.D., to A.J. Wallerius and Alice (Forbes) Wallerius, he graduated fromSacred Heart Academy in Fargo in 1949. John attended theUniversity of Minnesota on a Williams Scholarship andplayed center for the Golden Gophers basketball team. Hegraduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Johnserved in the United States Army and was stationed inWiesbaden, Germany. He was honorably discharged fromservice in 1956 with the rank of first lieutenant. Johncontinued his education at the University of North Dakotawhere he earned his Bachelor of Science in Medicine in1959. He was awarded a Doctorate in Medicine fromMarquette University in 1961.

While at Marquette, John was elected to the AlphaOmega Alpha Honor Society. At St. Joseph Hospital inMilwaukee, John completed his internship and residency inradiology. In 1965, John joined Green Bay Radiology, S.C.,where he practiced medicine until his retirement in 1989.During his career, he served as chief of staff of St. VincentHospital, chair of the Department of Radiology, and assecretary of the Brown County Medical Society.

michael J. Kelly, Bs med ’60, of Eagle Point, Ore., passedaway May 9, in Medford, Ore. He was born Jan. 1, 1932, inHillsboro, N.D. Michael graduated from the University ofNorth Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in Medicine and fromNorthwestern University Medical School with an MD degree.

Dr. Kelly began his distinguished VA career as a staffphysician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Fargo,N.D., where he became chief of staff. He was a professor ofmedicine at the UND SMHS and a professor of pharmacy atNorth Dakota State University. In 1981, he transferred tothe VAMC in Salisbury, N.C., where he served as chief ofstaff until 1987, when he transferred to the VA facility inWhite City, Ore.

While chief of staff at the Southern Oregon RehabCenter Clinics–White City (VA Domiciliary), Michaelcreated an innovative culinary arts program. He securedfunding for and greatly expanded the alcohol treatmentprogram as well as the homeless program. Foreseeing thebenefits of computer technology, he championed thedevelopment of electronic medical records at White Cityand throughout the VA system. His focus was on providingthe most effective delivery of services to the veteran in need.

Michael received many prestigious awards for hisaccomplishments, but what probably tickled him most wasthe “KELLY AVE.” street sign he received after having astreet named after him at the SORCC upon his retirement inJune 2000.

Francis albin Jacobs, 92, of Grand Forks, beloved husband,father, and grandfather, passed away on June 12 at ValleyEldercare Center in Grand Forks, of natural causes.

Francis Jacobs was born February 23, 1918 inMinneapolis, Minn., the son of Anthony and Agnes Ann(Stejskal) Jacobs. He grew up in Minneapolis until 1930,when the family moved to Denver, Colo. There he attendedRegis High School and graduated from Regis College in1939. He did postgraduate studies at Denver Universityfrom 1939 to 1941. During World War II, he was agraduate student and doctoral candidate at St. LouisUniversity under Nobel Prize winner Dr. Edward A. Doisy.There he conducted research on antibiotics for treatment ofwar casualties, for which he received a draft deferment anda citation from the U.S. Government Office of ScientificResearch and Development. He earned a PhD from St.Louis University in 1949 doing cancer research, and was apostdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health inBethesda, Md., from 1949 to 1950. He was an instructor ofphysiological chemistry at the University of PittsburghSchool of Medicine from 1951 to 1952, and was anassistant professor from 1952 to 1954. He married DorothyCaldwell on June 5, 1953, in Pittsburgh, Pa. They moved toGrand Forks in 1954 when he became an assistant professorof biochemistry at the University of North Dakota School ofMedicine. In 1956, he advanced to associate professor andbecame a full professor in 1964, retiring in 1987 asprofessor emeritus.

Dale Flickinger Jr., former clinical professor of surgery atthe UND SMHS, passed away May 5 at his home in Minot.

Dale was born January 4, 1928, in New York City toDale and Vera (Campbell) Flickinger. He spent hischildhood in Toledo, Ohio. He attended Purdue Universityfor one year before entering the service in 1946. He earnedthe rank of sergeant as a rawinsonde operator tech. Hereceived a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry atthe University of Toledo in Ohio, and was a member of thePhi Gamma Delta fraternity. He then went on to earn amedical degree at Ohio State University on the G.I. Bill. Hemet and fell in love with Zoanne Bishop there, and theymarried in 1952.

He served his internship at Harvard Surgical Service,and did his residency at Boston City Hospital, including aresearch fellowship in surgery at Harvard Medical School,where he was chief resident in 1959–1960. He was certifiedby the American Board of Surgery in general surgery andwas a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.


PLannInG AHEAD

Years ago, Dr. Stefan and Sue Laxdal made it a priority toteach their six grandchildren about other cultures whileinstilling volunteer service in their lifestyles. “[Sue and I]have always felt blessed with our lives and lifestyle, and wewant to give back in some way,” said Laxdal, who earned hisBachelor of Science in Medicine from UND and worked asa radiologist in the Minneapolis area before retiring in 2005.

Today, the Laxdals volunteer time to groups such asGlobal Volunteers, founded with assistance from his wife,to specialize in short-term, vacation-abroad opportunities.Thus, when each of the Laxdals’ grandchildren reach age15, they are given the opportunity to choose where theytravel with their grandparents to conduct volunteerservice—anywhere in the world.

“Stephanie (Johnson), who is now in pre-med at TheCollege of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn., went to Italyfour years ago,” Laxdal said. “Dylan (Johnson) went toCrete, Greece. Kaylie (Laxdal) went to Italy, and Samantha(Laxdal) just went to Poland. The other two, Kassidy andChase (Laxdal), are waiting in the wings. We see this as partof our legacy to them.”

On Samantha’s trip, for example, which concluded inJuly, she and her grandparents worked at a language camp,helping high school students build confidence in speakingEnglish. In addition to trips with his grandchildren, Laxdalhas also taught English to Chinese medical students, andhelped aboriginal Australian students with communitydevelopment. He has done volunteer work in Peru andIndia. “The Chinese experience stands out most,” he said.“It was impressive to be there as it blossoms into a globalpower, and to see its culture and experience thetremendous energy of the younger generation.”

Laxdal recalled how a room of 120 Chinese medicalstudents sat attentively as he taught. “You could hear a pindrop in that room,” he said. “They are so respectful of theirelders, their teachers. They were very willing to speakEnglish because most of the literature is written in English.So I helped them with their pronunciation and understandingof medical terms. It was very rewarding work.”

As another way of giving back, the Laxdals are currentlyworking with Dave Miedema, director of development forthe UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, to establishthe Dr. Steve and Sue Laxdal Scholarship Endowment.Their endowment will benefit students interested in eitherradiology or primary care. “I love radiology, but the biggestneed is probably in primary care,” Laxdal acknowledged.One thing the Laxdals know for sure: their endowment willbe perpetual, providing scholarship support every year.“The need won’t go away,” he said.

Giving Back

For more information about Global Volunteers, visit www.globalvolunteers.com.

For more information about creating a scholarship fund at UND, contact Dave Miedema at [email protected] or (701) 777-4933.

While in Poland serving for Global Volunteers, Laxdal,

granddaughter samantha (far left), two students, and Laxdal’s

wife sue (far right) pause while hiking to Morskie Oko Lake in

the Tatra Mountains of southern Poland.

dr. stefan Laxdal, ’61, and his wife sue find ways to pass their good fortune on to others.

By Jessica sobolik


PaRTInG SHOTS

M.D. Class of 2014: Daniel R. Almquist, Catherine E. Arnold,

Benjamin C. Axtman, Jessie L. Baglien, Mandie M. Baker, Julia O. Baltz,

Joel D. Beachey, Travis E. Bentz, Brittany N. Berg, Charity L. Bishop,

Stephane R. L. Blanchard, Ryan R. Bogner, Andresa K. Carlson,

Nathan D. Carpenter, Amy M. Consson, Abby S. Davis, Adam W. Dell,

Joseph P. Dinsmore, Kourtney C. Dropps, Stephn W. Drywater, Joel M. Erickson,

Scott G. Erpelding, Christopher J. Failing, Christina M. Harmon,

James R. Hegvik, Jason T. Henry, Elizabeth C. Hoff, Steve Inglish,

Eric S. Jacobson, David M. Jensen, Krishan R. Jethwa, Brian L. Johnson,

Brooke Johnson, Laura B. Johnson, Jason R. Jones, Michael C. Jundt,

Lacey L. Kessler, Laura E. Knutson, Mamie R. Knutson, Sergey V. Kulikov,

Patrick W. Lamb, Tyler J. Larson, Natalie F. Lichter, Samuel K. Lohstreter,

William D. Longhurst, Laura R. Luick, Erin C. Maetzold, Jared A. Marquardt,

Tara R. Mertz, Dane J. Mittenes, Brittany R. Muscha, Valerie Norris,

Tarik Nurkic, Tabitha Ongstad, Ira A. Perszyk, Stephanie R. Porter, Jerdan

M. B. Ruff, Tara A. Schmitz, Kirsten M. Schneider, Michael L. Schwalbe,

Paul D. Selid, Amanda E. Skiftun, Caleb P. Skipper, Brittany K. Snustad,

Kaleb L. Topp, Zane Z. Young

To see photos of more SMHS activities,

visit our flickr page at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/undsmhs/Taunya Schleicher,

the mother of the case study patient the class

learned from in their first week, speaks to the Class of 2014

about the physician’s responsibility to the patient.

Welcome M.D. Class of 2014

University of north Dakota school of medicine and Health sciencesA National Leader in Rural Health - Serving North Dakota since 1905501 North Columbia Road Stop 9037 � Grand Forks ND � 58202-9037 701-777-4305 www.med.und.edu

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Periodical POSTAGE PAID

To keep your finger on the pulse of the latest SMHS news and events, become a fan of our Facebook page, follow us on twitter,

or see familiar faces in photos posted on our Flickr account.

at the school of Medicine and Health sciences, something new is happening every day.

post it!

Whether you’re a medical or health sciences student, faculty or staff member, alumni or community member,

we want to hear your feedback. Have a great homecoming float idea? A story to share about a favorite class,

residency experience, or instructor?

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