Medcenter One College of Nursing recently graduated 43 students. There were six who graduated summa cum laude, two who graduated magna cum laude and 12 who graduated cum laude.
To graduate summa cum laude, students must graduate with a grade point average in the 3.9–4.0 range on a 4.0 scale. The following students graduated summa cum laude: Sheri Williams, Center; Erin DeMoe, Josie Reiner and Marie Jensen, Bismarck; Kelsey Kuntz, Mandan; and Brittney Opp, Medicine Lake, Mont.
To graduate magna cum laude, students must graduate with a grade point average in the …

Medcenter One has been awarded two accreditation designations by the Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent onsite inspection. The Medcenter One Laboratory and the Medcenter One Histocompatibility Laboratory, which supports the Medcenter One Kidney Transplant Center, have both received the designation. Dr. Mark Rodacker is the Medcenter One Laboratory director and Dr. Dennis Reinke is the Medcenter One Histocompatibility Laboratory director.

Dr. Marshall Jones, anesthesiologist, recently joined Medcenter One. As an anesthesiologist, Dr. Jones provides pain control, pain relief and care for patients in the operating room. Dr. Jones earned his medical degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, and he completed a medical internship at Presbyterian St. Luke’s/Health One Alliance, Denver. He also completed an anesthesiology residency at Stanford (Calif.) University Hospital and Clinics and a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Lucille Packard’s Children’s Hospital at Stanford Medical Center. Dr. Jones is board certified through …

Medcenter One chiropractor Dr. Jeff Askew recently attended a Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters conference in St. Louis and is now approved as a best practices instructor. The designation identifies Dr. Askew as being trained to conduct evidencebased tutorials and to educate doctors across the country on how to achieve the best outcomes for their patients. Dr. Askew specializes in the treatment of auto accident injuries, athletic injuries, chronic neck and back pain, headaches, joint pain, TMJ pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs. Dr. Askew …

Dr. Richard Howard, a board-certified cardiologist, recently returned to Medcenter One. As a cardiologist, Dr. Howard specializes in the medical and surgical care of heart disease. He previously practiced at Medcenter One from 2007-2009. Dr. Howard earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York and completed his residency, chief residency and cardiology fellowships at Boston University Medical Center.

Tom Petrik recently joined Medcenter One as vice president of development, a new position. In this new role, Petrik is responsible and accountable for leading and directing the Medcenter One Foundation. He will create and implement a broad array of philanthropic opportunities designed to raise support for Medcenter One’s immediate and long-term needs through annual membership campaigns and special events, major gifts and capital campaigns, estate and planned-giving opportunities, grant writing and community relations. He also will provide direction and oversight to a team of development professionals and support staff …

Tammy Fischer, a Medcenter One registered nurse, successfully passed her oncology recertification exam to continue her recognition as a certified oncology nurse by the Oncology Nursing Society. Oncology nursing certification is a voluntary process that signifies a nurse has developed specialized knowledge and experience in the field of cancer care.

Medcenter One recently named Jamie Christensen as its marketing director. Christensen has 12 years of experience in the communications field. Her experience includes a background in broadcast news and healthcare marketing. Most recently, she served as communications and marketing coordinator for Bank of North Dakota. As marketing director, Christensen oversees Medcenter One’s community relations department, which includes marketing, public relations, web and internal communications.

Medcenter One recently added a Help at Home department, providing private-pay care services for people in their homes. J
ill Becker, Help at Home manager, said the department provides nonmedical services in a client’s home anytime—including evenings, weekends and holidays—up to 24 hours per day. She said common services are bathing care, walking and dressing assistance, hospice assistance or respite care, light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, reading, shopping and errands, playing games and conversation.
Becker said what makes Medcenter One’s homecare service innovative is all Help at Home caregivers are certified nursing …

Dr. Kristin Luckenbill, a clinical chemist, recently joined Medcenter One. Dr. Luckenbill completed a fellowship with Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and is board eligible. She earned her doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Prior to joining Medcenter One, Dr. Luckenbill was with HealthPartners in central Minnesota. Dr. Luckenbill assists medical and technical staff in blood and chemistry related matters.

Maureen Kosiak, a physician assistant, recently joined Medcenter One Occupational Health Clinic in Dickinson. Kosiak received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Mary in Bismarck and her master’s degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. At the Medcenter One Occupational Health Clinic in Dickinson, Kosiak diagnoses and treats work-related injuries and illnesses and performs pre-employment, asbestos and Department of Transportation physicals.

Medcenter One Clinical Coordinator Marilyn Schwartzbauer will present a research paper on vancomycinresistant enterococcus at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics 2011 National Evidence-Based Practice Conference on April 28-29. Schwartzbauer studied the use of chlorhexidine gluconate to destroy microorganisms and demonstrated as much as an 83 percent reduction in the incidence rate. Surgical Assistant Kim Ledger will present a research paper on the initial healing of sternum-area wounds. Ledger’s study involved the use of autologous platelet gel on incisions occurring on or near the sternum. APG is a gel …

Julie Schwab, Medcenter One corporate compliance officer, recently passed the Compliance Certification Board’s examination to be Certified in Healthcare Compliance. This designation means Schwab is equipped to provide direction to Medcenter One as the organization strives to meet the federal, state and local healthcare regulations. Prior to becoming Medcenter One’s compliance officer, Schwab served as Medcenter One clinic administrator for seven years.

Medcenter One walk-in clinic manager Damian Schlinger was recently appointed by the governor’s office to the North Dakota board of athletic trainers, which is responsible for licensing athletic trainers. Schlinger is one of five members statewide appointed to the board and will serve a four-year term. He has a bachelor’s degree in athletic training and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and has been with Medcenter One for seven years.

Drs. Gretchen Belzer-Curl, Michael McIntee and Michelle Tincher were recently selected to serve on the Medcenter One Board of Directors. Dr. Belzer-Curl, a family medicine physician at Medcenter One Mandan Family Clinic North, will represent the health system’s primary care and medicine service areas; Dr. McIntee, a radiologist in the Medcenter One radiology department, will represent pathology and radiology; and Dr. Tincher, a family medicine physician at Medcenter One Bismarck Family Clinic South, is a member-at-large. Each position is a three-year term. The Medcenter One board is a 29-member volunteer …

The Medcenter One Great American Bike Race (GABR) disbursement committee gave $244,522 in 2010 to families with children who have cerebral palsy or another related disability. The money is raised at GABR each April and then disbursed quarterly to families who have applied and qualify. The funds help families purchase therapy and medical services, orthotics, adaptive equipment, travel reimbursement, wheelchairs, home and vehicle modification and more.
For more information on GABR or to apply for funds, visit medcenterone. com/gabr or call 323-8450.

Medcenter One was recently reaccredited as a Center of Excellence by the Surgical Review Corporation for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center (ASMBS). The ASMBS is a prestigious award that recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in weight-loss surgery Medcenter One’s weight-loss surgery program, which is led by board-certified surgeon Dr. Brent Bruderer, is a comprehensive approach to weightloss surgery. The program includes nutrition and exercise education, counseling and support group meetings.

Erica Becker, a physical therapist, recently joined Medcenter One Occupational Health Clinic. Becker received her doctorate degree in physical therapy from the University of Mary in Bismarck. At the Medcenter One Occupational Health Clinic, Becker evaluates and treats work-related injuries and assists in the patient’s rehabilitation. She also performs pre-placement testing, preinjury screening, work-conditioning programs, jobsite analysis and ergonomic assessments.

Paula Condol, Medcenter One Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) coordinator (left), and McKala McWilliams- Nehring, a therapist, pose next to clothing, school supplies and personal care items that the Center was able to purchase thanks to a grant from the Verizon Foundation. DCAC is a program that is committed to improving the response to child abuse. It is a community partnership that utilizes a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach to investigating child abuse.