The Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota, American Heart Association, and North Dakota Health & Human Services teamed up to launch a new health collaborative that builds bridges for a healthier North Dakota. The Multi-Partner Health Collaborative (MPHC) advocates for sustainable resources and increasing access to options that foster health and wellness throughout our state with the vision of North Dakota becoming the healthiest state in the nation.
MPHC Biannual Memo
The MPHC Memo is a biannual report sharing the progress of the MPHC and others. This collaborative effort focuses on the four key goals of the North Dakota State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP): strengthening workforce, cultivating wellness, expanding access and connection and building community resilience.
Learn more about the MPHC’s focus areas and strategies in our Spring Memo.
Apply to Serve on the MPHC Goal Groups
The MPHC is made up of the executive leadership board, members of the steering committee and leaders of the four key priority groups.
The MPHC will partner with communities, tribal nations, business and other sectors to equitably enhance health and wellness. We believe this public-private collaborative will empower people, improve lives and inspire success.
The goal groups will function as specialized work groups, focusing on critical areas outlined in the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). Through collaborative efforts and shared resources, they will endeavor to drive measurable progress toward collective health objectives.
Meet the MPHC Steering Committee
The MPHC steering committee synergizes with community members to equitably enhance the health and community wellness of all North Dakotans. The members guide and support the four goal groups, ensuring their effectiveness and alignment with the mission, vision, purpose and values of the MPHC. They do this by collaborating with community members, non-profit organizations, non-government organizations, health care systems, businesses and governmental agencies to equitably enhance the health of all North Dakotans.
Carlos D. Miranda, M.D. —Pediatric Cardiologist, Sanford Health
Chair of the MPHC
Pat Bertagnolli — Executive Director, Job Service of North Dakota
Jacob Davis — Assistant Director, Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota
Melanie Gaebe — Public Policy Director, Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-ND Chapter
Nathaniel Johnson — Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of North Dakota
Stewart Milakovic — ND Dept of Transportation
Taylor Syvertson — Director of Community Impact, United Way of Cass-Clay
Dr. Jacob Warren — Dr. Jacob C. Warren serves as the director of the Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS) and is a professor of population health at SMHS.
Ann Fritz — Environmental Justice & Nondiscrimination Program Manager, ND Environmental Quality
Vice Chair of the MPHC
Tim Blasl — President, North Dakota Hospital Association
Susan Elsbernd — Small Business Owner & Registered Nurse, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI)
Sara Hanson — Director of Population Health, BCBSND Health Integration
Kristin Knorr — Creating Community Consulting
Candace Muggerud — CEO, KAT & Company
Mark Strand, Ph.D. — Professor & Member of ND State Health Council, Pharmacy Practice & NDSU Dept. of Public Health
Hannah Zaun — Director of Nursing, Dakota Regional Medical Center-Cooperstown
Sherry Adams — ND State Health Officer and Executive Director, Southwestern District Health Unit
Shannon Bacon — Director of Equity & External Affairs, Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas
Katie Heck — Coordinator, Safe Kids Fargo-Moorhead
Molly Howell — Immunization Unit Director and Assistant Director of Disease Control & Forensic Pathology, ND Health and Human Services
Courtney Koebele — Executive Director, North Dakota Medical Association
Tori Ngatia — Mental Health Therapist, We Thrive Counseling
Art Thompson — Director, Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI)
Ellie Ahlfeldt — Former Miss ND Teen & Student, Oak Grove High School
Amber Blomberg — Executive Director, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation
Donene Feist — Director, Family Voices of North Dakota
Stephanie Jay — Public Health Manager, Turtle Mountain Public Health Department
Suzanne Kramer-Brenna — Project Director, North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition
Janna Pastir — Deputy Director Workforce Development, ND Department of Commerce
Kayla Ver Helst — Sustainability Officer, Bank of North Dakota
Meet the MPHC Executive Team
Tony Burke — State Government Relations Director, South Dakota & North Dakota American Heart Association
Pam Gulleson — Multi-Partner Health Collaborative Coordinator, Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota
Sandra Tibke — Executive Director, Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota
Megan Langley — Executive Director, Strengthen North Dakota
Dirk Wilke — Interim Head, North Dakota Health and Human Services and Executive Director, North Dakota Health and Human Services, Public Health
Krissie Mayer — Director of Community Engagement, North Dakota Health and Human Services
Grace N. Njau, Ph.D., MPH — Director of Special Projects and Health Analytics, North Dakota Health and Human Services