Meribeth Arndt
Community Resource Manager
Email
Experience
20 years in post-acute rehabilitation, LTC advocacy and community services
Education
BS in Communication Disorders
Mary Blegen
Care Coordination Supervisor
Email
Experience
25 years in serving persons with disabilities in both leadership direct service roles, including, executive leadership of community support programs and supported housing for persons with severe and persistent mental illness, adult day and partial hospitalization program design and implementation, human resources management, care coordination, case management and therapeutic recreation.
Education
Bachelors in Mental Health and Counseling, University of Minnesota; AA in Recreation for Special Groups, University of Minnesota; Graduate courses in Leadership and Management of Non-Profit Organizations, University of Missouri - St. Louis.
Community Involvement
Member of the Bloomington Special Education Advisory Council
Karol Chamberlin
Member Services/Provider Assistance Manager Experience
Email
Experience
Over 23 years of office management/supervision in the healthcare field, including 15 years as Office Manager of the Medical Rehabilitation Department at Courage Center; Small business owner for 2½ years-providing moving specialist services to seniors.
Education
College experience in Art History and Human Resources (senior standing); Two-year degree in Health Information, College of St. Catherine; certified RHIT
Sean Clennon
Director of Data and Finance
Email
Experience
Five years as a Personal Care Attendant; 4 years working with and advocating for adults with developmental disabilities in a community-based day training program; Masters-level training in healthcare systems and financing
Education
BA in Biology and English, University of St. Thomas; Masters of Public Health Administration, University of Minnesota
Community Involvement
Board Chair for People Enhancing People (PEP), a non-profit, consumer run organization that delivers personal care services to individuals with disabilities
Christopher Duff
President/CEO
Email
Experience
25 years in post-acute rehabilitation and community-based services
Education
BA in Social Services Administration; Master of Divinity, Health Care concentration
Community Involvement
Serves on boards of Courage Center and MN Hospice Association
Lois Foehringer
Disability Care Coordination Manager
Email
Experience
25 years in healthcare and community development including acute care, rehabilitation, homecare, transcultural care, health coordination, supervision and management; Leadership role in program development and management of small scale integrated community development projects focusing on agriculture, education, health, cottage industries and relief in Southeast Asia
Education
BS in Nursing, St. Olaf College; PHN Certification
Diane Greig
Primary Care Clinic Coordinator
Email
Experience
25 years in post-acute rehabilitation and community-based services
Education
BA in Nursing; MS in Nursing; licensed as RN
Community Involvement
Creator of the Bridgeton Healthways Journal, a tool to support individuals in managing their health care needs and history; member of the Medical Review Subcommittee of the Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Mental Retardation
Dr. Paul Johnson
Medical Director
Email
Experience
20 years experience in Internal Medicine, primarily in community health clinics; Firm Director, Hennepin County Medicine Clinic; formerly Associate Medical Director of Medicaid Health Plan
Education
BA in Philosophy; Doctor of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco; Internship and Residency, Beth Israel Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Community Involvement
Minnesota Medicaid Formulary Pharmacy Committee
Robert Kreiger
Data Analyst
Email
Experience
22 years of post-doctoral work in quantitative and qualitative analysis of healthcare data in a variety of settings, focusing on the strategic use of data to produce better health outcomes and care processes for persons with disabilities
Education
Ph.D. in Environmental Health, University of Minnesota; M.S. in Epidemiological Science, University of Michigan; B.S. in Biological Science, S.U.N.Y. Brockport
Jenny Lewis
Housing Specialist
Email
Experience
One year as a Community Organizer; three years as a Home Health Aide; Masters-level training in disability health care policy; three years as a Resource Coordinator at AXIS Healthcare, one year as a Mental Health Assistant at Touchstone Assisted Living
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Religion, St. Olaf College; Master of Public Policy (pending), University of Minnesota
Community Involvement
Deacon at Plymouth Congregational Church
Diana MacLennan
Director of Human Resources and Office Management
Email
Experience
15 years in administration and office management functions
Education
BA in Social Sciences, Metropolitan State University
Trish Morgan-John
Mental Health Specialist
Email
Experience
20 years experience providing healthcare, social services, advocacy, and mental health in community and in-patient settings.
Education
BA in Sociology, Macalester College; MA in Counseling/Psychology, St. Mary's University
Community Involvement
Volunteer facilitator for Minneapolis Coalition for Grief and Loss Support Groups; Volunteer for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly.
Lynne Morishita
Clinical Program Director
Email
Experience
Over 20 years conducting research, lecturing and instructing at both the University of California and the University of Minnesota in the healthcare field; Over five years experience as a Nurse Practitioner; eight years as Director at the Center for Geriatric Health, developing and implementing a geriatric health care program; Consultant with the MN Department of Humans Services MSHO program.
Education
MS in Community Health Nursing-Nurse Practitioner Track, Yale University; BS in Nursing, University of California
Community Involvement
American Geriatrics Society, Minnesota Nurses Association, Gerontological Society of America, Minnesota Gerontological Society, American Society of Aging, American Nurses' Association
Rajen Rayan
Director of Operations and Organizational Effectiveness
Email
Experience
20 years in quality program development, implementation and management
Education
Bachelors in Geography and History, Macalester College; MA in Medical Geography, New York University
Nancy Rector
Care Coordination Supervisor
Email
Experience
Two years in inpatient psychiatry staff nursing at Metropolitan Medical Center's Intensive Treatment Center; 25 years in public health nursing for St. Paul-Ramsey County Department of Public health, including international health team with refugee community and case management for waivered service clients on CADI, Elderly and CAC waivers
Education
B.A. in Nursing, Gustavus Adolphus College; PHN certification
Community Involvement
Volunteer at Center for Victims of Torture
DeAnn Rice
Disability Care Coordination and Quality Improvement Manager
Email
Experience
25 years in various public health positions, including county based waivered services, occupational health nursing, transcultural nursing, sexual assault nursing and emergency department nursing
Education
BA in Nursing; PHN Certification
Community Involvement
International volunteer, American Refugee Committee
Deborah Schermann
Mental Health Director
Email
Experience
20 years in mental health field
Education
BA in Psychology and Sociology; MA in Counseling Psychology; Chemical Dependency Practitioner Certificate
Kathy Thurston
Director of Disability Care Coordination
Email
Experience
25 years in health care and nursing, including acute care, home care, assisted living, school health and special education for children with disabilities; focusing on public health and care coordination in community-based programs; program development and management, quality improvement, staff development and supervision, developing and fostering partnerships with health plans, senior housing, long-term care providers and other community-based service provider waiver programs; Care coordination experience with PMAP, MSHO, and Medicare-HMO programs; Developed a geriatric specialty clinic and care coordination program for older adults with chronic health concerns
Education
BS in Nursing, St. Olaf College; MA in Nursing and Health Systems (pending), Bethel University; Public Health Nurse certification
Rachel Tschida
Director of Community Relations and Communication
Email
Experience
More than 15 years of experience as a strategic communications and public relations professional in both state and federal government and nonprofit agencies, with a focus on social marketing and international health issues
Education
BA, Political Science & Spanish, Macalester College, University of Minnesota
Community Involvement
Board member Sunny Hollow Montessori and the Catalyst Foundation, a national nonprofit that works to provide positive change for children in Vietnam; 2003 German Marshall Memorial Fellow; Member of the Leadership Twin Cities class of 2003-2004