Get Involved
Multi-Partner Health Collaborative
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.
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
Molly Howell — Immunization Unit Director and Assistant Director of Disease Control & Forensic Pathology, ND Health and Human Services
Megan Langley — Executive Director, Strengthen North Dakota
Vice Chair of the MPHC
Tim Blasl — President, North Dakota Hospital Association
Susan Elsbernd — Small Business Owner & Registered Nurse, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI)
Sadie Hanson — Student Representative, State Board of Higher Education
Nathaniel Johnson — Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of North Dakota
Sherry Adams — Executive Director, Southwestern District Health Unit
Shannon Bacon — Director of Equity & External Affairs, Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas
Ann Fritz — Environmental Justice & Nondiscrimination Program Manager, ND Environmental Quality
Sara Hanson — Director of Population Health, BCBSND Health Integration
Stephanie Jay — Public Health Manager, Turtle Mountain Public Health Department
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
Katie Heck — Coordinator, Safe Kids Fargo-Moorhead
Kristin Knorr — ND Afterschool Network Lead, South East Education Cooperative
Courtney Koebele — Executive Director, North Dakota Medical Association
Candace Muggerud — CEO, KAT & Company
Taylor Syvertson — Director of Community Impact, United Way of Cass-Clay
Suzanne Kramer-Brenna — Project Director, North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition
Tori Ngatia — Mental Health Therapist, We Thrive Counseling
Kayla Ver Helst — Sustainability Officer, Bank of North Dakota
Dawn Mandt — Executive Director, Red River Regional Council-Grafton
Traci Pole — Senior Regional Advisor, SAMHSA
Hannah Zaun — Director of Nursing, Dakota Regional Medical Center-Cooperstown
Karin Mongeon — Highway Safety Division Director, North Dakota Dept. of Transportation
Mark Strand, Ph.D. — Professor & Member of ND State Health Council, Pharmacy Practice & NDSU Dept. of Public Health
Meet the MPHC Executive Team
Tony Burke — State Government Relations Director, South Dakota & North Dakota American Heart Association
Grace N. Njau, Ph.D., MPH — Director of Special Projects and Health Analytics, North Dakota Health and Human Services
Krissie Guerard — Director of Community Engagement, North Dakota Health and Human Services
Sandra Tibke — Executive Director, Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota
Pam Gulleson — Multi-Partner Health Collaborative Coordinator, Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota
Dirk Wilke — Interim Head, North Dakota Health and Human Services and Executive Director, North Dakota Health and Human Services, Public Health
Hayden Kemp
Community Engagement Coordinator for the Community Engagement Unit, North Dakota Health and Human Services