Archive for

June, 2020

I suspect that you, like me, have periods of concern and worry regarding the current pandemic and especially how it might impact the future. I was, quite frankly, struggling a bit emotionally earlier in the week, especially after yet again having to interact over the weekend with our five grandkids virtually rather than in person. […]

Yvette LaPierre, Ph.D., is the academic advisor at UND’s Indians Into Medicine (INMED) program. At INMED, Yvette’s responsibilities include advising and programming to support student success and pursuing funding opportunities. Before joining INMED, Yvette taught for UND’s Communication and English Departments, Honors Program, Integrated Studies Program, and the American College of Norway, and previously served […]

Sara Strandquist is the new research technician working in the Genomics Core facility assisting with the upkeep of the lab, as well as analysis of DNA and RNA samples. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Evangel University in 2009, she moved back to her hometown and worked for four years at Pacific […]

Dr. Sejal Parikh will present “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia” from 12:10 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at the UND Southeast Campus auditorium in Fargo, N.D. Dr. Parikh is a fourth-year resident in the Psychiatry Residency Training Program. Dr. Joel Erickson is a sleep medicine provider/psychiatrist at Sanford Health, Fargo. Dr. […]

Grace Karikari. Ph.D., will give a presentation titled “Public health challenges in North Dakota: Examining the intricate connections and exploring solutions” at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, June 26. This virtual talk can be seem via Zoom by visiting: https://und.zoom.us/j/92060793776 Dr. Grace Karikari holds a doctorate in public health with a focus on health behavior from […]

As I mentioned in this column last week, I “attended” the latest triannual meeting of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for two days earlier this week. We reviewed almost three dozen accreditation surveys, status reports and change notifications (for example, regarding class size) from medical schools across the U.S. What was different, of […]

After 41 years of service, Mary Beth McGurran will retire from her position as administrative assistant in the UND Department of Medical Laboratory Science on June 30, 2020. Mary Beth began her career in 1979 at the Human Nutrition Research Center where she worked for Dr. Leslie Klevay. In 1986 she moved to the UND […]

Bailey Knopf is a research specialist in UND’s Department of Geriatrics. Bailey works with Dr. Don Jurivich, whose lab studies the processes of aging. Prior to moving to Grand Forks, Bailey grew up in Granger, Iowa, and later attended the University of Iowa where she studied cell and developmental biology and nonprofit management. At the […]

The summer 2020 issue of North Dakota Medicine is available now. If you are unable to pick up a paper copy due to the ongoing pandemic, please check out the magazine online. Feature stories this issue include: Part two of our history of the UND Center for Rural Health Updates on COVID-19 research ongoing at […]

Per Ostmo is the outreach specialist at UND’s Center for Rural Health. Per is responsible for social media management, web review, and exhibiting at regional health events. Per grew up in Wahpeton, N.D., and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from UND. He is currently earning a Master of Public Administration degree from UND. Per […]

Last year, I mentioned an annual survey of the attractiveness of various physician practice locations around the U.S. conducted and reported by Medscape, a commercial online portal for physicians and other health professionals. The survey for 2020 was just released (“2020 Best and Worst Places to Practice”). It ranks all of the states in the […]

Margo Norton, Ph.D., will present “Evidence Based Therapies for PTSD: Case Presentations” from 12:10 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at UND Southeast Campus auditorium in Fargo, N.D. Dr. Norton is clinical psychologist at the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Fargo, N.D. Charlie Knowlton, M.S., a psychology intern at the VAMC, […]

The growth of virtual rather than face-to-face communications and interactions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic continues at a dizzying pace. Recently I was talking with the developer of a software product that is able to analyze millions of patient records and use artificial intelligence to develop improved patient management strategies. He recounted a recent event […]

After 15 years of employment with the former Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Therapeutics, and later the UND Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Othman Ghribi will retire on June 30, 2020. He will be missed by us all. We in the Department of Biomedical Sciences would like to show our appreciation of his outstanding efforts […]

The Dakota Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) will host its first annual Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias (ADRD) symposium titled “Dementia Friendly Healthcare and Community Symposium” on June 24, 2020. This will be a day-long opportunity where regional faculty experts update participants on dementia assessment and management, including newer medical diagnostics and behavioral management strategies. […]