link to the Center for Rural Health Homepagepictures of rural photos
Community Development
Programs &
Initiatives
Rural Health
Topics
Publications
& Maps
News &
Updates
Events &
Presentations
 A to Z List | Faculty & Staff | Partners

State Office of Rural Health (SORH)

North Dakota Health Information Technology Steering Committee

North Dakota HIT Steering Committee is a statewide collaborative involving public-private entities who are committed to achievement of the vision and mission by serving as the driver behind the statewide HIT/HIE initiative

Expectations of Steering Committee members:

  1. To bring the perspective of the facility/organization/sector you were selected to represent to the Steering Committee discussions and decisions.
  2. To facilitate communication back to the facility/organization/sector, you were selected to represent, with regard to the vision, mission, goals, intent, activities etc. of the HIT Steering Committee and subcommittees.
  3. To keep the statewide interests of the vision or mission foremost in your decisions and votes.
  4. To review meeting materials ahead of time and be prepared to contribute clear and focused ideas for committee discussion.
  5. To participate on monthly conference calls and scheduled meetings (or send and alternate) and alert committee chair ahead of time of your scheduled absence.

View the timeline of HIT Steering Committee Activities.

Member List (printable version)

  • Lynette Dickson, MS, LRD, Program Director -- Chair
    Center for Rural Health
    University of North Dakota
    School of Medicine and Health Sciences

    Phone: (701) 777-6049
    E-mail: ldickson@medicine.nodak.edu
    Representing rural healthcare facilities, organizations and communities
  • Mary Wakefield, PhD, Director
    Center for Rural Health
    University of North Dakota
    School of Medicine and Health Sciences

    Phone: (701) 777-3848
    E-mail: mwake@medicine.nodak.edu
    Representing rural healthcare facilities, organizations and communities
  • Terry Dwelle, MD, State Health Officer
    North Dakota Department of Health
    Phone: (701) 328-2372
    E-mail: tdwelle@state.nd.us
    Representing Department of Health
  • Ray Gruby, MD, CEO
    Gruby Technologies
    Phone: (701) 223-9113
    E-mail: raymond@grubytechnologies.com
    Representing technology businesses
  • Vacant
    North Dakota Healthcare Association
    Phone: (701) 224-9732
    E-mail: karenhaskins@ndha.org
    Representing rural and urban hospitals
  • Dana Halvorson, Legislative Assistant
    Senator Kent Conrad’s Office
    Phone: (202) 224-2043
    E-mail: dana_holvorson@conrad.senate.gov
    Representing federal government
  • Bruce Levi, Executive Director
    North Dakota Medical Association
    Phone: (701) 223-9475
    E-mail: blevi@ndmed.com
    Representing physicians
  • Doug Kjos, Programmer/Analyst
    North Dakota Healthcare Review
    Phone: (701) 857-9747
    E-mail: dkjos@ndqio.sdps.org
    Representing Quality Improvement Organization
  • Darrell Vanyo, CIO
    Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
    Phone: (701) 282-1294
    E-mail: darrell.vanyo@bcbsnd.com
    Representing third-party payers
  • Laurie Peters, RHIT, Past-President
    North Dakota Health Information Management Association
    Phone: (701)748-3485
    E-mail: lpeters@westriv.com
    Representing health information management workforce
  • Janis Cheney, Executive Director
    North Dakota AARP
    Phone: (701) 355-3641
    E-mail: jscheney@aarp.org
    Representing consumers
  • Craig Hewitt, CIO
    MeritCare Health System, Fargo
    Phone: (701) 234-6174
    E-mail: Craig.Hewitt@Meritcare.com
    Representing tertiary hospitals
  • Chad Peterson, IT Director
    Northwood Deaconess Health System
    Phone: (701) 587-6435
    E-mail: chad.peterson@ndhc.net
    Representing a rural hospital, long term care facility and community health center
  • Mark Grove, Administrator
    Great Plains Clinic, Dickinson
    Phone: (701) 456-5161
    E-mail: markgrove@greatplainsclinic.com
    Representing clinics
  • Lisa Feldner, CIO
    State of North Dakota, Information Technology Department
    Phone: (701) 328-3193
    E-mail: lfeldner@nd.gov
    Representing the Governor
  • Jennifer Witham, IT Director
    North Dakota Department of Human Services
    Phone: (701) 328-2570
    E-mail: sowitj@nd.gov
    Representing Department of Human Services
  • Cathy Houle, MD
    West River Regional Medical Center
    Hettinger, North Dakota
    Phone: (701) 567-4561
    cathyh@mail.ctctel.com
    Representing rural physicians
  • Senator Judy Lee
    1822 Brentwood
    West Fargo, North Dakota
    jlee@nd.gov
    Representing state legislature
  • Nancy Willis, VP Marketing
    St. Alexius Medical Center
    900 East Broadway Ave
    Bismarck, ND
    Phone: (701) 530-7615
    Email: nwillis@primecare.org
    Representing tertiary hospitals
  • Kimber Wraalstad, President/CEO
    Presentation Medical Center
    PO Box 759
    Rolla, ND 58367-0759
    Phone: (701) 477-3161
    Email: kimberw@utma.com
    Representing rural hospitals