Alumni Notes

’20s

Audrey Smeenk, PA ’20, is the newest Physician Assistant (PA) to join the Philip Health Services team of providers in Philip, S.D.

’10s

Emily Bromley, MD ’16, recently joined the medical team at Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital, Big Rapids, Mich., to provide obstetrics, gynecology and urology services to women in the community.

’90s

Dr. Jeffrey Sather, MD ’98, chief of staff at Trinity Health in Minot, N.D., has been appointed to the board of directors of the American Heart Association, Midwest Region, for a two-year term. The American Heart Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease.

Cathy Sulentic-Morcom, MPT ’93, recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of her clinic, Black Hills Physical Therapy, in Spearfish, S.D. SulenticMorcom opened Black Hills Physical Therapy in May 1995.

’80s

Duane Strand, MD ’85, recently earned a 5-Star Award from Essentia Health in Wahpeton, N.D. This award means a provider scored in the top 10 percent (at or above the 90th percentile) of PRC national client database for percentage of patients who rate the overall quality of care by the provider as “Excellent.” Each year, Essentia Health contracts with Professional Research Consultants (PRC) to randomly survey patients about their experiences in its hospitals and clinics. PRC uses results from these surveys to rank Essentia physicians, staff, and facilities within its national database of approximately 400 health care organizations. The 2020 awards are based on patient surveys conducted throughout 2019. In Essentia’s West Market, which encompasses eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, two physicians received PRC’s Top Performer Award meaning they scored at the 100th percentile for overall quality of care.

Erling Martinson, MD ’83, medical director for Nelson County Health System (NCHS) Hospital in McVille, N.D., received the Outstanding Rural Health Career award for the 2020 Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health. This award is presented to a health care professional who has devoted his/ her career to making significant contributions to improving health care in rural North Dakota.

Steven Hinrichs, MD ’80, is currently on a panel created by Cruise industry leaders Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) to develop enhanced cruise health and safety standards in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The companies have asked former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt and Dr. Scott Gottlieb to serve as co-chairs of a newly formed group of experts called the “Healthy Sail Panel.” The panel is tasked with collaboratively developing recommendations for cruise lines to advance their public health response to COVID-19, improve safety, and achieve readiness for the safe resumption of operations.

Audrey Smeenk, PA

Emily Bromley, MD

Jeffery Sather, MD

Duane Strand, MD