2009 Governors-elect Candidates' Bios and Vision Statements

The ballots for the current Governors-elect election have been mailed. Members can vote via telephone at 1 800 218 4026 (US only), online or mail. You will need your mailed ballot for your ACP Number and PIN in order to make a vote.

Below are the bios and vision statements of the candidates that are running in this election. The deadline for submitting ballots is November 26, 2009 at 12 midnight CT. Please be sure to vote!

Julie A. Blehm

DATE/PLACE OF BIRTH: August 28, 1952, Mayville, ND; EDUCATION: Concordia College, Moorhead, MN 1970-1974; POST DOCTORAL TRAINING: University of North Dakota Medical School, Grand Forks, ND – 1977-1981 , Internal Medicine internship – UND affiliated program – Fargo, ND – 1981-1982, Internal Medicine Residency – University of Iowa affiliate program – Des Moines, IA – 1982-1984; CERTIFICATION: Internal Medicine and Geriatrics – Geriatrics last certified in 2008, IM in 2000(I have permanent certification in IM); PRESENT POSITION: Managing Physician Partner, IM, MeritCare Health System, Fargo, ND, Associate Dean, SE campus, UND Medical School, Director, ambulatory clinic IM residency Program – UND- Fargo, ND; ACP ACTIVITIES: FACP – 1990 I have organized and chaired 5 of the state meetings. I attend the ACP national meeting approximately every 3 year. I was awarded the ND ACP Laureate Award and September 2006. I have also worked with the residents to encourage membership in ACP and have also encouraged other internists in ND to seek fellowship status. I have served on the ACP advisory council for many years. I have worked in the area of ACP advocacy for the ND chapter; HOSPITAL/COMMUNITY SERVICE: Merit Care Speakers Bureau, Quality Committee, Clinical Content, EPR committee, Compliance committee, Claims committee, IM residency leadership group, Residency evaluation committee, IM residency/Merit care committee, Lean Model Service Line group, Medical Advisor – Diabetes Educators, Dieticians, Diabetes Exerci9se Program, AAG committee, Chronic Disease Management, Board of Trustees, ND Museum of Art Board Member – ND BCBS, Member of Governance and Nominating committee and Human Resource committee Board of Directors – Special Olympics, President – American Diabetes Association – ND. Served on National Board of Directors – 1992-1995 Alpha Omega Alpha Society, Member American Diabetes Association, American Geriatric Society, American College of Physician Executive and American College of Medical Practice Executives; OTHER APPOINTMENTS: Associate Professor of Medicine – UND medical school; AREAS OF PROFESSIONAL INTEREST/EXPERTISE: Diabetes, Geriatrics, Advanced Medical Home and chronic disease management

Vision Statement
Living in North Dakota I am well aware of the multiple issues facing us in the delivery of quality health care to our population. We are facing increasing challenges in recruiting general internists and in defining the role of the internist in the health care system. We will be advocates for the role of internal medicine in our health care system, for the voice of the patients and role models for the next generation of internists. We know the importance of care coordination, chronic disease management and geriatrics in providing quality health care and are uniquely qualified to educate and guide the development of systems which will provide the best care.

Nicholas H. Neumann

DATE/PLACE OF BIRTH: Detroit, Michigan; EDUCATION: Wayne State University School of Medicine (MD) Tulane University School of Public Health (Master of Medical Management); POST DOCTORAL TRAINING: Wayne State University School of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals (Internal Medicine residency and Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship); CERTIFICATION: Internal Medicine 1978, Pulmonary Medicine 1980, Critical Care Medicine 1987-1997 and 2005-2015, Medical Management 1997, Fellow of American College of Healthcare Executives 2008; PRESENT POSITION: Associate Dean UNDSMHS, Southwest Campus and Professor of Internal Medicine; ACP ACTIVITIES: Student member of ACP since 1974, Member of ACP since 1989, Fellow of ACP since 2000; HOSPITAL/COMMUNITY SERVICE: Member Board of Directors St. Alexius Medical Center; Co-chair IRB St. Alexius Medical Center; Member Medical Executive Committee St. Alexius Medical Center; Chairman, Center for Family Medicine Advisory Board, SW Campus; Member of Harold Schafer Leadership Center, Healthcare Executive Operations Team; Medical Advisor, North Dakota Society for Respiratory Care, Member Board of Directors North Dakota Health Care Review Inc; AREAS OF PROFESSIONAL INTEREST/EXPERTISE: Clinical Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine; medical education and curriculum; medical student career counseling

Vision Statement
As internal medicine physicians we recognize the critical value of the primary care physician and the benefits that productive relationships with specialty physicians add to our profession and our patients’ health. We are acutely aware of healthcare workforce needs, the challenge of improving real quality of care, the importance of population health and addressing disparities, and the fact that health and disease are reflections of the larger social and political network. Over the next several years, the American College of Physicians will need to help our professional community to build healthier inter-relationships, as well as to improve our dialog with other decision-makers in society, in order to forge new ways to improve healthcare quality and delivery. Some ND goals include improving participation in ACP, especially among IM residents; popularizing the ACP healthcare reform and Patient-Centered Medical Home proposal; and finding new funding sources to continue to provide high-quality educational programs.

What's New

Contact Information

James D. Brosseau, MD, FACP
ACP Governor
North Dakota Chapter

Pam Heisler
North Dakota Chapter Staff
Phone: 701-780-6129
Email: pheisler@altru.org

Suzan Huus
Phone: 701-746-5071
shuus@gra.midco.net