Alumni Notes

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Abrar Mohammed, M.D. (res. ’07) joined St. Alexius Medical Clinic in Minot, ND, as a specialist in internal medicine.  He completed his medical degree at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India and a residency in internal medicine through UND.

Michael Kruger, M.D. ’03 (res. ’07) joined Valley Bone and Joint Clinic in Grand Forks, specializing in sports medicine.  He completed his residency at Grand Forks Family Medicine and a sports medicine fellowship at Hennepin County Primary Care in Minneapolis.

Ryan Stromme, D.P.T. ’03, recently joined Altru Health System’s Outreach Therapy department. He will provide outpatient and inpatient physical therapy services to the Devils Lake, ND, region. Previously, he worked at the Orthopedic and Spine Therapy Outpatient Clinic in Ashland, WI, and Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake.

Jennifer Raum, M.D. ’01, internal medicine, joined MeritCare Southpointe in Fargo, ND. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.,

where she then served as chief resident of ambulatory medicine. Prior to joining MeritCare, she was a clinical assistant professor of

medicine at Georgetown University Hospital.

Jason Baxter, B.S.O.T. ’00, graduated with his doctorate of health sciences from the University of Indianapolis. He is also a visiting professor at the University of Indianapolis and a guest

lecturer at Governor’s State University. He is a regional manager and on the board of directors at Apex Physical Therapy in Effingham, IL.

Mary Jo Crissler Belanger, M.D. ’00, joined MeritCare Broadway in Fargo, ND, practicing in the fields of internal medicine and palliative medicine.  She completed her residency in internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN. Prior to joining MeritCare, she practiced at White Earth Health Center in Ogema, MN.

Brett Vibeto, M.D. ’00, joined Mercy Medical Center in Williston, ND, as a general surgeon.  He completed his residency at Wright

State University and Texas Tech University.

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Kim Krohn, M.D. ’96, program director at the UND Center for Family Medicine in Minot, has recently been recognized by the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors for completion of the national Institute for Program Director Development fellowship.

Alonna (Knorr) Norberg, M.D. ’96, was named a YWCA Cass Clay Woman of the Year for developing advocacy programs for child abuse victims.  She completed her pediatric residency and pediatric emergency fellowship at the Children’s Hospital

Medical Center of Akron, Ohio.  She belongs to several children’s alliances and the MeritCare Children’s Hospital Child Protection Team.  She also is medical director of the Red River

Children’s Advocacy Center, a community partnership developed to improve response to child abuse.  Norberg is trained in forensic

pediatrics, an area of medicine that focuses on assessing abused or neglected children.

Joel Johnson, M.D. ’93, a physician at First Care Health Center in Park River, ND, was awarded the 2007 North Dakota Diabetes Care Provider Achievement Silver Award by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and the North Dakota Department of Health, Diabetes Prevention and Control Program.

Heidi Bittner, M.D. ‘91, of Altru Clinic – Lake Region in Devils Lake, ND, received the North Dakota Physician of the Year award at the North Dakota Academy of Family Physician conference in

Medora.  The award is given once a year to a North Dakotan physician who shows great pride in practicing family medicine.  She has been practicing at Altru Clinic – Lake Region since 1995.  Areas of interest include pediatrics, obstetrics and women’s health.  She is also a clinical assistant professor of family and community medicine for the UND medical school and precepts residents at the Minot Center for Family Medicine.

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Lori Klabunde, PA-C, FNP ’89, is a visiting specialist in her hometown of Williston, ND, as part of the Bone & Joint Center spine team.

Bonnie Knutson, B.S.O.T. ’88, joined Axis Clinic, Aurora Medical Park, in Grand Forks.  She will help develop the Aurora occupational medicine program, serving as a faculty trainer for

WorkWell Systems, training physical and occupational therapists to perform different evaluations and rehabilitation programs.

Jane Sepiol, RNC, FNP ’83, joined PrimeCare Washburn Family Clinic in Washburn, ND.  She previously worked in the Phoenix, AZ area in diabetes care and education.

Mark Gregerson, M.D. ‘81, Moose Lake, MN, practices orthopedic surgery at Gateway Family Health Clinic in Moose Lake and Gateway Clinic in Sandstone, MN.

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John Baird, M.D. (B.S.Med ’76), health officer for Fargo Cass Public Health, is now a member of the board of directors of the National Association of county and City Health Officials.  NACCHO develops resources and programs and promotes national policies that support effective local public health practice.

Robin Bernhoft, M.D., FACS (B.S. Med. ’74), has opened a new practice in environmental and functional medicine in Ojai, CA.  He had been practicing liver and pancreatic surgery in the Seattle area until “becoming disabled by allergy to soaps and sensitivity to various chemicals,” he said, “thereby proving that old dogs can learn new tricks, when they regain enough health.”

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Myron Wentz, Ph.D. (M.S. ’66), founder, chairman, and CEO of USANA Health Sciences, Inc., was honored in Jerusalem with the Albert Einstein Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Life Sciences.

The award salutes leaders whose vision and commitment have contributed to the critical advancement of vital life-saving and

life-enhancing technology to benefit mankind. Wentz received the award in recognition of his many scientific and charitable endeavors.

Wentz is an internationally recognized microbiologist, immunologist and pioneer in the development of human cell culture technology and infectious disease diagnoses. In 1974 he launched Gull Laboratories, which developed groundbreaking

viral diagnostic assays, including the first commercially available test for diagnosing infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. Wentz sold his controlling interests in Gull Laboratories in 1992 and founded USANA Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art manufacturer of science-based nutritional supplements and personal-care

products. Most recently, he founded Sanoviv Medical Institute, a holistic medical facility with full hospital accreditation located in Baja California. He holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Utah.

Today Wentz is increasingly focused on his humanitarian and charitable endeavors, recently founding the Wentz Medical Centre and Laboratory in Uganda and the Wentz Medical Centre in

Cambodia to serve children in those countries orphaned by diseases such as malaria and HIV. Wentz was a recipient of the Children’s Champion Award by Children’s Hunger Fund, for which he travels worldwide as a medical missionary.

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