Alumni Notes

'00s

Christina Knott, M.O.T. '05, licensed certified occupational therapist, has joined Altru's Outreach Therapy department in Crookston and Red Lake Falls, MN.  Before joining Altru, she provided occupational therapy services at Northwestern Medical Center, East Grand Forks, MN.

Andrea Howick, M.D. '04, was recently voted Resident of the Year at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, IL.  She is in the obstetrics and gynecology residency program at the Loyola University Medical Center.

Jeffrey Geddes, M.D. '03, joined Altru Health System's emergency medicine team in Grand Forks.  He received his medical degree from the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed an emergency medicine residency with the Regions Hospital/Healthpartners Medical Group in St. Paul, MN.  He is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American Medical Association and the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine.

Augusto Alonto, M.D.  (Internal Medicine Residency ‘02), infectious disease specialist, joined MeritCare Broadway Health Center in Fargo.  He earned a medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, and completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, and a residency in internal medicine at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He was previously employed as assistant professor of medicine and director of infection control at the University of Illinois Hospital and Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center, Chicago.

Keith Swanson, M.D. '01, a hospitalist with Altru Health System, has been named associate medical director of Altru's managed care department.  His duties include quality improvement, guideline development and utilization and referral management.  He is also chair of Altru's guideline utilization committee.  He received his medical degree from the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed his internal medicine residency at Mayo College of Medicine in Jacksonville, FL.

Ender Raghib, M.D. '00, opened Pediatric Arts Clinic in Fargo.  His practice covers a wide spectrum of pediatric care, from newborn care to well-child checks, immunizations, acute illness and injury.  He earned his medical degree from the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed residency at Creighton - University of Nebraska Joint Pediatric Residency Program in Omaha.

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'90s

Mamad Bagheri, M.D. '98, board certified dermatologist, has opened the North Dakota Center for Dermatology, Mohs Surgery, and Aesthetics, located in the Aurora Medical Park building in Grand Forks. He practices general and cosmetic dermatology, and Mohs skin cancer surgery, the most advanced surgical technique for treatment of skin cancer.

He earned his medical degree from the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He completed his internship and residency at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. His advanced fellowship in Mohs surgery was done at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and he is the only fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic surgeon in North Dakota. In addition to general and surgical dermatology, he has special expertise in cosmetic dermatology, including facial rejuvenation, chemical peel, Botox, collagen and other fillers, fat transfers, sclerotherapy of leg veins, scar revision, lasers and acne treatment.

Chris Meeker, M.D. '97, joined Medcenter One in Bismarck.  He is an emergency and trauma physician responsible for stabilizing patients with all injuries, illnesses or traumas who enter the emergency room.  He earned his medical degree from the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed his residency at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.

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'80s

Paul Carson, M.D. '86, was appointed the president of the North Central Chapter of the Infectious Disease Society of America for 2006 and 2007.  This chapter represents North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and western Wisconsin.  He is an infectious disease specialist at MeritCare Broadway Health Center in Fargo, ND, and an associate professor of internal medicine with the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Tammy Smith, B.S.P.T. '86, has joined Integrated Rehabilitation Group at Murphy's Corner Physical Therapy in Everett, WA, as a clinical staff physical therapist and manager of the aquatics therapy program. She has more than 20 years’ experience with specialization in industrial medicine and work rehabilitation, geriatrics and orthopedics and aquatics rehabilitation.

Larry Johnson, M.D. '83, a family practice physician at Medcenter One Jamestown Clinic, was recently appointed to the North Dakota Board of Medical Examiners by Governor John Hoeven.  The North Dakota State Board of Medical Examiners is the state agency responsible for the licensure and discipline of all physicians and all physician assistants who practice in North Dakota.  Johnson will serve a four-year term.

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Corrections

Clayton D. Fetsch, M.D. '01, began his practice at St. Luke Hospital in McPherson, Kansas.  He is trained in general surgery but has a special interest in laparoscopic procedures. Fetsch completed his surgical residency and internship at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita.

Mark Wiest, M.D. '77, M.S., C.P.E., medical management executive, is medical lead for CIGNA's health benefits plans throughout the region, including health advocacy programs such as the award-winning CIGNA Well Aware for Better Health(SM) disease management programs and medical management.

Wiest rejoins CIGNA from Prevue Health Services in Green Bay, WI, where he served as senior vice president and chief medical officer since 2003. Previously he was medical director for CIGNA HealthCare of Arizona, where he led best-in-class clinical programs for the region. Prior to CIGNA, Wiest served in clinical leadership roles for a number of physician practices based in St. Paul, MN.

Wiest holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from UND, where he also earned a bachelor's degree in medicine. He has also earned a master's degree in administrative and preventive medicine from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a bachelor's degree in psychology from UND.

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