In Memoriam

Vernon M. Griffin, M.D. (B.S. Med. '36), Mauston, WI, died Dec. 19, 2006. Originally from Devils Lake, ND, he graduated from the UND medical school in 1936 and completed his medical degree from the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland, OR, in 1938. He continued with a one-year internship at Anker Hospital in St. Paul, MN, and a two-year surgery preceptorship in Grand Forks.

A lieutenant colonel during World War II, he was stationed at various Army medical units across the country. He retired in 1982 after nearly 40 years of active practice. He was a member of Burton-Koppang American Legion Post #81, past member of the Mauston Lions, and life member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Juneau County Medical Society and the Wisconsin Medical Society where he was elected vice chairman of the House of Delegates. He was an active member of the board of directors of Hess Memorial Hospital and served as president for 18 years.

Alvin L. Fields, M.D. (B.S. Med. '47) died Oct. 26, 2006 in Seattle, WA. He graduated from Whitman College, UND and Tufts Medical College. He married Lee Bushkin in 1950 and served in the Korean War as a lieutenant in the Navy. In 1952, Fields practiced family medicine in north Seattle and in 1962 built the Terrace Park Medical Clinic, retiring in 1988. He was a diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice, a clinical assistant professor at the UW for 17 years, and on the medical staff for Northwest Hospital from 1960 to 1988. He was the president of the King County Academy of Family Physicians from 1960 to 1961.

Joseph H. Schoonmaker, M.D. (B.S. Med '49), Seattle, WA, died Jan. 3, 2006. Born in Lanovla, India, he earned degrees from Wheaton College, Central Bible College, the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the University of Colorado Medical School. He married Marilyn Shively in May 1943. They served three terms (1954-71) as BGC medical missionaries at Baptist Christian Hospital in Tezpur, India.

Charles R. Myers, M.D. (B.S. Med. '56) of El Paso, TX, died Oct. 8, 2006.  He graduated from the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed his medical degree at the University of Nebraska, followed by a residency in anesthesia at Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX.  He served in World War II as chief of anesthesia at William Beaumont Army Medical Center from 1964 to 1967 and then went into private practice with Anesthesia Consultants until his retirement in 2001.  He had the honor of being assigned as the medical doctor on the recovery ship for the first Gemini Space Mission.

Susan J. (Sheldon) McLean (B.S.P.T. '71) of Oakes, ND, died Sept. 2, 2006.  She attended UND, graduated from the physical therapy program in 1971 and married Steph McLean later that year.  She worked as a physical therapy with the UND Rehabilitation Center before moving to Oakes in 1973 where she established the first Physical Therapy Department at the Oakes Community Hospital.  She worked there until 2004.

Mickey Knutson, P.A. (B.S.N. '58, F.N.P. '78), founder and former director of the Physician Assistant (PA) and Nurse

Practitioner programs, died Jan. 2, 2007 at Orlando, FL.  She was 70.

In the early 1970s, she was instrumental in the development of the physician assistant and nurse practitioner programs at the UND medical school.  She served as director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program from 1972 to 1977 and as co-director of the PA Program from 1982 to 1998.   

A native of Grafton, ND, Knutson earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing at UND and a master's degree in nursing at the University of Washington in 1961.  She completed the Family Nurse Practitioner Program in 1978 at UND. 

In 1963, she joined the UND College of Nursing faculty where she served for three years before being named director of St. Francis School of Nursing in Minot.  In 1972, she was named director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at the UND medical school where she wrote numerous grants which brought more than $2 million to UND.

During her career, she held many leadership positions with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (including president in 1982), Association of Physician Assistant Programs, North Dakota Academy of Health Practitioners, among others, and wrote extensively on the education of family nurse practitioners and related topics.   She received the UND President's Award for Outstanding Service in 1990.    

She is survived by her husband, Larry Knutson, Orlando; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. James and Theresa Knutson and grandson, Cole Knutson, all of Sioux City, Iowa.

Memorials may be sent to: The Mickey Knutson Scholarship Endowment, UND Foundation, PO Box 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202. 

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