Marcia Kelley, Roger Gilberston and UND President Robert O. Kelley at the announcement of Dr. Gilbertson’s gift.

Sanford Health-MeritCare and the University of North Dakota (UND) Foundation recently announced a $1.5 million gift to establish the Dr. Roger Gilbertson Endowed Chair of Neurology at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. Gilbertson is president emeritus of MeritCare Health System. 

Endowed chairs provide an invaluable means to ensure academic excellence in teaching and research. The Dr. Roger Gilbertson Endowed Chair in Neurology “will provide support for the development of an academic program in neurological diseases, which will complement the School’s highly regarded basic science research efforts in neurodegenerative disorders,” said Dr. Joshua Wynne, Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences.   

“This gift through the UND Foundation is a true demonstration of Sanford Health-MeritCare’s dedication to the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences and their interest in creating unique opportunities for students,”said Tim O’Keefe, executive vice president and CEO of the UND Foundation. “The foresight and generosity of friends like Sanford Health-MeritCare is providing this university its margin of excellence. By honoring Dr. Gilbertson in this fashion, there will also be permanent recognition of his commitment to quality medical education in North Dakota.”  

Lauris Molbert, vice chair of the Sanford Health-MeritCare Board of Trustees commented, “The Board wanted to do something to honor and recognize Roger Gilbertson’s service to MeritCare that would be as lasting and significant as his contribution to health care throughout the region. This gift recognizes his leadership role as a physician, teacher, and scientist.”  

“Combining excellence in medicine, teaching and research is a hallmark of our organization. Supporting
leadership in the further development of the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences is an important way for us to see that is accomplished. This has been an integral part of the growth of MeritCare,” said Kelby Krabbenhoft, president and CEO.

“Sanford Health-MeritCare has even greater potential to help set the bar involving innovation in clinical medicine, research, and academics. Working together with the UND and Sanford University of South Dakota medical schools, we can be a national model for the future training of physicians and health professionals,” said Krabbenhoft. 

Dr. Gilbertson served as president and chief executive officer of MeritCare Health System for 17 years, from its beginning in 1993 until his retirement in 2009. His leadership fostered tremendous growth in size and capabilities, and brought MeritCare to national prominence as an integrated health care system and as a national voice in health care reform and public policy. 

One of Dr. Gilbertson’s greatest accomplishments was firmly establishing the vision for coordinated health care in the region, starting with his key role in the merger of St. Luke’s Hospitals and Fargo Clinic, and the expansion of MeritCare’s regional network from a Fargo-based operation to a regional health care system.

Dr. Gilbertson served on the Medical Center Advisory Council (now the SMHS Advisroy Council) from 2001 to 2009.