Search begins for new director of Center for Rural Health Joshua Wynne, interim vice president for health affairs and interim dean of the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, has appointed a search committee to help select the next director of the Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the medical school. Wynne chose Rob Beattie to chair the search committee. The new director will assume the position formerly held by Mary Wakefield, who was appointed in February by President Obama to serve as administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. “The Center for Rural Health has been under the able leadership of Interim Directors Brad Gibbens and Marlene Miller. We now need to find a permanent director to lead the group, and I have appointed a search committee to recommend a short list of candidates for the CRH directorship,” said Wynne. The search committee has broad representation and is composed of the following individuals: • Rob Beattie, chair, clinical professor and chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine • Judy DeMers, associate dean, Student Affairs and Admissions • Lynette Dickson, program director, Center for Rural Health • Louise Dryburgh, CEO, FirstCare Health Center • Dennis Elbert, dean, UND College of Business and Public Administration • Senator Robert S. Erbele, North Dakota Legislature • Tracy Evanson, associate professor, Family and Community Nursing • Jacque Gray, assistant professor, Center for Rural Health • Kimberly Krohn, program director, Center for Family Medicine–Minot and associate professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine • Karen Larson, deputy director, Community Healthcare Association of the Dakotas • David Molmen, CEO, Altru Health Systems Housed at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Center for Rural Health is designated as a Center of Excellence in research, scholarship and creative activity by UND. The center’s mission is to connect resources and knowledge to strengthen the health of people in rural communities. The CRH serves the people of the state, region and nation. As a resource, CRH staff members identify and research rural health issues, analyze health policy, strengthen local capabilities, develop community-based alternatives, and advocate for rural concerns. -- Denis F. MacLeod, Communications Coordinator, Center for Rural Health, dmacleod@medicine.nodak.edu, 777-3300