As you have heard time and time again, the new School of Medicine and Health Sciences will be for everyone – as SMHS Dean Dr. Joshua Wynne said, “The building will reap major benefits for the people of the state…to provide health care and improve the health of North Dakotans for generations to come.” That level of impact and outreach requires the assistance and input of hundreds of people and so, since this is the holiday issue of North Dakota Medicine, I wanted to take this opportunity and thank many of those who have worked hard to make this project possible.
The entry of the new building will feature a dedication wall which will read, “The School of Medicine and Health Sciences building is dedicated to the citizens of North Dakota for the purpose of educating healthcare professionals and discovering knowledge to enhance the quality of life for all North Dakotans.” First and foremost, I would like to thank the citizens of North Dakota for their continuous support in creating a healthier future for our children and our grandchildren. The lion’s share of the SMHS has been funded by a $122.45 million allocation from the 2013 North Dakota State Legislature (plus a reserve of $1.55 million held by the State Board of Higher Education) – and, by association – the people of North Dakota. Dr. Robert Kelley, Dr. Wynne, Senators Holmberg, Grindberg, and Carlisle, Rick Tonder, and many, many campus staff were integral to the passage of the bill which approved this funding. Thank you for believing in this project and getting others to see your vision.
Early in design, JLG and our architectural partners Perkins+Will and Steinberg hosted 198 meetings and 12 workshops with attendance from over 180 users. The information gathered laid the foundation for every space inside and out, from the selection of the site to the square footages of the various offices. There are too many to list, and so please accept this group thank you to all who were involved.
The entire project has been overseen by the proactive and hands-on Building Committee and Owner’s Representatives, who have been involved since Day 1 and continue to provide their time, feedback and experience to keep the SMHS on the right track to completion. The robust Furniture Committee, made up of individuals from several departments, recently wrapped up final selections. We have also had numerous people involved in conversations about transition management, moving, and building setup. Thank you for your efforts in keeping everyone informed and making choices that will be in everyone’s best interests:
Building Committee:
- Randy Eken, MPA, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions
- Judy Solberg, MPA, Chief of Staff, Office of the Dean
- Joycelyn Dorscher, MD, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions
- Gwen Halaas, MD, MBA, Senior Associate Dean for Education
- Steven Light, PhD, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Colin Combs, PhD, Associate Professor
- Tom Mohr, PT, PhD, Associate Dean for Health Sciences
Building Committee Advisory Board:
- Brenda Norris
- Larry Zitzow, Facilities Director
- Dave Molmen, CEO, Altru Health System, Chair, Medical Center Advisory Council
- Chief Eric Plummer, Associate Vice President for Public Safety/Chief of Police
- Nasser Hammami, MS, Chief Information Officer
- Dr. Joshua Riedy, Vice Provost and Chief Strategy Officer
Owner’s Representatives:
- Dr. Joshua Wynne, MD, MBA, MPH, Vice President for Health Affairs, Dean of the UND SMHS
- Randy Eken, MPA, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions
- Judy Solberg, MPA, Chief of Staff, Office of the Dean
- Brenda Norris
Site Recommendation Committee:
- Joshua Wynne, MD, MBA, MPH, Vice President for Health Affairs, Dean, UND SMHS
- Alice Brekke, UND Vice President for Finance and Operations
- Brad Gengler, Grand Forks City Planner
- Lonnie Laffen, AIA, LEED AP, CEO, JLG Architects
- Peggy Lucke, UND Associate Vice President for Finance and Operations (retired)
Furniture Committee:
- Yvette LaPierre, PhD, Director of Student Advisement and Admissions
- Gwen Halaas, MD, MBA, Senior Associate Dean for Education
- Susan Carlson, Associate Director, Records and Information Management
- Jean Altepeter, Associate Director, Human Resources
- Terry Nelson, Associate Director, Budget and Facilities Management
- Tom Mohr, PT, PhD, Associate Dean for Health Sciences
- Marlys Peterson
- Matthew Nilles, PhD, Associate Professor
- Wendy Warner, MS, Grants Manager, Center for Rural Health
- Darlene Czapiewski
- Nasser Hammami, MS, Chief Information Officer
- Judy Solberg, MPA, Chief of Staff, Office of the Dean
Transition Champion Team:
Administration:
- Jean Altepeter, Associate Director, Human Resources
- Susan Carlson, Associate Director, Records and Information Management
- Patrick Carr, PhD, Associate Dean for Faculty Development, Director of Education Resources
- Randy Eken, MPA, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions
- Gwen Halaas, MD, MBA, Senior Associate Dean for Education
- Nasser Hammami, MS, Chief Information Officer
- Denis MacLeod, Assistant Director of Alumni and Community Relations
- Tom Mohr, PT, PhD, Associate Dean for Health Sciences
- Terry Nelson, Associate Director, Budget and Facilities Management
- Kristen Peterson
- Jessica Sobolik, Director, Office of Alumni & Community Relations
- Judy Solberg, MPA, Chief of Staff, Office of the Dean
- Richard Van Eck, PhD, Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning
Simulation:
- Jamie Hamilton, BS, Simulation Technician
- Center for Rural Healthv
- Nikki Massmann, BS, Communications Coordinator, Center for Rural Health
UND:
- Dave Chakraborty, Associate Vice President, Facilities
- Susan Walton, MA, Vice President for University and Public Affairs
- Larry Zitzow, Facilities Director
Education/Research:
- Elizabeth Anderson, Studentv
- Jennifer Duffy, Financial Aid Administrator
- James Foster, PhD, Assistant Professor
- Scott Garrett, PhD, Associate Professor
- Danielle Germundson, Student
- Bryon Grove, PhD, Associate Professor
- Janet Jedlicka, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Chair, Professor, Occupational Health
- Peter Knopick, Student
- John LeClerc, Student
- Spencer McCormick, Student
- Jeanie McHugo
- Matthew Nilles, PhD, Associate Professor
- Aggie Ottem, Student
- Ruth Paur, PhD, MLS (ASCP) CM, Department Chair, Assistant Professor, Medical Laboratory Sciences
- James Porter, PhD, Associate Professor
- David Relling, PT, PhD, Chair, Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
- Thad Rosenberger, PhD, Associate Professor
- Gary Schwartz, PhD, MPH, PhD, Chair, Department of Population Health
- Katherine Sukalski, PhD, Associate Professor
- Makoto Tsuchiya, MS, ATC, Assistant Professor, Coordinator, Educational Technology
- Siri Urquhart, Student
- Steve Westereng, Director of Sports Medicine
- Jenna Wyffels, Student
I’d like to thank our tireless design and construction consultants. Namely:
- JLG Architects, Lead Architects
- Steinberg Architects, Healthcare Education Specialist and Interiors
- Perkins+Will, Laboratory Specialists, Exterior and Landscape Architects
- Convergent Technologies Design Group, Inc, Audio-Visual Specialists
- ONE Engineering, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers
- Heyer Engineering, Structural Engineers
- AE2S, Civil Engineers
- Robert Rippe & Associates, Food Service Consultants
- PCL/CCI, Construction Managers at Risk
And our construction trades:
- All State Communications
- Anderson Steel Erection & Crane Service
- Braun Intertec
- CL Linfoot
- Culinex
- Custom Drywall
- Dakota Fire Protection
- Egan Co, Interclad Crew
- Flament-Ulman, Inc.
- Gaffaneys / Steelcase
- Haldeman Homme, Inc. dba Anderson Ladd
- Innovative Business Concepts
- Johnson Controls
- Johnson Nelson Masonry
- Multiple Concepts Interiors
- Norby’s Work Perks
- Pace Painting
- Premier Electric
- PS Doors
- RBB Electric
- Rick Electric
- Robert Gibb & Sons
- Robinson Excavating
- S&S Concrete and Masonry, LLP dba Northland Concrete and Masonry Company, LLC
- Sierra Metals,Inc.
- Sticky Construction, Inc.
- Swingen Construction Company
- ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corporation
- Twin City Hardware Co
- Twin City Tile and Marble Company
- Woody’s Rebar
I also want to give a second thank you to our Construction Management team, who will be celebrating 325,000 man hours without lost time. PCL has done a wonderful job providing a safe worksite for contractors and visitors. Speaking of visitors, PCL hosts a semi-public tour of the building on a Sunday every-other month. If you would like to be a part of one of these tours, please contact the SMHS.
Whether you have given your time, funds, or have simply given the new School of Medicine your blessing, I thank you, and wish you a healthy holiday season and a happy New Year.
