Medical Facilities Study Committee > Members

Committee Co-chairs

  • Duane Benson

    Executive Director, Minnesota Early Learning Foundation. Executive Director of the Minnesota Business Partnership from 1994 to 2003. State Senator from Lanesboro from 1980 to 1994. Selected as Senate Minority Leader three times.

  • Peter Gove

    Recently retired as an executive and officer of St. Jude Medical, the second largest medical technology company headquartered in Minnesota. His work at SJM focused on the public policy environment facing the medical technology industry including regulatory, reimbursement and market access challenges and opportunities. He worked for St. Jude Medical and Control Data Corp for 25 years. Prior to his business career, Peter spent a decade in state and federal government, including Executive Director of the MN Pollution Control Agency and Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Wendell R. Anderson. He served one term on the Citizens League Board of Directors and is a long-time member of the League.

Committee Participants

  • Allan Baumgarten

    Self-employed analyst/consultant on health market trends and issues. Author/publisher of annual reports on markets in Minnesota and 8 other states.

  • Deb Boardman

    Secretary/Treasurer of the Minnesota Hospital Association, CEO of Riverview Health Association, Crookston.

  • Carrie Coleman

    Previously was Deputy Director, Texas Association of Health Plans; Medicaid specialist in Texas Senate; Senior Legislative Asst. to U.S. Rep. Ron Coleman; served on the White House Task Force on Health Reform; has expertise in health financing for the poor and working poor.

  • Gary Cunningham

    Director of Primary Care Department, Hennepin County NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center. Citizens League Board of Directors. Co-chair of the Citizens League Mental Health Action Group

  • Kathleen Doran-Norton

    President of the League of Women Voters in Northfield and Cannon Falls. Previously employed as a research analyst at the center for Government Research in Rochester, NY - included review of new psycho-geriatric unit. Masters degree in rehabilitation counseling. Internships at Rusk Rehabilitation (brain and spinal cord injury treatment), and Osawatomie State Hospital (mental hospital).

  • Candace Dow

    Currently working in affordable housing development. Previously has worked or consulted with health service purchasers, providers, regulators, and educators primarily in employee health benefits, market research, organizational strategic planning, and new product development. Clients and employers included Honeywell, Medtronic, Mpls. Public Schools, MN Dept. of Health, UMN Hospitals and Clinics.

  • Linda Ewen

    Member of the Citizens League Policy Advisory Committee, Anoka County employee involved with administration of the Medicaid program.

  • Tony Jaspers

    M.D., Multi-specialty group member of Mankato Clinic, Minnesota Medical Association.

  • Sister Mary Madonna

    Minnesota health commissioner in the 1980s.

  • Lorry Massa

    Current Chair of the Minnesota Hospital Association, Chief Executive Officer of Rice Memorial Hospital, in Willmar, Minnesota, since 1994.

  • Michael Morrow

    Senior Vice President of Business Development and Network Management for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota; CEO, Blue Plus

  • Ed Oliver

    Currently a health insurance agent; was a Minnesota State Senator from 1993- 2003 and served on the Health and Human Services Committee.

  • Christine Rice

    Currently a community volunteer working on health care issues. Member of the Epilepsy Foundation Board. Former deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health.

  • Doug Robinson

    Small business owner; formerly a senior executive with the Fairview Health System, Healthcare Management Consultant, United Health Group Division Executive.

  • Rochelle Schultz Spinarski

    Conducts rural health research, community health needs assessments, and assists rural health agencies with program strategic planning and development projects throughout the country. Serves national agencies in research and policy making capacity, Works across continuum of care as well as on helath workforce issues, though half of work is focused towards Critical Access Hospitals in small and rural areas.

  • Carolyn Smallwood

    Currently Executive Director for Way To Grow. Previously was Vice President for Sales and Marketing for Twin Cities Rise! She previously served as Executive Director of Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council. Prior to entering the nonprofit field, Carolyn held a variety of senior executive positions with ADC, The Broadband Company, and US Bancorp.

  • Harry Sutton

    Recently retired from his position as a Senior Advisor for Reden & Anders, Ltd., having over 50 years of experience as an actuary and consultant. Was president of the Planning Agency for Hospitals of Metropolitan Minneapolis in the 1950s, which later merged with a similar agency in St. Paul. Has worked locally, as well as on a state and federal level, with HMOs and was active with MN Coalition on Health and the State Medical Society.

  • Tom Swain

    Former executive vice president of the St. Paul Companies, retired in 1986. President of the State Fund Mutual Insurance Company in 1992. University of Minnesota's acting vice president for Institutional Relations (1996- 98). Chair of the Minnesota Health Care Commission, from its inception in 1992 through 1995. Swain also has served as director of the Courage Center and director of Select Care and as president of the Citizens League and of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association. Chief Advisor to Gov. Elmer L. Andersen.

  • Joseph Tashjian

    M.D., President, St. Paul Radiology, Staff Radiologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota Hospital's Department of Radiology. Executive Committee Member of the Minnesota Radiologic Society. Minnesota Medical Association.

  • Blair Tremere

    Currently at Met Council in general land use planning, locally and regionally. Previously was Committee Adminstrator at the MN House Tax Committee for Rep. Ron Abrams; former mayor of Golden Valley.

  • John Tschida

    Vice President of Public Affairs & Research at Courage Center. Previously held editor position at the non-partisan MN House Information Office.

  • Jonathan Weiss

    Quality Outcomes Manager at a treatment foster care organization. Previously worked as an analyst at the Office of Government Accountability (GAO) in Washington D.C.

  • Ron White

    Senior Vice President of HealthStaff Alternatives, LLC, and Board member of Children's Hospitals and Clinics. Previously employed at MMI Companies and Fortis in healthcare risk management; at UnitedHealth Care as Regional Vice President in its Small Business Group (SBG) division, and then in its Corporate Marketing & Business Development group.