Welcome

President: Lisa Lubbers, CNP- term expires 2017

I am a Board member for SDPA as of 2013 and served as President Elect for 2015-2017.  I'm also active on the Planning Committee.  I have been a member SDPA for many years.  I love being part of an organization that understands the importance of ongoing learning and collaboration with all types of professionals in the area of women's and children's health.

I currently work in the NICU at Sanford Health as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.  I have received degrees from USD, SDSU, and Vanderbilt University.  I'm a born and raised South Dakota girl and appreciate the diversity of cultures we have in this great state.

 I'm married and have a daughter who is a senior at Minnesota State University and a son who is a junior at Roosevelt High School.  I also enjoy my three dogs, camping, going for drives, walks, and reading.

 I look forward to many more years of contributing to SDPA.  I also look forward to representing all of SDPA as a board member and President. Please don't hesitate to contact me or any other board member if you have suggestions to make our organization even better. 

President Elect: Meghan Foster, RNC - term expires 2017

Meghan Foster is the Clinical Educator for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Avera McKennan Hospital. 

Past President: Suzanne Reuter, MD - term expires 2017

I am a neonatologist at Sanford Children's Hospital.  I am serving as SDPA president for 2013-2015.  I have been involved with the SDPA since I moved to Sioux Falls in 2006.

I graduated from USD School of Medicine in 2000 and spent 6 years at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston completing my residency and fellowship.

My husband, MIke, and I have 2 kids: Andrew, age 15 and Meredith, age 10.  We enjoy travel and all sports but especially downhill skiing, football, swimming and running.  We also have a cat named Ruby.

Secretary Treasurer: Kerri Bjornson, CNP - term expires 2017

My name is Kerri Bjornson and I am currently the Secretary/Treasurer of the South Dakota Perinatal Association thru 2017. I have been a member of SDPA since starting at Sioux Valley/Sanford in 1998.

I have been a NICU nurse since 1997 until I return to complete my Master's in Nursing for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in 2006. I was on the flight team for 9 of those years.

I am married to Tige Bjornson, NNP and we have 2 very busy kids, Alexzandra who is 14 and Ben who is 11.

Executive Assistant: Susie Petersen, RNC

Katherine Wang, MD - term expires 2017

I was born in Los Angeles, CA and moved to the Midwest to attend the University of Michigan Medical School.  That is where I met my wonderful husband (a Midwesterner) and have since become a Midwesterner myself.  I trained at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, OH before moving here to Sioux Falls.  I am currently a neonatologist at Avera McKennan Hospital and have two lovely young boys who remind me daily of all the things you don’t learn in medical school.

Laurie Hogden, MD - term expires 2018

Laurie Hogden, MD is a neonatologist at Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls.  She is a Wisconsin native and moved to Sioux Falls 2 years ago.  In addition to attending in the Boekelheide Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Laurie see patients in the NICU follow-up clinic and enjoys teaching pediatric residents in the simulation lab and at the bedside.  She has a special interest in supporting parental tobacco cessation in the NICU setting through support of a March of Dimes grant.  Laurie works with a multi-disciplinary group to manage the local Vermont Oxford Network database. 

Laurie lives with her husband and black lab in Sioux Falls.

Renae Buehner, RNC - term expires 2018

I graduated from  Dakota Wesleyan University with my associates degree in 2001. I went back to get my bachelors degree and graduated from University of Phoenix in 2012.

I have worked the majority of my nursing career on labor and delivery. I am an AWHONN fetal monitoring instructor and teach a portion of the Avera Perinatal practicum. I am currently the unit Supervisor for Labor and Delivery.

For family, I married my high school sweetheart and we have 3 beautiful daughters that keep us busy.

 Jason Picconi, MD - term expires 2019

Lori Popkes, MBA RN NE-BC - term expires 2017

I am the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, SD

I have been a member of SDPA for approximately 10 years & have enjoyed being part of the conference planning committee as well as the Board of Directors in the past & I am excited to once again be serving on the board.

I started my healthcare career as a patient care tech and then as a RN in several different roles beginning at Sioux Valley Hospital, Select Specialty Hospital, Heart Hospital of South Dakota, Avera McKennan.  I was the interim Director of Nursing in a Critical Access Hospital in Scotland, Sd. I began working at Avera McKennan in 2004 as Operations Consultant in Women & Children's services and shortly thereafter moved into the Director of W&C which transitioned into an Assistant VP role of W&C.

My venture into the Associate CNO role began Dec. 2013.  At different points along my career, I also had the incredible privilege to work as a prn staff nurse in the critical access hospital in my hometown of Rock Rapids, IA.

I am co-chair for the SD March of Dimes Board of Directors.  Previously served on the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Sioux Falls.  And I also enjoy serving as a mentor through the Lutheran Social Services mentor program.

I am married to my high school sweetheart Greg.  We are blessed with 7 daughters, 2 son in laws, 4 granddaughters and 1 grandson.

In my spare time, I love to read, travel & spend time with friends and family.

Linda Hanson, RN - term expires 2017

I graduated from Presentation College in 1977 with my ADN, from SDSU with my BSN in 1994, and my Masters from Augustana in 2004. I presently am the Nurse Manager (as of February 2, 2015)  of the Birthplace at Avera St. Luke’s in Aberdeen, where I have worked there the past 34 years as labor, delivery, postpartum and Level II nursery. I have been a certified Perinatal Nurse since 1995 and a Lactation Counselor since  2003.

For family I have married to my husband, Jim for 37 years and we have 2 children whom are married. I have 1 grandson who is 2 and another grandchild on the way in August. I own 2 dogs and have 4 granddogs.

Tige Bjornson, CNP - term expires 2017

Newly appointed board member for SDPA.  Nurse Practitioner at Sanford Medical Center and Children's Hospital.  I am involved in the NICU for the past 11 years.  I graduated from SDSU with a BSN in nursing in 2001.  I pursued and obtained a MSN in nursing specializing as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in 2008 from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

I am married, my wife is the treasurer of SDPA and is also a Nurse Practitioner in the NICU at Sanford.  We have 2 kids, Alexzandra who is 14, and Ben who is 11.

I enjoy spending time with my family, riding my Harley, golfing, and playing guitar.

Ann Rowenhorst, RN-term expires 2018

Heather Solon, RN, CCE term expires 2018

I have been a RN since 1996. I attended Nursing School at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln ( UNMC) and graduated in 1996 where I received my BSN.  I then worked at United Medical Center Hospital in Cheyenne, WY from 1998-2000 in the Level I and Level II Newborn Nursery/NICU.  I stayed home for a few years to raise my two girls for awhile before I returned to work again. My next position was at Rapid City Regional Hospital in 2005, where I have been working on the Maternal Child Floor in Obstetrics, the Newborn Nursery, and also in the NICU as well since then. I also worked at Rapid City Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic from 2011-2012 as a PRN RN.

I joined SDPA in 2009 and have been serving on the planning committee. I recently became a board member  in 2014 and look forward to that new role as well as being on the planning committee.

I have been a Childbirth Educator for Rapid City Regional Hospital since 2013, and received my Certification as a Certified Childbirth Educator in 2014. I help teach the Postpartum/Nursery Childbirth Education  classes at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

I live in Kadoka, SD. I am married to Patrick, and have 4 children. Two daughters and two sons. Shaina is 16, Savannah is 14, River is 8 and Ridge is 2 1/2.  I enjoy gardening of all types, reading, swimming, traveling, and watching movies, and chasing the children around.

Beth Graff, BSN term expires -

I graduated from SDSU with a BSN in nursing in 1992. I have worked my entire nursing career at Madison Regional Health System in Madison, SD. I have worked in this critical access hospital in many capacities over the years. I have worked in all areas of the hospital but my true love is in obstetrics. In 2006 I accepted the OB Supervisor role. I taught childbirth education classes over the years and I am also an NRP instructor. I work closely with our local providers to deliver top notch obstetrical care for our community.

I live in Wentworth, SD with my husband, Tim. We have 4 children. Mandie is 24, Matt is 20 and my twins, Mariah and Marissa are 19. We also have 3 grandchildren. I have been blessed to attend the birth of all 3 of my grandchildren, now ages 4, 18 months, and 13 months. I enjoy spending time with family, watching movies, and volunteering with our youth at church.

Charissa Ortman Brockmueller,

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LisaJorgenson,

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