Welcome

President : Meghan Foster, RNC - term expires 2019

Hello all and thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving you as your President. I have been involved in SDPA for several years, starting with planning committee member, board member, President elect and now President. I have enjoyed every moment of being involved in SDPA. I thoroughly enjoy meeting all of the members and working with speakers to produce a fantastic conference. I have worked in the Avera Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 12 years as a bedside nurse, transport nurse and currently as clinical nurse educator. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my 6 year old daughter, Madelyn. We enjoy camping with family and enjoying the nice weather for the short time we have it here in South Dakota.  I also enjoy crocheting accessories  for those cold weather months.

Past President: Lisa Lubbers, CNP- term expires 2019

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: Renae Buehner, RNC - term expires 2019

 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.

Secretary Treasurer: Lisa Jorgenson  - term expires 2021

.I currently work in the NICU at Avera McKennan Hospital. I was a NICU nurse from 2003-2008, have been on the NICU transport team from 2005- present, and a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from 2008 to present. I graduated from Creighton University in 2003 with my BSN and from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with my MSN in 2008. My clinical interests include: quality improvement activities, staff education, and reviewing Vermont Oxford Data.

I am born and raised in Sioux Falls. My husband Jay and I have four children- Jonah (11), Jack (8), Lucy and Liam (5 year old twins).

Executive Assistant: Susie Petersen, RNC

Kerri Bjornson, CNP - term expires 2019

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.

Katherine Wang, MD - term expires 2020

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.

Kayla Arnold

(Info Pending)

Jason Picconi, MD - term expires 2019

Cathy Lessly

(Info Pending)

Shanna Konz

(Info Pending)

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 2020

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 - term expires 2020

I graduated from Augustana University in 1999 with a Bachelor's of Arts in Nursing and then began my nursing career at Sioux Valley/Sanford Health.  After 5 years of NICU nursing experience, I entered into a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program at Vanderbilt University and graduated with a Master's of Science degree in 2006.  I currently work full-time at Sanford Health as a NNP in the NICU and with the flight team.  My clinical areas of interest include simulation training, flight team, and mentoring.

My husband, Brad, and I live in Sioux Falls and we have a daughter named Alexa in middle school who is active in music, athletics, and academics.  I play the trombone in a community brass choir and enjoy traveling all over the country to visit friends and family and/or sightseeing.

Shannon Backstrom - term expires 2021