Faculty and Staff

Kathleen Brooks, MD, MBA, MPA, RPAP director

Medical Education: University of Minnesota Medical School, Twin Cities
Residency: University of Minnesota North Memorial Health Care Family Medicine Program
Medical Interests: Systematizing chronic care delivery, evaluation and implementation of new technology into health care delivery, coordination of care across disciplines and sites of service, and future of health care policy.
Personal Interests: Relaxing near Lake Superior, photography, reading, knitting, biking

kdbrooks@umn.edu

Ray Christenson, MD, RPAP associate director

Medical Education: University of Wisconsin, Madison
Internship: St. Mary’s Hospital, Duluth, MN
Medical Interests and Vision: Access for all rural citizens to high quality health care
Personal interests: Bicycling, canoeing, fishing, running, tennis, and walking

rchriste@d.umn.edu

Therese Zink, MD, MPH, RPAP faculty

Medical Education: Ohio State University; Public Health Administration, University of Minnesota
Residency: Ramsey Medical Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
Medical Interests: Family violence, women's health, preventive care, behavior change
Personal Interests: Running, bicycling, hiking, canoeing, gardening, horseback riding, creative writing

zink0003@umn.edu

Bill Fricke, program administrator

Education: Los Medanos College, Pittsburg, California
Job Responsibilities: Assist program director in administration of areas including faculty site visits, student recruitment and class selection, development of curriculum materials, and editing the program newsletter
Personal Interests: Playing guitar, songwriting, reading, films, performing improvisational and stand-up comedy 

frick002@umn.edu

Nancy Baker, MD, RPAP faculty

Medical Education: University of Missouri - Columbia
Residency: St.Paul Ramsey Medical Center (Regions Hospital), St. Paul, MN
Medical Interests: Medical Humanities, end-of-life hospice care, Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC)
Personal Interests: Creative writing, canoeing, biking, theatre

baker024@umn.edu

Keith Stelter, MD, MMM, RPAP faculty

Medical Education: University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth and Twin Cities campuses
RPAP: Blue Earth, Minnesota
Residency: Duluth Family Medicine Program
Medical Interests: Chronic disease management, quality improvement, medical leadership
Personal Interests: Cycling, hiking, and horsemanship 

stelter.keith@mayo.edu

Ruth Westra, DO, MPH, RPAP faculty

Medical Education: Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA; Loma Linda School of Public Health, Loma Linda, CA
Residency: Mt. Clemens General Hospital, Mt. Clemens, Michigan
Medical Interests: Rural health, women's health, public health, health education, and prevention promotion
Personal Interests: Bicycling, cross-country and downhill skiing, running

rwestra@d.umn.edu

Michelle Mauch, executive assistant to RPAP director

Education: Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, Minnesota
Job Responsibilities: Coordination of director’s schedule, meetings, and events; assist with RPAP orientation, program newsletter, and editing student dean’s letters.
Personal Interests: Spending time with husband and young daughter, baking, down-hill skiing, running, and creative arts/crafts. 

Amanda Hagen, executive assistant to RPAP associate director

Education:

Job Responsibilities: Work with RPAP associate director and RPAP faculty and staff coordinating and fulfilling program needs; act as RPAP contact and provide program and outcome information to sites, students, and directors
Personal Interests:

achagen@d.umn.edu