Clinical Staff, Pediatrics Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Medical School, at the University of Minnesota

Tim Krepski received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin and Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin in 1985; joining the nursing staff at the University of Minnesota shortly thereafter. He has worked as an inpatient nurse on both the pediatric and adult hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplant units,and as unrelated search donor coordinator for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program before becoming an Administrative Coordinator in the program.  Tim is a liaison for patients and their families, referring physicians and insurance case managers, and is responsible for reviewing new treatment protocols and coordinating their implementation to ensure excellence and consistency in patient care.   

Paul Metz is a certified Physician Assistant who has worked in the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program since 2002. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology at the University of Minnesota and later completed Physician Assistant training at Augsburg in Minneapolis, MN. He is board certified as a Physician Assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Kathryn Johnson is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who works for the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program.  Her professional interest has been to provide coordinated care to children with Inherited Metabolic Disorders at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, a division of Fairview.

Ms. Johnson received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in 1994 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She completed her nurse practitioner training and received her Master of Science Degree in 2001 at the University of Minnesota.  She is board certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner by the National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses, Inc.

Heather Zierhut, MS
Genetic Counselor for the Fanconi Anemia Comprehensive Care Center

Heather works as a member of the health care team, providing information and support to families.  She educates individuals on the genetic issues related to Fanconi Anemia such as the inheritance pattern, chances of recurrence, available testing options, and available reproductive options. 

Mrs. Zierhut received her Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse in 2004.  She has participated in genetics research projects at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Mayo Clinic, and the National Cancer Institute.  She completed her genetic counseling training and received her Master of Science in 2006 from the University of Minnesota.

Teresa Kivisto, RN
Outpatient Nurse Coordinator

Teresa Kivisto is a Nurse Clinician with the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic.  Teresa works to educate the patients and their families throughout the entire BMT process, including long-term follow-up.  She maintains a special interest in coordinating the care of children in the Inherited Metabolic Disorders Program.

Ms. Kivisto received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Minnesota in 1991.  She has been employed primarily in pediatric centers throughout her professional career, and has been with the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program since 2003.

Patricia Fidler, RN
Outpatient Nurse Coordinator

Pat Fidler received her RN from St. Mary's Jr. College (now St. Catherine's, Minneapolis campus) in 1967.  She joined the nursing staff of the bone marrow transplant unit in 1982, and worked on the inpatient adult and pediatric units until 1989 when she became a nurse coordinator.   Pat now works primarily with pediatric patients and their families to provide education and coordination of care and tests during each phase of the transplant process.