Internal Advisory Board
Constantin Aliferis, MD, MS, PhD, FACMI
Director, Institute for Health Informatics
Area Represented: CTSI, IHI
Dr. Constantin Aliferis holds the positions of professor and director of the Institute for Health Informatics, and head of the Clinical and Translational Institute Biomedical Informatics program. His research is focused on high dimensional modeling and analysis designed to transform biomedical data into novel actionable scientific knowledge.
Bradley Benson, MD, FACP, FAAP
Chief Academic Officer
Area Represented: M Health Fairview Executive Leadership Team
Dr. Bradley Benson is a professor of Medicine and currently serves as Chief Academic Officer for the MHealth-FV Academic Health System reporting to the Dean of the Medical School. He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and has directed numerous programs and divisions within the Medical School.
Connie Delaney, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI
Dean, School of Nursing
Area Represented: OACA (health sciences) School
Dr. Connie Delaney serves as Professor and Dean, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, and is the Knowledge Generation Lead for the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. She is an active researcher in data and information technology standards for nursing, health care, and interprofessional practice and education; big data science; and integrative informatics.
Roli Dwivedi, MD
Chief Clinical Officer, Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC)
Area Represented: Minnesota health system (non-MHFV)
Dr. Roli Dwivedi is University of Minnesota faculty in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, chief clinical officer at the Community University Health Care Center, and vice chair for community engagement and advocacy. She is also the Mac Baird Endowed Chair in Advocacy and Community Engagement.
Steven Fu, MD, MSCE
Director, Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, VA
Area Represented: Minnesota health system (non-MHFV)
Dr. Steven Fu is interested in smoking cessation and tobacco-related health disparities. His research is focused on identifying best practices for improving the delivery and utilization of tobacco dependence treatments among diverse and disadvantaged populations.
Melissa Geller, MD, MS
Associate Director for Clinical Research;
Division Chief, Gynecology Oncology
Area Represented: Masonic Cancer Center
Dr. Melissa Geller is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Geller specializes in the treatment and management of gynecologic malignancies and is committed to clinical and translational research.
Sayeed Ikramuddin, MD, MHA
Chair, Department of Surgery
Area Represented: Medical School Department Chair
Dr. Sayeed Ikramuddin is the Jay Phillips Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery. He was Chief of General Surgery at the VA Medical Center in Pittsburgh until his recruitment to the University of Minnesota in 2001. Dr. Ikramuddin has a research focus on the outcomes of type 2 diabetes following bariatric surgery and vagal nerve stimulation to produce weight loss.
Marizen Ramirez, PhD, MPH
Associate Dean for Research
Area Represented: School of Public Health Dean Delegate
Dr. Marizen Ramirez is a professor for the Division of Environmental Health Sciences in the School of Public Health. She is also Director of the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety and Principal Investigator for Link for Equity. Dr. Ramirez studies violence and injure problems with a special focus on society’s most vulnerable populations at risk for these issues.
Laura Reed, RN, DNP
Executive Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive, & Chief Operating Officer
Area Represented: M Health Fairview Executive Leadership Team
Laura Reed has held a wide range of nursing roles in academic and community settings, beginning as a front-line nurse and advancing to nurse manager and then into senior leadership positions. She holds both a Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing.
Tim Shacker, MD
Executive Vice Dean
Area Represented: Medical School Dean Delegate
Dr. Timothy Schacker is a professor of Medicine and Director of the Program in HIV Medicine at the University of Minnesota. His group is testing novel therapies to prevent and/or reverse this process and slow T cell depletion in HIV and improve their reconstitution when antiretroviral is begun. He is also the principal investigator of a federally funded program of projects designed to determine barriers to HIV eradication.
Sandra Wells, PhD
Assistant Director, Office of Discovery and Translation
Area Represented: CTSI
Dr. Sandra Wells is a research scientist with considerable experience in both academia and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. She has held several positions in regulatory affairs, clinical development, and medical affairs at various companies. Her research focused on identifying the mechanisms and potential treatments for respiratory diseases.