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Faculty,
Fellows, and Staff |



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Vice President of Research
Gert Bronfort, DC, PhD
Dean of Research
Roni Evans, DC, MS
Director, Office of Data Management
Edward Owens, DC
Associate Dean of Research &
Knowledge Transfer
Michele Maiers, DC, MPH
Clinical Research Faculty
Lori Baldwin, MOm, LAc
Michael Przeslawski, DC
Craig Schulz, DC, MS
Sara Swanson, DC
Barry Taylor, DC
Blong Vang, DC, FACO
Kristine Westrom, MD, MS
Clinical Research Administrator
Sarah Zwagerman
Data Manager
Michelle Johnson
Exercise Therapists
Jacob Herbst, MA
Kayla Kelly, MA
Project Managers
Claire Legendre
Kristin Swartz
Patient Coordinator
April Anderson
Performance Lab Coordinator
Scott Austen, MS
Research Fellows
Sarah Gottfried, NCTM
Linda Hanson, DC
Brent Leininger, DC
Corrie Vihstadt, MOm
Adjunct Research Faculty
Julia Bartlett, DC
Pat Casello, MBA, DC
Sher Demeter, LAc, NCCAOM
Renee DeVries, DC, DACBR
Anita Manne, DC
Jeff Rich, DC
Della Shupe, MA
Mary Tuchscherer, PhD
Sarah Weaver, NCTMB
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April Anderson
Patient Research Coordinator
April received her Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administrations from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2008. There she received three Chancellors Awards for academic excellence. Prior to joining WHCCS in 2009, she held the position as an Assistant Manager of Sales from 2008-2009. April is currently a Patient Research Coordinator at WHCCS. She schedules evaluation and treatment visits and coordinates patient activities for several randomized clinical trials.
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Scott
Austen, MS
Biomechanics Lab Coordinator
Scott received a BS degree in Exercise Physiology
from the University of New Hampshire, with an
emphasis in cardiac rehab and exercise testing.
He served his undergraduate internship at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO.
While there, he was involved with exercise and
aging research, and exercise testing. He completed
his MS degree in Exercise Physiology at the University
of Wisconsin-La Crosse, with an emphasis in adult
fitness/cardiac rehab in 1994. His masters thesis
was the development of a VO 2 Max test for simulated
cross country skiing. He then completed
a second internship at Cardiovascular Specialist/North
Memorial Medical Center for cardiac rehab in Robbinsdale,
MN. Since joining the staff at the Wolfe-Harris
Center for Clinical Studies (WHCCS) in 2004, he
has served as an Objective Examiner on several
federally funded randomized clinical trials assessing
different aspects of biomechanical function. Scott
is now supervising and coordinating the objective
examiner activities and overseeing the phone screening
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Lori
Baldwin, MOm LAc
Assistant Professor
Lori Baldwin received her Master
of Oriental Medicine and License of Acupuncture
from Northwestern Health Sciences University (NWHSU)-Minnesota
College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MCAOM)
in August 2004. NCCAOM certified, since graduation
Lori has been in private practice and joined the
Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies (WHCCS)
in November 2005. Lori provides TCM care to patients
in the Integrative Health Care study and acting
as the Project Coordinator for the newly funded
CAM Research Education Partnership Project. Lori
assists in the coordination and scheduling of
evaluation and treatment appointments at the WHCCS,
performs initial eligibility screening and informed
consents with potential participants, and conducts
qualitative interviews with study participants
assessing their treatment experiences and satisfaction
with care. She assisted with the MCAOM Data Collection
Project, and currently the MCAOM Clinician Form
Project. In addition to her work at WHCCS Lori
maintains her private practice as a TCM practitioner.
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| Gert
Bronfort, DC, PhD
Research Professor
Vice President of Research
Dr. Bronfort graduated from Canadian Memorial
Chiropractic College in 1969 and received his
PhD from Vrije University of Amsterdam in 1997.
He has performed collaborative research with health
care professionals in outpatient and hospital
settings in Denmark and the United States for
over 20 years.
Dr. Bronfort is an accomplished clinical researcher attracting over $12 million in federal funding to conduct randomized clinical trials for low back, neck and headache conditions. He has built an extensive collaborative network with researchers from Hennepin County Medical Center, the University of Minnesota, the University of Southern Denmark, the Mayo Clinic and the Minneapolis VA. With his team, he has conducted the first randomized clinical trial investigating chiropractic care for acute neck pain, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They have also received federal funding from the US Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to investigate exercise, spinal manipulation and integrated care for neck, back, and leg pain in elderly, non-elderly, and adolescents populations.
Dr. Bronfort has authored several systematic reviews of the literature and is an Associate Editor for the Cochrane Back Review group. He currently serves on the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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| Roni
Evans, DC, MS
Associate Professor
Dean of Research, Northwestern Health Sciences
University
Director, Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies
Dr. Evans received her Bachelor of Arts degree
in English from the University of Winnipeg in
1989 and her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from
Northwestern College of Chiropractic in 1993.
She was the recipient of the Foundation of Chiropractic
and Education's Peter Bommarito Research Residency
Award (1995-1998) and completed her Master of
Science degree in Clinical Research at the University
of Minnesota's School of Public Health in 2000.
Dr. Evans is the Dean of Research and the Director
of the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies
(WHCCS) at Northwestern Health Sciences University.
She has extensive experience implementing clinical
research, and has managed study teams for over
a decade. Dr. Evans has been co-investigator and
coordinator of several randomized clinical trials
investigating physical treatments for low back,
neck and headache disorders, and has participated
in several systematic reviews. She is the principal
investigator of qualitative studies investigating
patient beliefs, expectations, and preferences.
Dr. Evans has played a pivotal role in the design,
grant-writing, and successful acquisition of five,
on-going federally funded randomized clinical
trials in collaboration with Dr. Bronfort and
investigators from the Berman Center at Hennepin
County Medical Center and the University of Minnesota.
Her main areas of focus have been on multi-methods
study design, grant acquisition and study implementation
in the areas of back, neck pain and headache.
She is also interested in applying research findings
to clinical practice through the integration of
evidence based health care into Northwestern's
curricula and clinical settings. |
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Sarah Gottfried, NCTM
Research Fellow
Sarah Gottfried earned her Professional Certificate in Massage Therapy from the School of Massage Therapy
at Northwestern Health Sciences University and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the College of
Saint Benedict (St. Joseph, MN). In 2009, Sarah joined WHCCS as a research fellow in the Volunteers of America
(VOA) program, where she provided care and developed the skills necessary to be part of an integrated team in VOA
long term care and assisted living facilities. Upon completion of the VOA program in the Spring of 2010, she
transitioned to the Evidence-Informed Practice program, where she is developing her skills in teaching evidence-informed
practice coursework for Northwestern’s Massage Therapy Program. Sarah also works as a massage therapist in Northwestern’s
Bloomington Natural Care Center. She is a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association and is nationally
certified in therapeutic massage. |
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Linda Hanson, DC
Research Fellow
Linda Hanson received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Victoria, Canada in 2006 and her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University in 2009. As a student at NWHSU, she served as President of the Student Senate and received several academic and leadership scholarships. In 2010, Dr. Hanson was awarded a Public Health Leadership Fellowship at NWHSU and joined the Wolfe Harris Center for Clinical Studies. During her fellowship, Linda will gain practical clinical and research experience through participation in federally-funded randomized clinical trials and the NIH-funded CAM Research Education Project, and she will earn a Master’s of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. |
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Jake Herbst, MA
Exercise Therapist
Jake received his Bachelor of Arts degree in
2002 and his Master of Arts degree in Exercise
Physiology in 2003, from the College of St. Scholastica
in Duluth, MN. He joined the WHCCS in 2004, where
he serves as an Exercise Therapist/Research Assistant
for several federally funded randomized clinical
trials. In this role, he performs initial eligibility
screening and informed consents with potential
participants and provides supervision and guidance
to patients in supervised rehabilitative exercise
and home exercise programs. |
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Michelle Johnson
Data Manager
Michelle Johnson received a Bachelor of Science Degree with a double major in Mathematics and Statistics from St. Cloud State University, MN, in December 1994. Michelle's previous experience includes using statistical techniques to analyze data. She has experience with statistical software such as SAS and SPSS and is a SAS Certified Advanced Programmer. In 2009, Michelle joined the WHCCS Office of Data Management as a Data Manager. In this role, she assists with database design, data entry, data cleaning, and research reporting. |
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Kayla
Kelly, MA
Exercise Therapist
Research Assistant
Kayla Kelly earned her Bachelor of Science
degree at Northwestern College in Roseville, MN,
majoring in Kinesiology and Bible with minors
in psychology and counseling. She earned her Master
of Arts degree in Exercise Physiology from the
College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. While
a graduate student, she was a SHAPE UP supervisor,
creating exercise programs for students, faculty,
staff, and the Sisters on campus. She completed
her internship in cardiac rehabilitation at Mercy
Hospital, MN. Kayla joined the WHCCS in 2007 as
an Exercise Therapist. In this role, she performs
balance, strength, and mobility tests for research
participants in federally-funded randomized clinical
studies of musculoskeletal conditions, and she
supervises their rehabilitative exercise programs
and patient self-education sessions. She also
conducts phone screening and informed consent
interviews of potential research participants.
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Claire
Legendre
Project Coordinator
Claire Legendre received her Bachelor of Arts
in History from the University of Wisconsin -
Eau Claire in 2000. After that she worked as an
Administrative Coordinator and Materials Manager
at the Science Museum of Minnesota: Adult Computer
Education Center. From 2004-2005, Claire was the
Research Administrative Assistant for the WHCCS.
She then assumed the roles of Research Assistant
and Patient Coordinator. She is responsible for
several study related activities including conducting
informed consent and qualitative interviews, transcribing
qualitative data, and coordinating and scheduling
evaluation and treatment visits for patients in
several randomized clinical trials.
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Brent Leininger, DC
Research Fellow
Brent Leininger received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from South Dakota State University in 2003 and his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2006. In 2009, Dr. Leininger was awarded a Clinical Research Fellowship and joined the Wolfe Harris Center for Clinical Studies. Dr. Leininger is involved in the production of systematic reviews and evidence reports regarding the efficacy of manual treatment as well as the design and implementation of clinical trials investigating the treatments and mechanisms of headache and chronic low back pain. He is also involved in the implementation of an evidence-informed practice curriculum at NWHSU. Dr. Leininger is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Leininger's research interests include the effectiveness and mechanisms of various non-pharmacological treatments for headache and the reliability and validity of diagnostic procedures and historical signs and symptoms as they relate to the effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatments. Dr. Leininger is also interested in the integration of research evidence into clinical practice decisions.
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| Michele
Maiers, DC, MPH
Associate Dean of Research and Knowledge Transfer
Dr. Maiers is an Assistant Professor at the WHCCS.
She received both her Bachelor of Science and
Doctor of Chiropractic degrees from Northwestern
Health Sciences University (NWHSU) in 2000. Dr.
Maiers completed her Masters of Public Health
degree at the University of Minnesota's School
of Public Health in January 2006. Since her employment
at the WHCCS in 1999, she has worked on several
research studies at NWHSU.
Currently, Dr. Maiers is the co-principal investigator
of the Integrated Care for Low Back Pain Study,
funded by the U.S. Health Services and Resources
Administration. She is also co-investigator of
three additional federally funded randomized clinical
trials investigating chiropractic and exercise
for seniors with low back and neck pain, and chiropractic
for back-related leg pain. Dr. Maiers is also
the lead investigator of the Minnesota College
of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Data Collection
Project, and co-investigator of several unique
qualitative research studies evaluating patient
perceptions and expectations of treatment for
back and neck conditions.
As the Associate Dean of Research, she provides
leadership and management for knowledge transfer
related activities including design and pursuit
of funding for new programs and projects.
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| Edward
Owens, DC
Director, Office of Data Management
Dr. Owens took his undergraduate and graduate training in Engineering Science & Mechanics at Georgia Tech,
with an emphasis on Biomechanics. He earned his DC degree in 1986 from Life University. Dr. Owens has worked in
chiropractic research for more than 25 years. His work has included research of tools for measuring the forces of
adjustment, postural control, and thermal and brain-wave reactions to chiropractic adjustment.
A life-long southerner, Dr. Owens began moving northward in 2003, taking a position in the Palmer Center for
Chiropractic Research in Davenport, Iowa. He worked in the area of clinical biomechanics helping run 2 federally-funded
projects on spinal manipulation for patients with low back pain. He also participated in the development of 4 new projects
funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative medicine (NCCAM).
Dr. Owens is now the Director of the Office of Data Management (ODM), at the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies,
which is responsible for all of the center's research data needs. Dr. Owens is responsible for designing and maintaining a
clinical data management infrastructure for the WHCCS, overseeing all web and database application development, data safety
and monitoring, and other essential data support activities. His most recent research efforts include spinal motion
assessment of the cervical spine, and functional performance evaluation of senior and adolescent back pain sufferers. |
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Michael
Przeslawski, DC
Professor
Research Clinician
Dr. Przeslawski received his Bachelor
of Science degree in Education from Eastern Michigan
University and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree
from Northwestern College of Chiropractic. From
1984 to 2004, he served as a full-time faculty
member in the Clinical Sciences Division at Northwestern,
actively integrating the latest research literature
into his coursework. In addition to his teaching
responsibilities, he also worked part-time for
the WHCCS, performing dynamic spinal motion, strength
and endurance assessments of study participants
in several federally funded randomized clinical
trials. In 2004, he was invited to join the WHCCS
as a full-time Associate Professor of Research.
Since that time he has played a critical role
in clinical trial implementation, evaluating patients
for eligibility, providing chiropractic treatment,
leading self-care sessions, and refining study
protocols. His interests include spinal biomechanics
and the integration of research into Northwestern's
curriculum. |
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Craig
Schulz, DC, MS
Assistant Professor
Dr. Schulz received his Doctor of
Chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences
University in 1999. In 2008, he completed his
Master of Science degree in Clinical Research
at the University of Minnesota 's School of Public
Health . Since joining the WHCCS in 2001, Dr.
Schulz has worked in various roles on nine randomized
clinical trials; he is currently a co-investigator
on several federally-funded randomized clinical
trials investigating conservative treatments for
musculoskeletal back and neck pain.
Key roles for Dr. Schulz include
facilitating the development of extramural collaborations,
study start up, and implementation of multi-site
trials. Currently, as a co-investigator on a pilot
study funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs,
Dr. Schulz oversees activities with the future
aim of evolving the project into a full-scale
clinical trial. He is also a co-investigator on
the federally funded back-related leg pain study
being conducted jointly with the Palmer Center
for Chiropractic Research, which aims to identify
effective conservative treatment options for patients
with leg pain.
His research interests include:
investigating the biomechanical mechanisms related
to manual treatment of musculoskeletal spinal
pain, assessing the effectiveness of commonly
used conservative treatments, and exploring diagnostic
assessment tools that identify unique characteristics
of patients with spinal pain to better target
therapeutic efforts. |
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Sara
Swanson, DC
Research Clinician
Dr. Swanson received her Bachelor
of Arts in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La
Crosse in 1993 and completed additional coursework
in Exercise Science at the College of St. Catherine.
She received her Doctor of Chiropractic degree
from Northwestern Health Sciences University in
2001. Prior to joining WHCCS in 2008, Dr. Swanson
was in private practice in Edina, MN. Her focus
within the department is on the evaluation and
chiropractic treatment of patients for the clinical
trials.
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Kristin
Swartz
Project Manager
Kristin Swartz earned her Bachelor
of Arts degree in Global Studies and Spanish with
a minor in Leadership from the University of Minnesota
in 2008. While at the University of Minnesota, she
spent a year researching, interning, and studying
in the Minnesota Studies in International Development
program in Ecuador. Upon completing her degree,
she continued to volunteer with the Center for
Spirituality and Healing at the University of
Minnesota and attended the 2008 Ways of Knowing
Conference at Dolce Conference Center in Chaska,
Minnesota. In June 2008, Kristin joined WHCCS
as Project Manager for the CAM Research Education
Partnership Project, funded by the National Center
for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). |
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| Barry
Taylor, DC
Research Clinic Director
Dr. Taylor received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
from the University of North Dakota in 1996 and
his Doctor of Chiropractic from Northwestern Health
Sciences University in 2004. He is a member of
the Minnesota Chiropractic Association, the American
Chiropractic Association, the Minnesota Public
Health Association, the American Public Health
Association, and is a founding board member of
World Altering Medicine. Dr. Taylor is currently
pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at the
University of Minnesota. He is the lead instructor for the CAM Research Education Partnership Project which is funded by the National Institutes of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. |
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Blong
Vang, DC, FACO
Assistant Professor
From
September 2002 to 2006, Dr. Vang worked at the
Wolfe Harris Center for Clinical Studies as an
Objective Examiner and Research Associate performing
phone screening, biomechanical exams, and physical
exams for several of their clinical trials.
Since January 2004, Dr. Vang has practiced chiropractic
in his St. Paul clinic. He rejoined WHCCS in January
2008 as an Assistant Professor and currently performs
phone screenings, evaluates patients for
eligibility, and conducts dynamic spinal motion,
strength, and endurance assessments in the WHCCS
biomechanics lab. Dr. Vang is Fellow of the Academy
of Chiropractic Orthopedists, and a member of
the American Chiropractic Association. |
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Corrie
Vihstadt, MOm
Research Fellow
Corrie Vihstadt earned a bachelor's
degree in Biology from the University of Minnesota
and a Master's in Oriental Medicine from Northwestern
Health Sciences University. As a student, she
was involved with research activities at the National
College of Natural Medicine/Helfgott Research
Institute and the Wolfe-Harris Center for
Clinical Studies. After graduating from NWHSU
in August 2008, Corrie joined WHCCS as a
Project Manager. In this role, she coordinates
and manages research data collection activities
within the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine clinics and collaborating institutions.
She received her Diplomate in Oriental Medicine
(NCCAOM) and License of Acupuncture certification. |
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| Kristine
Westrom, MD, MS
Associate Professor
Dr. Westrom received her Bachelor of Arts degree
in Biology from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1979
and her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University
of Minnesota in 1985. She completed a three year
Family Practice residency at Bethesda hospital
in Saint Paul in 1988. From 1988 to 2002, Dr.
Westrom worked as a family physician in Saint
Cloud, MN, where her interests led her to combine
complementary and alternative therapies with traditional
family practice. In 2002, she was awarded a fellowship
from the Minnesota Consortium for CAM Clinical
Research through funding provided by the National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
of the National Institutes of Health. She is currently
completing her Masters degree in Clinical Research
at the University of Minnesota.
Since joining the WHCCS in 2006, Dr. Westrom has
participated in two federally funded studies investigating
back and neck pain in seniors. She is also a participating
clinician in the recent Back-Related Leg Pain
Study, funded by the U.S. Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA), and a co-investigator
of the innovative Integrated Care for Low Back
Pain Study, also funded by HRSA. Dr. Westrom is currently the principal investigator of a collaborative demonstration project with Volunteers of America to integrate Chiropractic, AOM and Massage Therapy into assisted living and long term care facilities.
Dr. Westrom has a Masters degree in Clinical Research from the University of Minnesota. |
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| Sarah
Zwagerman
Research Clinic Administrator
Sarah Zwagerman received her Bachelor of Science
degree in Exercise Physiology from the College
of St. Scholastica in 1997. Prior to joining the
WHCCS team, she worked as a therapist in fitness
and sports medicine settings and was an Assistant
Director of therapeutic recreation in St. Louis
Park , MN until October 2001. Sarah joined the
team at the WHCCS as an Exercise Therapist and
a Project Manager for an NIH-funded randomized
clinical trial investigating medical care, spinal
manipulation, and self-care for acute neck pain.
In 2002, Sarah was named Extramural Clinics Coordinator,
assuming responsibility for study implementation
at non-WHCCS clinic sites. Drawing on her previous
experience working with older populations, Sarah
was an exercise therapist on two recently completed
senior studies funded by the Health Resources
and Services Administration. In addition, Sarah
coordinates and manages clinic related activities
including clinic scheduling, clinic resources,
supervision of staff (PCs) and coordination with
outside clinics.
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