Rural Health Advisory Committee

Contact Info

Office of Rural Health and Primary Care

651-201-3838

800-366-5424 (toll-free)

health.orhpc@state.mn.us

Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC)

The Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC) is a statewide forum for rural health interests. The twenty-two member committee representing licensed health care and higher education professionals, legislative officials and consumers. RHAC advises the Commissioner of Health and leaders in other state agencies on rural health issues.

Created during the 1992 Legislative session, RHAC serves as a statewide forum for rural health concerns and features a diverse membership to:

Advise the commissioner of health and other state agencies on rural health issues
Provide a systematic and cohesive approach toward rural health issues and planning
Encourage cooperation among rural communities and among providers.

Committee meeting schedule

The committee meeting schedule is online. All meetings are open to the public and meeting link information is available from RHAC staff.

RHAC members

The Governor appoints the 22–member Rural Health Advisory Committee that includes the following rural representation:

List of Members
Member from the Majority party of the House of Representatives of the State of Minnesota	Member from the Minority party of the House of Representatives of the State of Minnesota
Member from the Majority party of the Senate of the State of Minnesota	Member from the Minority party of the Senate of the State of Minnesota
Troy Mayer EMS Member County: Wadena Term expires January 4, 2027	Tom Crowley Hospital Member County: Wabasha Term expires January 3, 2028
Penny Solberg Long-Term Health Care Member County: Filmore Term expires January 3, 2028	Dr. Keith Stelter (chair) Physician Member County: Blue Earth Term expires January 3, 2028
Brekke Johnsrud Dentist Member County: St. Louis Term Expires January 1, 2029	VACANT Allied Dental Personnel Member
Elizabeth Coleman Advanced Practice Professional Member County: Watonwan Term expires January 3, 2028	Margaret Kalina Registered Nurse Member County: Douglas Term expires January 4, 2027
Laura Schwartzwald Licensed Health Care Professional Member County: Aitkin Term expires January 4, 2027	Dr. Ray Christensen Higher Education Member County: St. Louis Term expires January 3, 2028
Tashina Branchaud Member of a Tribal Nation County: Beltrami Term expires January 3, 2028	Ashley Berg Representative of local public health/Community Health Board County: Kanabec Term expires January 3, 2028
Dr. Scharazard Gray Health Professional/Advocate working in mental illness County: Koochiching Term expires January 3, 2028	Lisa Stroschein Representative of individuals experiencing health disparities County: Becker Term expires January 3, 2028
Holly Rien Expert in Economic Development County: Stearns Term expires January 3, 2028	Dr. Sagar Dugani Consumer Member County: Olmsted Term expires January 3, 2028
Jessica Navarro Consumer Member County: Rice Term expires January 3, 2028	Amanda Schermerhorn Consumer Member/Advocate for persons who are developmentally disabled County: Becker Term expires January 4, 2027

You may also download this required types of RHAC members (PDF) list.

Contact for more information:
Robin Bly
651–201–3936
health.rhac@state.mn.us

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