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Medical Technology Leadership Forum Participants Page 1 This Page: Frank B. Cerra | The Honorable Vernon J. Ehlers John R. Finnegan | Paul T. Magee | Tim McGuire (Participants Page 2) Frank B. Cerra Frank Cerra, senior vice president for health sciences at the University of Minnesota, leads one of the largest and most comprehensive academic health centers in the United States. Comprising schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and veterinary medicine, the UM Academic Health Center [AHC] prepares 70 percent of the state's health professionals, supports biomedical industry, and attracts a $160 million a year in government and private grants. Since assuming leadership in 1996, Dr. Cerra has made many changes to enable the AHC to better respond to the evolving health care marketplace. These include administrative improvements; interdisciplinary education and research programs; a partnership[ with the Fairview Health Services; a University-wide initiative to expand molecular and cellular biology; and creation of the Research Services Organization, which improves interaction between faculty researchers and biomedical industry. He firmly believes that the key to the AHC's vitality is being responsive to the communities it serves. Dr. Cerra came to the University of Minnesota in 1981 as director of surgical critical care. In 1995 he was named dean of the Medical School after serving briefly as head of the Department of Surgery. As accomplished researcher as well as administrator and clinician, he is co-developer of the bioartificial liver, a device similar to a kidney dialysis machine that will soon be tested in patients. A native of Buffalo, New York, Dr. Cerra, 55, received his B.A. degree in biology from the State University of New York at Binghamton and his M.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine. He and his wife, Kathie Krieger Cerra, Ph.D., have three children. The Honorable Vernon J. Ehlers U.S. Representative Vernon J. Ehlers was first elected to the 103rd Congress in December 1993, in a special election representing the 3rd District in Michigan. The Third District includes all of Kent and Ionia Counties and the northern half of Barry County. He was re-elected twice, and was sworn into office for his second full term on January 7, 1997. The first research physicist in Congress, Ehlers has been recognized for his strong work ethic and proven leadership skills in his duties on Capitol Hill. After serving on two committees during the 103rd Congress Ehlers gained additional responsibilities and a third committee assignment for the 104th Congress. His scientific background and knowledge of science-related issues helped elevate him to the position of vice chairman of the Science Committee, of which he was previously a member. During the 104th Congress he also served as vice chairman of the House Oversight Committee and lead the committee's efforts for computer technology issues. He also retained his seat as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He was also selected by his peers to serve during the 104th Congress as president of his class. Following the November 1994 elections, Ehlers was tapped to serve as a member of the House Republican Transition Team to help ensure a smooth transition from Democrat to Republican control. He was also assigned to lead efforts in revamping the U.S. House of Representatives' computer system. Ehlers was reappointed to the House Oversight, Science, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees for the current congress. Ehlers came to Congress following a distinguished tenure of service in teaching, scientific research, and community service. In 1970 and 1973, he was named an Outstanding Educator of the Year. He was first elected to the Kent County Commission in 1975 and later served as its Chair. In 1983, he was elected to the State House of Representatives, where he promptly was elected to be Assistant Republican Floor Leader. In 1985 he won election to the State Senate, where he was elected President Pro Tempore. Through his work in the state legislature Ehlers is credited with instituting Michigan's 9-1-1 emergency telephone service. He also authored nationally recognized legislation that provides newborns with early preventive medical screening tests. Throughout his career in public service, Ehlers has been recognized as a leader in issues concerning the environment, education, and public health. He served as the chairman of the National Conference of State Legislatures' Environment Committee and as a member of the Federal EPA Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. He has received commendations from many organizations, including the 1996 Distinguished Alumni Award from Calvin College, the 1996 National Association of Children's Hospitals Award for his leadership in advocacy for children's health, and the 1996 Federal 100 Award for having the greatest impact on government systems in 1995. For his work in and commitment to science Ehlers was recognized by the American Physical Society in 1995 and was named a Fellow by the organization. He has co-authored two books on the environment: Earthkeeping in the 90's: Stewardship of Creation and Earthkeeping: Christian Stewardship of Natural Resources; he has also co-authored two books on world hunger. Mr. Ehlers served as a science advisor to then-Congressman Gerald Ford and was also appointed to INTERSET, a science advisory committee formed by then-President George Bush. In the state legislature, he served on numerous committees and chaired the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee, the Senate Committee on Public and Mental Health, and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Higher Education and Public Health. After studying three years at Calvin College, Congressman Ehlers received his undergraduate degree in physics and his Ph.D. in nuclear physics from the University of California at Berkeley. Ehlers then conducted scientific research at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, where he was a NATO Post-Doctoral Research Fellow. After six years as a Research Physicist at Lawrence Berkley Laboratory and Lecturer in Physics at the University of California at Berkeley, he moved to Calvin College in 1966 where he taught physics and later became chairman of the Physics Department. He also spent a year doing atomic-physics research at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Congressman Ehlers was born in Pipestone, Minnesota, on February 6, 1934 to John and Alice Ehlers. He is married to Johanna Meulink and is the father of four children: Heidi, Brian, Marla, and Todd; and the grandfather of three: Sara, Timothy, and Andrew. He is a member and former elder of Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. John R. Finnegan John R. Finnegan, Jr., is Associate Professor of Epidemiology in the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health, and also an adjunct faculty member in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Since joining the faculty in 1986, he has pursued a research program studying the effects of community-based public health campaigns and the role of the mass media in communication about health. His background and training are in English literature and mass communication from the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota. He admits to a brief career as a journalist in a previous professional life. Paul T. Magee Education: Professional Experience: Michigan State University: University of Minnesota:
Honorary & Professional Affiliations: Tim McGuire Tim McGuire was named editor of the Star Tribune and senior vice president of New Media of The Star Tribune Company in Minneapolis is 1993. A subsidiary of the McClatchy Company of Sacramento, California, the Star Tribune Company produces the Star Tribune newspaper, the seventeenth largest daily newspaper in the nation and the twelfth largest metropolitan Sunday newspaper, and a variety of other print and digital products, plus direct-marketing and electronic services. McGuire joined The Star Tribune Company in 1979 as the managing editor for the then-Minneapolis Star. At the Star, he was promoted to Executive Editor in 1981. After the merger of the Minneapolis Star and the Minneapolis Tribune in 1982, Mr. McGuire held the position of Managing Editor of Features. In 1983, he advanced to Managing Editor of Features and Sports. He became Managing Editor in 1984 and Executive Editor in 1991. Mr. McGuire was promoted to Editor/General Manager and Senior Vice President in 1993. Prior to joining the Star Tribune Company, McGuire worked as the managing editor for newspapers in Ypsilanti, Michigan; Corpus Christi, Texas; and Lakeland, Florida. McGuire was the managing editor when the Star Tribune won a Pulitzer Prize in 1990. He was a member of the Pulitzer Prize Jury in 1988, 1989, 1995 and 1996. McGuire has served on the 1992 Board of Directors and chaired various committees for the American Society of Newspaper Editors [ASNE]. He is currently treasurer of ASNE and will be its president in 2001. He is a member of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association, Minnesota Downs Syndrome Association and a lay preacher at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. McGuire holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and he earned a law degree and graduated cum laude from the William Mitchell College of Law. McGuire was admitted to the Minnesota Bar in 1987. In 1992, he was named Outstanding Alumnus of Aquinas College. McGuire and his family reside in Plymouth, Minnesota. |
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