Local Staff

As Executive Director, Mallory is responsible for the strategic operations of the NKF Serving Minnesota office and feels privileged to work with so many amazing kidney patients, advocates, health care professionals and kidney donors to advance the mission of the NKF. Mallory strives to raise awareness of kidney disease and the need for more organ donors in her everyday work. She will tell you the best part of her job is hearing from kidney patients who have found a living donor using strategies they learned through the NKF’s Big Ask, Big Give program. Mallory lives in South Minneapolis with her husband and two kids and enjoys exploring all corners of the great state of Minnesota.

 

As Program Manager, Claire is responsible for implementing NKF’s programs to patients, the public and professionals throughout Minnesota. As a kidney transplant recipient herself, Claire is so grateful to be a part of Minnesota’s amazing community of kidney patients and learns something new every day about kidney health! Her favorite part of her job is working with community members and brainstorming new ways to improve kidney health community education. Claire lives in Uptown Minneapolis and enjoys summer walks around the lakes!

 

As Community Outreach Manager, Jessica is responsible for advancing the Minnesota advocacy efforts of the National Kidney Foundation and organizing community events to raise awareness of kidney health across Minnesota. As an involved community member herself, Jessica understands the power that comes from building community and connecting people. Her favorite part of the job is the passionate volunteers she gets to work alongside in the National Kidney Foundation community. Jessica lives in Uptown Minneapolis, and enjoys volunteering in the neighborhood and works part-time as a Personal Chef.

 

 

Jen Anderson
Assistant Vice President, Alliant Insurance Services

After donating her kidney to her aunt at 19, Jen became involved with the National Kidney Foundation in Minnesota. After moving to Dallas, she became more involved on a corporate level with her firm as a corporate sponsor and the host for the golf classic. After moving back to Minnesota, Jen joined the board in April 2019 and served as board chair from 2020-2023. Jen is the lead advocate for Minnesota as well as chair of the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic.

 

Emily Beck, PhD
Sr. Manager-Kidney R&D at Miromatrix Medical

Emily leads a team at a local biotech company to bioengineer fully transplantable human kidneys to help patients suffering with end stage kidney disease. Building organs and creating technologies that can help the community has been a personal passion and mission for Emily for the last several decades. She became involved with the National Kidney Foundation through the Twin Cities Kidney Walk in 2022 and joined the board in 2023.

 

Jennifer Cramer-Miller
Client/Marketing Consultant, L. Cramer Builders & Remodelers

Jennifer is a long-time kidney patient and a strong, motivated advocate for kidney health. She serves as an NKF PEER Mentor to help other patients navigate their journey with kidney disease, and as a Donate Life Ambassador to educate the public about organ donation. As a writer, speaker, (and happiness seeker), she addresses topics of living well with uncertainty. Jennifer joined the Board in 2019 and contributes passionate leadership to advance awareness and raise funds to support the life-saving mission of the NKF. Jennifer currently serves as the chair of the Minnesota Board of Advisors.

 

Bernadeia Johnson, PhD
Assistant Professor, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Bernadeia has over 40 years of experience in education ranging from teaching fifth grade to Deputy Superintendent of the Memphis City Schools, Deputy Superintendent, and later Superintendent of the Minneapolis Public Schools. Bernadeia earned her B.S. From Alabama A & M University, her Masters’s from St. Thomas University, and her principal license and doctorate from the University of Minnesota. Johnson currently teaches and conducts research dedicated to understanding the lived experiences of African American school and district leaders. Bernadeia is a frequent testifier at the Minnesota Legislature on Solutions not Suspensions. She has presented locally and nationally on her work to introduce School-based Mental health into the Minneapolis Public Schools. Dr. Johnson is a National Board Certified teacher and she serves on local and national boards, including as the board chair of the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership, to promote education as a public good.

 

Jason Koenig
Owner/CFO/Realtor, The Odd Couple Team with Keller Williams Integrity Realty

As a business leader in St. Paul, Jason aims to help spread awareness and advance the NKF mission through his work on the Board. Driven to give back after his own mother was on dialysis for 19 years and ultimately passing away from kidney issues, Jason hopes to help other families like his who are affected by kidney disease.

 

Max Larson
Division Vice President, DaVita

Bio coming soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Wells
CEO & Founder, Titanium Collective

Tim is a father, husband, entrepreneur, and kidney recipient living in Inver Grove with his wife, Mary Ellen, and their 11 year old daughter. Tim was diagnosed with FSGS at the age of 22, and ultimately received a kidney from his younger sister, in 2008. Tim joined the NKF Serving MN Board in 2021 and is excited for the opportunity to bring more people to the cause through his professional and personal network and utilize his passion to help drive awareness, outreach, and funds to enable the NKF to do more for the donor and recipient community.

 

Jean Ysbrand
Chief Human Resources Officer, Nystrom & Associate

Jean is an HR Executive in the Twin Cities with 17 years’ experience in healthcare, 15 of those years with DaVita Kidney Care, where she had the privilege of supporting the Upper Midwest clinics and the caregivers who are critical to giving life to kidney patients. Jean is committed to helping raise awareness for kidney disease having a personal connection to it through a lifelong childhood friend whose entire family has been impacted by it both through dialysis and kidney donations. Jean became a member of the Board to help others have the opportunity to access to care and resources as those close to her have received. Jean and her husband Mike live in Maple Grove.

 

 

 

Dr. Karthik Ramanathan
Transplant Surgeon, University of Minnesota

Dr. Ramanathan obtained his medical degree at the University of Texas, Southwestern. He then completed surgical residency at Indiana University in Indianapolis, followed by training in liver, kidney, and pancreas transplantation at the University of Minnesota. He is very excited to have joined the transplant surgery faculty at the University of Minnesota, and to have this opportunity to serve on the medical advisory board of the National Kidney Foundation. He first gained an understanding of the problem of renal failure from his mother, who worked as a dietitian in a dialysis unit in his hometown for many years. He saw the incredible alteration renal failure requires fundamental aspects of living, as well as the significant emotional, physical, and financial burdens it exacts on patients and families. His mother told him stories of the people she cared for, of those who struggled with this disease for years and of those who received life saving transplantation. Dr. Ramanathan is interested in working on all aspects of this disease process and in helping to develop programs and legislation to support patients with renal failure as well as those able to give the gift of life, and is eager to engage in this opportunity going forward.

 

Mirna Boumitri, MD
Nephrologist, University of Minnesota

Dr. Boumitri is a nephrologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota. She joined the faculty in 2010 after completing residency and fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic. She is the clinical director of nephrology at the University of Minnesota and the medical director of the University Davita dialysis unit. She takes care of chronic kidney disease, hypertension and dialysis patients and organizes patient education. She strongly believes in patient education to empower patients to take control of their kidney health. She enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, traveling and reading.

 

Vanessa Humphreville, MD, FACS
Abdominal Transplant Surgeon, University of Minnesota Medical Center

Dr. Humphreville obtained her medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and went on to complete her residency in general surgery at the University of Iowa. Following that she completed her fellowship in liver, kidney, and pancreas transplant at the University of Minnesota. She first became involved with the National Kidney Foundation in Cleveland, OH serving on the medical advisory board and running the living donor program at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. She worked with NKF to start the Big Ask Big Give program locally and improve education about kidney disease in the Cleveland area. After being recruited back to the University of Minnesota, she was appointed as the surgical director of the living kidney donor program and has worked closely with NKF to propagate the Big Ask Big Give program here in Minnesota. Living donation is a particular passion for Dr. Humphreville and she has been active in supporting legislation to protect living donors at the state and federal levels. During her time with the NKF, she has seen the amazing effects on the lives of kidney patients that the NKF has had via their programs and support and is excited to continue to work with them for many years to come.

 

Sabine Karam, MD, FISN
Member of Cohort 1, ISN Emerging Leaders Program, Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Minnesota

Dr. Karam is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota with a special interest in onco-nephrology, hypertension, and home dialysis. She is also passionate about the global advancement and equity in kidney health and is a member of several committees and working groups within the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and most notably Dr. Karam is currently the chair of the Young Nephrologists Committee (YNC) of the ISN. She is a firm believer in the importance of empowering the patient through dedicated and culturally-sensitive education and speaks, in addition to English, Arabic, French and Spanish. In my free time. She enjoys spending time with her family outdoors and discovering culturally diverse Minnesota.

 

Britta Kolodziej, PA
Physician Assistant Cardiology, Essentia Health

Britta became involved in the NKF in 2021 after donating a kidney to her mother through the paired kidney exchange program. As a living donor and medical provider, she aims to use her unique perspective to spread the word and advocate for living donation. She lives near Brainerd with her husband and 2 young sons.

 

Dr. Madhusoodanan
Nephrologist

Dr. Madhusoodanan earned her medical degree at the University of Minnesota Medical School. and went on to complete Internal Medicine residency and Nephrology Fellowship at Hennepin County Medical Center. Since finishing training, she has joined InterMed Consultants where she sees kidney patients in the hospital, dialysis units, and clinic. She enjoys educating patients and relating with them as she was a caretaker for a family member with kidney disease. She has a passion for helping those struggling with the disease find a way to thrive and live their best lives. Dr. Madhusoodanan has seen people's lives transform with transplantation but finds it equally important to find ways for people to live their best if transplant isn't an option for them. Outside of patient care she enjoys spending time with her pup and husband, hiking, and baking.

 

 

Dr. Riad
Nephrologist

Dr. Riad is a nephrologist with expertise in kidney and pancreas transplantation. Dr. Riad specializes in immunosuppression management for kidney and pancreas transplantation and related complications. Dr. Riad is an advocate for individuals with kidney disorders and is passionate about empowering individuals with kidney disorders through outreach and education.

 

 

Val Riley, RN
Senior Director of Regulatory Compliance, Satellite Healthcare

Val Riley is a Senior Director of Regulatory Compliance for Satellite Healthcare, Inc. Val has many years of nursing experience in Acute Care, Ambulatory Care and Dialysis and utilizes her education, skills and expertise to advocate for and improve the lives of patients. In her free time Val likes to spend time with family, friends and her dog Max. Val is an avid quilter and has never met a quilt shop she didn’t like.