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!

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 at 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!

 

Amanda Myers, RN
Facility Administrator, DaVita Kidney Care

Amanda is a registered nurse and Facility Administrator at DaVita Kidney Care. Amanda has worked in dialysis for over 7 years and plans to continue until there is no longer a need for it. She is proud to sit on the Board to share her passion with others and have an impact on the Kidney Care Community. Amanda is also a mother of 2 and lives in Hinckley.

 

Paul Olson, MD
Nephrologist, Ridgeview Medical Center

Dr. Olson graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed his Residency and Nephrology Fellowship at Hennepin County Medical Center. He became involved with the NKF at the start of his career in the 1980’s and later joined the board in the 90’s and served in many leadership positions since then including Chairing the Board of Advisors. His longevity with the NKF was born out of the belief in the people involved with the cause and the factual evidence that the NKF has made a big difference in the treatment, education, management, and above all, prevention of kidney disease. He believes anyone can make a difference even just by attending one of our events.

 

Kevin Plosser
Sr. Director of Product Development, Kidney Solutions, Optum

Kevin has worked in the kidney space for 10 years with Optum, leading a program that helps patients and nephrologists in improving care for those with kidney disease. Originally from Rochester, New York, he has worked his way through New York City and Chicago before making his way to Edina, where he resides with wife and two sons.

 

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.

 

Andrea D. Schmidt
Associate Director, Change Enablement at UnitedHealth Group

Andrea is a recipient of a living related donor kidney transplant and became involved with the NKF post-transplant as a way to celebrate the gift of life and give back to the kidney community. Schmidt joined the NKF board in 2018. Andrea lives in Edina with her husband and two children.

 

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.

 

Dave Zitur
President, Solutions@Work

Dave is currently president of Solutions@Work, an IT consulting company headquartered in Bloomington, MN. Dave's oldest son Chris was diagnosed with kidney failure in January, 2016, and he received a kidney from his mother (Dave's wife), in June of 2016. Dave has been a board member since 2018, and has been actively involved in fundraising for the Gala, Golf Tournament and NKF walk. He also serves as the Finance Chair for the Board.

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.

 

Tracy Anderson-Haag, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Kidney Transplantation, Hennepin Healthcare

Tracy earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota and completed a 2-year Nephrology/Transplantation Residency at Hennepin County Medical Center. She is board certified in pharmacotherapy. Tracy is responsible for the care of inpatient and ambulatory transplant recipients and donors. In addition to her patient care activities, Tracy is also the Residency Program Director of the PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Program in Solid Organ Transplant at HCMC and has been actively involved in NIH sponsored research on kidney donors and recipients. Dr. Anderson-Haag was recently one of three pharmacists nationally awarded a Master Preceptor distinction by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Outside of patient care, Tracy enjoys spending time trail running and biking, reading and traveling.

 

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.

 

Shannon Doyle, MD
Nephrologist, Associated Nephrology Consultants

Dr. Doyle graduated with a BA in Russian Studies from Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois and spent a semester studying in Moscow. She then studied at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and received her MD in 1993. She completed an Internal Medicine Residency at Hennepin County Medical Center and then a Nephrology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota both in Minneapolis. She then joined Associated Nephrology Consultants in St Paul and has been a partner in the practice for over 20 years. She sees patients in clinics and dialysis units in St Paul and in northwestern Wisconsin. She sees patients with all types of nephrology problems but has a special interest in home dialysis. She lives with her family in Eden Prairie and her hobbies include fitness, travel and learning to knit.

 

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.

 

Sam Little, RN
Nurse, Area Team Lead, Fresenius Medical Care

Sam Little is a registered nurse and Area Team Lead at Fresenius Kidney Care. She has worked in dialysis for over 10 years. She is excited to expand her opportunities to educate and help those affected by kidney disease through her role on the Medical Advisory Board. She lives in Duluth, MN and is a mother of two busy little girls, ages 7 and 4.

 

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.

 

Heather Muster, MD, MS, FNKF
Nephrologist

Dr. Heather Muster is the Chair of the Medical Advisory Board and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She received her medical degree from University of Minnesota Medical School and has been in practice for more than 20 years. She is also an Adjunct Associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical Center-Duluth. She has been an active member of the National Kidney Foundation since 2003.

 

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.

 

Wendy St. Peter, PharmD
Professor of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota

Wendy St. Peter is a professor of pharmacy, who’s research focuses on effectiveness and safety of medication use in patients with kidney diseases. She is on the Scientific Advisory Board of the NKF and was on the Board of Directors of the Kidney Health Initiative and was a member of the NKF-ASN Taskforce on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases. Wendy is currently leading a national initiative to Advance Kidney Health through Optimal Medication Management.