Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Thomas Pollock, and Nancy Tuders, and the reappointment of Dr. Chandra Mehrotra, Ph. D., to the Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators. All three are appointed to a four-year term that expires January 3, 2011.

Pollock, of Maple Grove has 25 years of experience in the health care profession and serves as the administrator for the Park River Estates Care Center in Coon Rapids. He oversees the operation of a 99 bed facility and maintains a focus on high quality care, decreasing costs, and limiting risk. Pollock is a board member of Care Providers of Minnesota. He has a bachelor of science degree in health care administration from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. Pollock is appointed as the proprietary nursing home representative member and replaces Robert Letich on the board.

Tuders, of Grand Rapids, is the director of clinical services for Mission Health Care, LLC. She is a registered nurse with a certified specialty in gerontology and over 20 years of experience in long term care. Tuders is a member of the Minnesota Directors of Nursing Association and Care Providers of Minnesota where she serves on the regulatory and quality committees. Tuders received her nursing and undergraduate degrees from Indiana University in Bloomington. Tuders is appointed as the registered nurse member and replaces Catherine Lloyd on the board.

Mehrotra, of Duluth, is the dean of special projects and a professor of psychology at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. He is the former chair of the psychology department and the dean of graduate studies. He serves on the editorial board of Educational Gerontology, and is a consulting editor for Teaching of Psychology. He has done extensive published research on the topic of aging and is a licensed consulting psychologist. He received a doctor of philosophy degree in psychology from Ohio State University. Mehrotra is reappointed as a public member to the board.

The Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators licenses nursing home administrators. The board investigates complaints, and has the authority to revoke and suspend licenses. The board also develops licensing standards, conducts license examinations, and authorizes continuing education requirements. The board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor, as well as ex-officio members from Minnesota’s Department of Health and Department of Human Services.