Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the reappointment of Andrew M. Baker, M.D., Christine Black-Hughes, Ph.D., William Conley, Diane Greig, and Rachel Wobschall, Ed.D. to the Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. All five are reappointed to three-year terms that expire on January 7, 2013.

Baker, of Minneapolis, is the Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner. He is a board certified forensic pathologist and an American Academy of Forensic Sciences fellow. Baker earned his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City, and his bachelor of science degree from the University of Iowa. Baker, who has been a member of the Ombudsman Committee since 2008, is reappointed to a position for a forensic pathologist. He is also reappointed to the Ombudsman Medical Review Subcommittee.

Black-Hughes, of Eagle Lake, is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) and a professor in the Department of Social Work at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Black-Hughes earned her doctorate degree in social work from the Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, her master of arts degree in social work from Ohio State University in Columbus, and her bachelor of arts degree in social work from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Black-Hughes, who has been a member of the Ombudsman Committee since 1998, is reappointed to a position for a licensed social worker.

Conley, of St. Paul, is a consultant with the Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Network of Minnesota. He has more than 30 years of experience in the mental health field and has been instrumental in developing a number of community-based health systems for adults and children. Conley, who has been a member of the Ombudsman Committee since 1996, is reappointed to a position for a representative of an advocacy organization.

Greig, of Bloomington, is president of Bridgeton Healthways Company, and a health coordinator and special projects coordinator for AXIS Healthcare, Inc. A registered nurse, Greig earned her master of science degree in public health nursing as well as her bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Minnesota, and her associate’s degree in nursing from Normandale Community College in Bloomington. Greig, who has been a member of the Ombudsman Committee since 2000, is reappointed to a position for a representative of nurses. She is also reappointed to the Ombudsman Medical Review Subcommittee.

Wobschall, of St. Paul is the executive director of alumni and constituent relations at the University of St. Thomas, and previously served as executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Technology for People with Disabilities. Wobschall earned her doctorate, master of arts and bachelor of arts degrees from the University of St. Thomas. Wobschall, who has been a member of the Ombudsman Committee since 2002, is reappointed chair and a public member.

The Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities promotes the highest attainable standards of treatment, competence, efficiency for persons receiving services or treatment for mental illness, mental retardation, chemical dependency, or emotional disturbance. The Governor appoints a 15 member Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities to advise the Ombudsman. From this group, an Ombudsman Medical Review Subcommittee is appointed to review deaths and serious injuries.