Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Darrell Carter, Raymond Christensen, Richard Failing, Diane Muckenhirn, Nancy Stratman, and Susan Williams to the Rural Health Advisory Committee.

Darrell Carter, M.D., of Granite Falls, is a family practice physician at Affiliated Community Medical Centers P.A. in Granite Falls. He board certified by the American Board of Family Practice and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Carter was named 2001 Rural Health Hero of the Year by the Minnesota Rural Health Association. He is reappointed as the physician member of the Committee and will serve a four-year term ending January 7, 2008.

Raymond Christensen, M.D., of Duluth, is Assistant Dean for Rural Health at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine in Duluth. He also works as a family practice physician in Moose Lake. Dr. Christensen is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Originally appointed in August 2003, he will now serve a four-year term ending January 7, 2008. Dr. Christensen will continue to fill the seat for a representative of a higher education institution providing training for rural health care practitioners.

Richard Failing, of Hallock, is CEO and Administrator of Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center in Hallock. Kittson Memorial is a 15 bed community based Critical Access Hospital with an attached 77 bed long term care facility. Failing was named 2002 Rural Health Hero of the Year by the Minnesota Rural Health Association. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Failing is appointed as the representative of hospitals on the Committee. He will serve a term ending January 7, 2008. Failing replaces Rick Breuer on the Committee.

Diane Muckenhirn, R.N., of Hutchinson, is a Nurse Practitioner at Hutchinson Medical Center. Her practice focuses on women's health. She holds a Masters of Science in Nursing from Minnesota State University-Mankato. Muckenhirn also serves as the Director of the Employee Wellness Program at Hutchinson Medical Center. She is appointed as the midlevel practitioner member of the Committee and will serve a four-year term ending January 7, 2008. Muckenhirn replaces Clover Gene Schultz on the Committee.

Nancy Stratman, of Willmar, is Administrator of Rice Care Center, a long term care facility home in Willmar. She is a licensed nursing home administrator and holds a Masters of Science in Management from Southwest State University in Marshall. Stratman has worked in long term care since 1976 in greater Minnesota and North Dakota. She is appointed as the representative of nursing homes on the Committee. Stratman will serve a four-year term ending January 7, 2008. She replaces Kathleen Konetzko on the Committee.

Susan Williams, of Oaskis, is an author of fiction and nonfiction books as well as magazine and newspaper feature stories. Prior to 1980, she served as Coordinator of Student Affairs for the Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota. An eleven year resident of Greater Minnesota, Williams is interested in addressing the health care concerns of her rural Minnesota neighbors. She is appointed as a consumer member and will serve a four-year term ending January 7, 2008. Williams replaces James Nardone on the Committee.

The Rural Health Advisory Committee advises the Commissioner of Health and other state agencies on rural health issues. It consists of 15 members appointed by the Governor