Rural Health Advisory Committee
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Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC)
The Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC) is a statewide forum for rural health interests. The twenty-two member committee representing licensed health care and higher education professionals, legislative officials and consumers. RHAC advises the Commissioner of Health and leaders in other state agencies on rural health issues.
Created during the 1992 Legislative session, RHAC serves as a statewide forum for rural health concerns and features a diverse membership to:
- Advise the commissioner of health and other state agencies on rural health issues
- Provide a systematic and cohesive approach toward rural health issues and planning
- Encourage cooperation among rural communities and among providers.
Committee meeting schedule
The committee meeting schedule is online. All meetings are open to the public and meeting link information is available from RHAC staff.
RHAC members
The Governor appoints the 22–member Rural Health Advisory Committee that includes the following rural representation:
Member from the Majority party of the House of Representatives of the State of Minnesota | Member from the Minority party of the House of Representatives of the State of Minnesota |
Member from the Majority party of the Senate of the State of Minnesota | Member from the Minority party of the Senate of the State of Minnesota |
| Troy Mayer EMS Member County: Wadena Term expires January 4, 2027 | Tom Crowley Hospital Member County: Wabasha Term expires January 3, 2028 |
| Penny Solberg Long-Term Health Care Member County: Filmore Term expires January 3, 2028 | Dr. Keith Stelter (chair) Physician Member County: Blue Earth Term expires January 3, 2028 |
| Vacant Dentist Member | Brenda Mehr Allied Dental Personnel Member County: Aitkin Term expires January 3, 2028 |
| Elizabeth Coleman Advanced Practice Professional Member County: Watonwan Term expires January 3, 2028 | Margaret Kalina Registered Nurse Member County: Douglas Term expires January 4, 2027 |
| Laura Schwartzwald Licensed Health Care Professional Member County: Aitkin Term expires January 4, 2027 | Dr. Ray Christensen Higher Education Member County: St. Louis Term expires January 3, 2028 |
| Tashina Branchaud Member of a Tribal Nation County: Beltrami Term expires January 3, 2028 | Ashley Berg Representative of local public health/Community Health Board County: Kanabec Term expires January 3, 2028 |
| Dr. Scharazard Gray Health Professional/Advocate working in mental illness County: Koochiching Term expires January 3, 2028 | Lisa Stroschein Representative of individuals experiencing health disparities County: Becker Term expires January 3, 2028 |
| Holly Rien Expert in Economic Development County: Stearns Term expires January 3, 2028 | Dr. Sagar Dugani Consumer Member County: Olmsted Term expires January 3, 2028 |
| Jessica Navarro Consumer Member County: Rice Term expires January 3, 2028 | Amanda Schermerhorn Consumer Member/Advocate for persons who are developmentally disabled County: Becker Term expires January 4, 2027 |
You may also download this required types of RHAC members (PDF) list.
Contact for more information:
Robin Bly
651–201–3936
health.rhac@state.mn.us