The Devils Lake Local Healthcare Committee is made up of representatives from Altru, local healthcare entities and community stakeholders. The committee has a key interest in the successful healthcare future for the community.
Matt Bakke
Superintendent | Devils Lake School District
Matt grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Matt attended the University of North Dakota (UND) and graduated with a double major in secondary and middle level education in 2011. Matt earned his master’s degree in Education from UND in 2013 and is now pursuing his Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership. Currently, Matt serves as the Superintendent of the Devils Lake School District. Matt and his wife, Melissa, who teaches in the Devils Lake School District, are proud parents of three children.
Stacey Dimmler
Creative Director | Devils Lake Cars
As a “people person,” Stacey has experience in community relations, and finds fun, fulfillment, and passion in the experiences associated with it. She enjoys connecting with people in the community for the greater good of all! Currently, Stacey is a Board Member for the Lake Region Community Fund and Devils Lake Public Schools Development Fund. She’s also involved with the Downtown Devils Lake Alliance. Outside of work, she stays busy with her 2 kiddos- Ellie and Liam.
“While living in Grand Forks, I was the Executive Director of the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals and worked closely with organizations like Altru Health System to enhance the community,” says Stacey. “I am honored to be a part of this board to explore how we can all work together to enhance the health and wellness of the Lake Region!”
Cheryl Fischer, RN
RN Health Coach | Altru Clinic Devils Lake
Cheryl has been an active member of Devils Lake’s health care community since moving here there 1994. Cheryl and her husband Kelly live in Devils Lake and have two adult sons.
“The local Health Care Committee is important to me in that working together, we can better understand the community’s perceived needs. I think sharing ideas and perspectives allows us to be more transparent and to better align ourselves to offer the services and provide the care the community desires.”
Stephanie Foughty, MD
Physician and Chair | Altru Clinic Devils Lake
Stephanie Foughty, MD is a Family Medicine physician who also provides Obstetric care. She has been chair of the Altru Clinic in Devils Lake since December 2019. She first moved to Devils Lake in August 2016 right after she finished her residency and fellowship training. Her husband, Matt, grew up in Devils Lake, and together they have 2 boys, Ryker and Skyler. Outside of her medical interests, she has been involved in Relay for Life and the AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention. Dr. Foughty serves as a Den Leader for the local Cub Scouts and a state board member for the North Dakota Leadership Seminar team.
“I am fully committed to working hard to ensure that the quality of healthcare in Devils Lake is at the highest quality—this not only impacts my patients, but my family and friends as well. The people in the Devils Lake area deserve this and are the reason my husband and I moved here and plan to continue to raise our family here.”
Dawn Johnson
Principal | Prairie View Elementary
Dawn has been an educator for Devils Lake Public Schools for 30 years. Dawn and her husband Scott are the proud parents of Brady, a flight instructor for the University of North Dakota, and Abby, a sophomore at UND, perusing a business/pre-dentistry major. Dawn and Scott miss attending Brady and Abby’s hockey, basketball, volleyball, and softball games, but are grateful for many great memories!
“I am happy to be a part of the Devils Lake Local Health Care Committee,” says Dawn. “I love to help those who strive for improvement in themselves, others, and the community. I have several health care providers in my family and I value the work and compassion of all.”
Lindsey Onebear
Financial Aid Director | Cankdeska Cikana Community College
Lindsey has resided in Devils Lake for most of her life. She and fiancée Patrick are raising four busy kids who are lifelong patients of Altru Clinic. She serves as Secretary of the Native American Education Advisory Committee for the Devils Lake Public School system, a member of the DLPS Development Fund Board, and Assistant Secretary of the VFW Auxiliary Post 756.
“I optimistically accepted the invitation to participate on the DL Local Heath Care Committee. Educating and engaging a community in decisions that are inclusive of their needs is a win for everyone. I am eager to see the positive outcomes of everyone’s efforts.”
Sean Roed
Director of Operations | Lake Region Ambulance Service
For the past 27 years, Sean has been a full-time employee with Lake Region Ambulance Service in Devils Lake, where he currently serves as the Director of Operations. Sean lives in Devils Lake with his wife of 18 years, Tammie, who is an RN. They have two wonderful children: son Michael, who is 20 years old and attending his second year of college, and daughter Tawnee, who is 13 and in eighth grade. They also have a cantankerous, yet (mostly) lovable, Cocker Spaniel named Buddy.
“The Devils Lake Future of Healthcare Committee is important to me professionally and personally. As healthcare changes and the needs of the community change, it is important that we change with it. As our hospital is one of the largest employers in the area, it is also essential to the economic vitality of the Lake Region. When the citizens of the Lake Region travel elsewhere for healthcare services, the Lake Region will lose money. We need to provide those services locally to prevent money from leaving the community. Having access to healthcare can help attract outside businesses to come to the Lake Region. With quality healthcare and improved services, the Lake Region can prosper, and our own quality of life will benefit.”
Amber Stokke
Regional Clinic Manager | Devils Lake
Amber began working at Altru Clinic Devils Lake in 2013 as nursing supervisor and moved into the manager role in 2017. She grew up in Wahpeton, ND and has now lived in Devils Lake for 13 years with her husband Jens, daughter Lily and son Logan and their 3 dogs. Amber is currently a member of the Devils Lake Kiwanis, Devils Lake Community Fund Board, Altru’s Relay for Life team and Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention teams. As a family the Stokke's stay very busy in the community with school sporting activities and community events that are offered throughout the year. In her free time, she loves spending time on the lake, making crafts and spending time with her family. Amber's favorite part of Devils Lake is the community members. "I have made a lot of great relationships with some really great people!"
"The Devils Lake community committee and healthcare is important to me to allow our community members to play a role in the of the overall growth of the community and the future state of our healthcare needs."
Terry Wallace
Superintendent | Parks & Recreation in Devils Lake
Terry grew up on a farm east of Webster, ND and graduated from Devils Lake High school and graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in accounting and a degree in Business Education. He is also a basketball, football and softball official and enjoys gardening, hunting and fishing, He is married to Patty, and they are the parents of Spencer, Braden and Mikayla.
“I am very interested in the health care in our community and would like to see a Wellness Center in the Lake Region area.”
Savannah Wateland
Pharmacist | CHI St. Alexius Health Hospital
Savannah Wateland, PharmD has been a pharmacist with CHI St. Alexius Health Hospital in Devils Lake for three years. She is a 2017 North Dakota State University graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. She is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Devils Lake and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
"This committee is important to me because I believe the voices of people in the community need to be heard. As a committee, we want to come together to ensure our families, friends, neighbors, and everyone in the Lake Region area continue to get the best health care possible."
Allen McKay
Administrator | Lake Region District Health Unit
Allen has been an administrator at Lake Region District Health Unit for 34 years. He is originally from Devils Lake and graduated from Devils Lake Central in 1972. In 1974 he earned an associate degree from Lake Region State College and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from NDSU in 1977. Allen has been married to Mary Mckay for 44 years and they have three children together. In his free time Allen enjoys hunting, fishing and curling. He has been twice President of the North Dakota Environmental Health Association.
Lloyd Halvorson
Vice President Academic and Student Affairs | Lake Region State College
Since 2012, Lloyd has been an administrator at Lake Region State College where he primarily oversees faculty, programs, and students. He spent his first ten years as the College’s police academy director (2002-2012). He worked previously as a police officer, investigator, and accreditation manager at the Bismarck (ND) Police Department (1992-2002). He is a graduate of Devils Lake High School (1987), Lake Region State College (1989) and Minot State University (1991 and again in 1997). He is married to Cindy and they have three adult children (Spencer, 26; Kaitlyn, 25; and Devyn, 20).
“As the parent of a cancer survivor (Kaitlyn) and as a cancer patient myself recovering from surgery and undergoing care and surveillance on a near constant basis, access to healthcare procedures, equipment, and practitioners is vital to my (our) personal wellbeing. This committee is important to the residents of Devils Lake and the greater Lake Region community. It is crucial we have access to high quality care and services without unnecessary travel.”
Chelsea Young
RN | Spirit Lake Health Center
Laura Burckhard
RN | CHI
Meghan Compton
Executive Vice President, Chief Clinic Operations Officer | Altru Health System
Audrey Lorenz
Director of Strategy and Engagement | Altru Health System
Hunter Parisien
Tribal Health Liaison | North Dakota Department of Health
Julie Traynor
Director of the Dakota Nursing Program | Lake Region State College
Challsey Scallon
Diabetes Nurse Educator | Spirit Lake Health
Heather Strandell
Director of Primary Care Operations | Altru Health System
Heather Strandell is the Director of Primary Care Operations. Her primary responsibilities include supporting the following clinical services; family medicine, internal medicine, infectious disease, rheumatology, pediatrics, behavioral health, obstetrics/gynecology, diabetes center, as well as patient relations call centers. She received her Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the University of North Dakota in 1993. Heather has been with Altru Health System for 18 years in a variety of leadership roles supporting quality, patient safety, and performance improvement. She is originally from Stephen, Minnesota; a town of approximately 800 residents in northwest Minnesota. She understands the importance of keeping care close to home not only for the patient’s well-being but for the community’s financial sustainability. Heather resides in Grand Forks, North Dakota with her husband, Jon and two sons, Sam and Leo. She enjoys spending time with her family, usually cheering on her sons in their athletic events.
“It is so important to hear from those closest to the care and the input provided from the healthcare committee stakeholders has been instrumental to identify services needed in the community of Devils Lake.”
Chris Wahl
Realtor | Reign Realty
