The people and places featured in the September Centennial advertising reflect a fraction of the 7,000 MeritCare employees. We thank those who participated in the advertisement for their contributions at MeritCare. We also honor all of our employees who remain committed to our mission – to improve the health and quality of life of the people we serve.
Kurt Anderson
Guest Services
We all appreciate a welcoming smile and someone to greet us as we enter a building. At MeritCare Hospital, downtown Fargo, one of those very important front-line people is Kurt Anderson. As one of many MeritCare Guest Services representatives, Kurt provides a wide variety of services that help make a hospital stay easier for you or your family. Guest Services can assist with hotel accommodations, give directions, answer questions, solve problems and much more.
Andrea Bartholomay, RN
Neonatal Intensive Care/Flight Nurse
Andrea Bartholomay, RN, MeritCare Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was honored with MeritCare's Daisy Award in April 2008. The Daisy Award celebrates the compassion and care of extraordinary MeritCare nurses. Recipients provide a remarkable patient experience, demonstrate clinical expertise, offer compassionate care and serve as outstanding role models.
Andrea is very deserving of the DAISY Award, according to the thankful family who nominated her: "In the NICU, we met Andrea — our nurse and now a good friend of our family who we will appreciate forever. She treated us as if we were family, making sure we were comfortable, explaining all the machines and their purposes, giving us support on the days we just didn't know what to do, feeling helpless watching our son fight for life. Andrea not only helped us as a nurse, but will always be someone special to us."
Click here 
to learn more about the Daisy Award and to nominate an extraordinary nurse.
Mary Jo Crissler-Belanger, M.D.
Internal Medicine/Palliative Care
Mary Jo Crissler-Belanger is one of four team members from the Palliative Care Unit who was recognized as a Guardian Angel in February 2008. The Guardian Angel Program honors MeritCare doctors, nurses, staff, and volunteers who go above and beyond the ordinary and make a true difference in patient care.
To name someone as a Guardian Angel, people share their Guarding Angel stories and make a donation of any size to the MeritCare Foundation. Guardian Angel recipients receive a beautiful angel lapel pin, a letter acknowledging the gift, and recognition on MeritCare Foundation's Web site and publications.
Well over 40 Guardian Angels have been spotted so far at MeritCare, including exercise specialist Brett Beil, nurse Sara Bergeron, environmental service worker Craig Beyer, Dr. Robert Campbell, physician assistant Marc Goodboy, and receptionist Kristi Keeley.
Click here to learn more about the Guardian Angel program and to nominate your guardian angel.
Kirsten Jensen
Web Strategy Coordinator
Kirsten and her family (mother-in-law Jean Jensen and sons Davis and Reid—4 years and 8 weeks) represent our patients—the hearts and minds of the millions of people we care for. As a MeritCare Web strategist, Kirsten's role represents the future of MeritCare. We continue to expand our methods of connecting with the people we serve. The Web site, online medical information, online appointment scheduling and questions for your doctor through secure messaging, all of these projects are on the horizon. Kirsten and others are helping make online health care work for you.