Officers
Contact the AMWA North Central Chapter officers by emailing bod (at) list.amwanorthcentral (dot) org

President – Dr. Abayomi Olaniyi, MBBS, MPH, PhD
Dr. Abayomi Olaniyi MBBS, MPH, PhD is a Public Health practitioner and instructor with Saskatoon Health Region. Dr. Olaniyi has over 30 years of experience, specifically in the area of health program design, planning, promotion, surveillance, and implementation of intervention strategies that improve communicable and non-communicable disease outcomes in the community. In addition, Dr. Olaniyi has acquired research skills that include knowledge of conducting qualitative and quantitative research methodologies using varieties of databases.

President- Elect – Theodore Sadler, PhD
Dr. Theodore Sadler, PhD, MSc is a published author in several peer-reviewed scientific journals, invited speaker to academic institutions, and presenter at international conferences. Theodore has a BA in Biology from Boston University, and his doctorate in Pathobiology from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine focused on elucidating the potential mechanisms leading to severe affective disorders in adulthood in an animal model. Theodore has over 20 years of academic and industry experience covering clinical, medical, regulatory, and scientific writing roles, where he has had the esteemed pleasure previously working for Medtronic, Air Liquide America, LivaNova, and the University of California Los Angeles among many. Currently, Dr. Sadler is a Senior Medical Writer for Abbott Laboratories where his primary focus is providing multiple deliverables covering EU AIMDD, MDD, and MDR requirements. That being stated, among his core competencies are developing abstracts, manuscripts, posters, and slide decks as well as publication plans, regulated documents, and analysis of datasets. When not spending quality time with his family, Theodore is a published travel writer and photographer, triathlete, and active outdoorsmen.
Co-Treasurer – Alexandra Woods, MWC
Lexa is a manager of medical writing for PSI Pharma Support America, with 17 years of experience writing, editing, and supervising development of phase I, II, and III protocols, consent forms, clinical study reports, and summary documents for new drug applications. She previously served as the chapter Treasurer from 2011-2013.

Co-Treasurer – Samuel Smith, MS
Sam has worked for prestigious institutions like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and the National Institutes of Health and spent years as an award-winning journalist. Sam is proficient in the full spectrum of medical and scientific communications. He has developed strategic communications assessments and plans, academic manuscripts and books, regulatory documentation, sales and consumer communication, peer-to-peer communications, executive/C-suite communications, presentations, and business plans. Sam has developed content in a wide range of indications from oncology and cardiology to genomics and medical devices. He holds a master of science degree in journalism and a bachelor’s degree in English, pre-medicine, both from University of Illinois.

Co–Secretary – Kendra Hyland, PhD
Kendra is clinical evaluation report (CER) writer at Medtronic in the Medical Surgical Group. She writes CERs for surgical devices used in open and minimally invasive procedures. Kendra has writing experience in the fields of molecular biology, microbiology, mucosal immunology, and gene therapy. Kendra joined AMWA in 2014, and also has served as the chapter President.

Co–Secretary – Laura Chapin, PhD
Laura is a Medical Writer in the Urology and Pelvic Health division at Boston Scientific. Trained in a cell biology lab, Laura pivoted to a career in clinical research and healthcare analytics right after grad school. After spending 8 years in healthcare, she added freelance medical writing and editing to her work experience, before joining Boston Scientific. Laura is interested in connecting with other writers and expanding her professional network. In her free time, Laura enjoys hiking and exploring county parks with her yellow lab, Henry.
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Past Officers
President
2021– Natalie Reirson, BS
2020–Michele Cleary, PhD
2018-2020– Lisa Poppenberg, MPH
2017-2018–Kendra Hyland, PhD
2016-2017–Rebecca Dahlberg, MD
2015-2016–Karen Bannick
2014-2015–Nissa Mollema, PhD
2013-2014–Ruth Taswell
2012-2013–Theresa King-Hunter
2011-2012—Karen Steinhilber
2010-2011—Michael Franklin
2009-2010—Kimberly McGhee, PhD
2008-2009—Randall Fritz, DVM
2007-2008—Brenda Hudson, PhD
2006-2007—Colleen Sauber
2005-2006—Anne Marie Weber-Main, PhD
2002-2004—Donna Bowlin
2000-2002—Paul Mamula, PhD
1998-1999—Eugene Millhouse, PhD
1994-1995—Barbara Gaynor
1992-1993—Mary Knatterud
1988-1989—James Kaufmann, PhD
1987-1988—Martha Heiberg
1986-1987—Angela Henriksen
1985-1986—Jack Key
1984-1985—Robert Howard
1983-1984—Deanna Servick
1982-1983—Kay Savoie
1981-1982—Guy Whitehead, PhD
1980-1981—David Florence, MD
1979-1980—John Callahan, MD
1978-1979—Stan Carlson
1978—Beth Grendahl
1977—Jack Key
1976—Barbara Cox
1974—Reuben Berman
President-Elect
2021– Dr. Abayomi Olaniyi, MBBS, MPH, PhD
2019-2020–Nathalie Reierson
2018-2019 – Michele Cleary
2017-2018–Lisa Poppenberg
2016-2017–Kendra Hyland
2015-2016—Rebecca Dahlberg
2014-2015—Karen Bannick
2013-2014—Nissa Mollema
2012-2013—Ruth Taswell
2011-2012—Theresa King-Hunter
2010-2011—Karen Steinhilber
2009-2010—Michael Franklin
2008-2009—Kimberly McGhee, PhD
2007-2008—Randall Fritz, DVM
2006-2007—Brenda Hudson, PhD
2005-2006—Colleen Sauber
2004—Colleen Duffy
2001-2002—Colleen Duffy
1991-1992—Mary Knatterud
1988-1989—Jane Hodgson, MD
1987-1988—James Kaufmann, PhD
1986-1987—Martha Heiberg
1985-1986—Angela Henriksen
1984-1985—Jack Key
1983-1984—Robert Howard, MD
1982-1983—Deanne Servick
1981-1982—Kay Savoie
1980-1981—Guy Whitehead, PhD
1979-1980—David Florence, MD
1978-1979—John Callahan, MD
1978—Stan Carlson
1977—Beth Grendahl
1976—Jack Key
Vice President
1988-1990—Mary Knatterud (Twin Cities) and LeAnn Stee (Rochester)
1987-1988—Frances Munnings
1986-1987—Timothy Shea
1985-1986—Sheila Nauman Todd
1984-1985—Angela Henriksen
1983-1984—Jack Key
1982-1983—Judith Gunn Bronson
1981-1982—Deanne Servick
1980-1981—Kay Savoie
1980—Guy Whitehead, PhD
1979—John Hutcheson
1978-1979—David Florence, MD
1978—John Callahan, MD
1977—Stan Carlson
1976—Beth Grendahl
Secretary
2018-2020–Amelia Young
2016-2018—Lynelle Martinez
2014-2016—Naomi Ruff
2012-2014–Carolyn Peterson
2010-2012—Mary Pat McGinnis
2009-2010—Roxanne Landon
2007-2010—June Oshiro
2005-2008—Charyl Dutton Gibbs
2001-2004—Leslie Charles
Treasurer
2016-2020—Ellen O’Malley
2015-2017—Venugopal “Venu” Thayanithy
2013-2015—Joy Frestedt
2011-2013—Alexandra Woods
2008-2011—Liz Davies, MSW
2008—Brenda Hudson, PhD
2006-2007—Cynthia Sparks
2005-2007—Leslie Charles
2001-2004—Ivar Arthur Zemmels, PhD
Secretary-Treasurer
1974-1996—Elaine Nye, PhD