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QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM MARCH 2024 NEWSLETTER

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Sault Tribe Health Division recognizes Pharmacy staff

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2023 Walk-In Flu Clinics Schedule

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Apr
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04.02.2024 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Health Care Providers

Below you will find all of our Sault Tribe Healthcare Providers.

Alexa Jones, LMSW Clinical Social Worker
Alexa began working for the Tribe in 2020 as an outpatient Therapist. She specializes in Family Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT). She works primarily with teens and young adults diagnosed with mood disorders, personality disorders, and eating disorders. In her free time, Alexa enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing sports, reading, and traveling.

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Andrew Rife, PA-C
Andrew graduated from PA school in 2013 from South University in Tampa, FL. He started working in emergency medicine, then in urgent care, and after a few years transitioned into primary care. Andrew is thankful to be working with the Sault Tribe since 2015, and has enjoyed seeing patients at our Saint Ignace clinic since 2017. He is married to Rachel Rife and they are very grateful for their 3 French bulldogs and their 3 month old son named Abel. They enjoy walking their dogs with Abel in his stroller, reading, spending time with each other, and are fairly active with their local church family.

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Becky Patzwald, LMSW, Clinical Social Worker
Started working as a Clinical Social Worker for the Advocacy Resource Center in September 2018 providing therapy to survivors and their families of sexual assault/abuse. In May 2020, accepted a full-time Clinical Social Worker position with Behavioral Health.

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Candace Dennis LMSW, Clinical Social Worker
Candace chose to put her personal philosophies into action by continuing her education at Boston University where she earned a Master of Social Work in May of 2009. Candace promptly moved from the east coast back to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where she began her career in public service at Pathways Community Mental Health. She has been an outpatient behavioral health therapist for the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians at the Munising Tribal Health Clinic since June 2013.

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Carla Behling, NP
Carla Behling, F.N.P., attended graduate school at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich. She began practicing with Sault Tribe in 1997 and has a special medical interest in women's health. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, boating and traveling.

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Christina Reynolds Burlak, LMSW, MS Clinical Social Worker
Christina Reynolds Burlak Clinical Therapist Christina began her career in Social Services in New York City in 1992. She trained at the City University of New York, Hunter College Graduate School of Social Work obtaining a Master of Social Work (MSW), as well earned a Master’s of Science (MS) at the Milano Graduate School of the New School for Social Research. Christina holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Oakland University, Rochester Michigan.

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Courtney Dombroski
Courtney Dombroski, Pharm.D., attended Michigan Technological University for undergraduate studies. Then she began at Wayne State University in 2012 and received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2016. She currently resides in Cheboygan where she was born and raised. Courtney enjoys running, being outdoors and spending time with her husband and three kids.

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David Drockton, DDS
David Drockton, D.D.S., studied at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, and has been practicing with Sault Tribe since 1995. He has special professional interests in public health and preventive dentistry. In his spare time, he particularly enjoys family and outdoor activities the region offers.

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Dr. Carrie Schneider
Dr. Carolyn (Carrie) Schneider has been a practicing audiologist in the Sault Sainte Marie area for the past 18 years. Dr. Schneider moved to the UP and began working at War Memorial Hospital and then with Hearing First in Sault, Ontario and Sault, Michigan. She attended Ohio University, Kent State University, and A.T. Still University. Dr. Schneider enjoys working with all ages. She has a son, Tyler (14 years old) and daughter, Lucy (11 years old) as well as two dogs and one gecko (against her better judgement). In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling and being on or near the water.

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Dr. Christine Hamilton
Dr Christine Hamilton grew up in Grand Rapids, with many summers in the Sault visiting grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She started working when she was still in grade school by helping clean and stock at her dad’s gas station. Later she took care of the horses at a family friends’ day camp. Then came “real” jobs, including car-hop, burger flipper, hotel cook, delivery truck driver, auto parts sales, and paramedic. It occurred to her that a career in medicine might work, which led to a DO degree from Michigan State University, and two years of primary care training after that. She had a family practice in northern Indiana for over 20 years, then worked in an Urgent Care setting for over 10 years. For some strange reason she thought a return to the UP would be a good idea, and here she is, working for the Sault Tribe. She loves it here, and hopes to stay for an extended time.

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Dr. Jill Perry, Chief Solo Dentist
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Dr. Wendy White
Dr. Wendy White is a 1995 graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and joined us as a permanent staff member in December of 2021. She moved to Petoskey in 2017 after retiring from her solo dental practice on Beaver Island. From there she explored locum opportunities and accepted an assignment with the tribe. Originally native to southeast Michigan, Dr. White loves living near Lake Michigan and enjoys the wide open spaces and cooler temps of Northern Michigan.

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Dr. Zara Masood, Contractual Psychiatrist
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Gerard Sagassige
Gerard Sagassige is from curve Lake First Nation with family connections to Serpent River.He has been assisting with healing work for over 20 years. He is a Midewiwin Lodge Member and has worked with many teachers through this travels.

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Jessie Skog AU.D, CCC-A
Jessie Skog AU. D, CCC-A attended Western Michigan University. She provides Audiology Services at the Sault St. Marie Health Center.

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Jim Brady, Pharmacist Supervisor
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Josh Firack, ACSM EP-C, LMT
Josh Firack is a 1996 graduate of Northern Michigan University with a B.S. degree in Health and Fitness Management. Josh was first certified as a personal trainer in 1997 through the National Strength & Conditioning Association and he maintained that certification until 2014. He is well versed in many facets of the health and fitness industry, as he has experience as a personal trainer, physical therapy aid, massage therapist and exercise physiologist. Josh has also managed outpatient physical therapy clinics as well as commercial fitness centers and has been the owner of a fitness center. He has worked with individuals ranging from 13 to 97 years of age, all with different physical capacities as well as various fitness/wellness goals.

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Kristin Kempf-Roffers, LMSW, Clinical Social Worker
Kristin graduated from Lake Superior State University with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, in 2011. After a brief hiatus from academia Kristin pursued her Master’s in Social Work, which was offered locally by Grand Valley State University. She completed her internship at the Diane Peppler Resource Center where she continued to volunteer after graduating. Immediately after graduating in 2016, Kristin accepted her first Social Work position as a family services worker at the local Head start program, where she worked until fall 2017. Kristin also worked as an outpatient counselor for Weber and Devers during the spring/summer of 2017. Kristin then accepted a position in Madison, Wisconsin working as one of the Social Worker/Case Managers at a residential home for women with severe mental illness. During the summer of 2019, Kristin returned to Sault Ste. Marie, MI to be closer to family. She accepted a position at War Memorial Hospital as the Medical Social Worker. This was a valuable experience as she got to work with crisis intervention clients, dialysis patients, and inpatient discharge planning. Kristin took the opportunity to return to her passion; providing therapeutic services at the Sault Tribe Behavioral Health Center at the end of 2021. Kristin specializes in CBT, DBT, Solution Focused, and art therapy techniques. Her focus is on trauma survivors. Kristin works with children, adolescents, and adults with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, personality disorders, and concurrent substance abuse issues. In her free time she enjoys traveling, adventures, road trips, nature hikes, and stargazing. She also enjoys arts and crafts, writing, reading, listening to music, cooking with her fiancé, hanging out with her friends, family, and pets (2 wild kittens, and a lop eared rabbit).

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Krysta Hinman, O.D., Chief Optometrist
Krysta Hinman, O.D., studied at the Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry in Big Rapids, Mich. She conducted residency in rotations at Detroit Veterans Hospital, Henry Ford and The Wellness Plan. She began practice with Sault Tribe in 2010 and alternates between Sault Ste. Marie and St. Igance. She has special professional interests in all aspects of optometry with special emphasis on ocular disease and contact lens. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities with her husband and daughter.

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Lowell Lamar Styer, MD
Lowell Lamar Styer, M.D., studied at Temple Unversity in Philadelphia, Pa., and completed his residency at Grant Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He began practice with Sault Tribe in 2010 and has special medical interests in vitamin deficiencies and ear acupuncture. Eagle Scout Styer played soccer in college, can still run 5K in less than 30 minutes and enjoys singing in church choir and local musicals.

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Mallinda S. Lumsden, LMSW, Clinical Social Worker
Mallinda S. Lumsden, LMSW, Clinical Social Worker, Behavioral Health Supervisor (All Sites) Work Experience: Mallinda has been employed with the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians since 1996. She worked as a Mental Health Technician/Intake Specialist for Anishnabek Community and Family Services. In 2012, Mallinda worked in the Behavioral Health Program as an outpatient therapist after her Masters was completed. She is currently employed as the Clinical Supervisor for the Behavioral Health Program since 2019.

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Margaret Comfort, PA
Margaret Comfort, PA, attended Daemen College in Amherst, N.Y. and conducted her residency in the state of New York and northern Michigan. She began practicing with Sault Tribe in 2014 and has special professional interests in diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and cancer. At her leisure, she enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking and her husky, Nutmeg.

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Mark Senkus, LMSW Clinical Social Worker
Mark graduated from Lake Superior State University with a Bachelor degree in Human Services. He went on to obtain a Master of Social Work degree from Grand Valley State University. Mark has worked in the fields of behavioral health, child welfare, and substance use disorder treatment. He has worked for the Sault Tribe for over 8 years in total. Mark has training in Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), specializing in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders with adults and adolescents. In his free time, Mark enjoys fly fishing, fly tying, cooking, and reading.

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Michelle Kroupa-Kulik, MD
Michelle Kroupa-Kulik, M.D., attended Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., and conducted her residency with the Department of Pediatrics at William Beaumont Hospital. She practiced with Sault Tribe from 2001 to 2010 and returned in 2014. She has special professional interests in children, management of obesity and diabetes. The mother of five enjoys outdoor activities, skiing, gardening, coaching science Olympics and foster parenting. She is a life-long resident of the U.P.

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Myrth Condon, NP
Myrth Condon, N.P., studied at Nazareth College where she acquired a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Michgian State University. She began practice with Sault Tribe in 2009 and has special medical interests in family health, women's health, children's health, dermatology and is certified to conduct CDL physicals. In the winter, she loves snowmobiling.

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NeTausha Moran-Bergsma, LMSW, Clinical Social Worker
NeTausha graduated from University of Michigan-Flint in 2006 with dual Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminal Justice. In 2016 she completed her Master of Social Work from Grand Valley State University. NeTausha completed her internship with Sault Tribe Behavioral Health Outpatient Treatment Services and has been working with Sault Tribe Behavioral Health ever since. She specializes in Child Play Therapy, Auricular Acupuncture and is a part of the Chippewa County Mental Health Team through the 91st District Court. She works with all age groups. In her free time, NeTausha enjoys spending time with her family.

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Nicole Kozal, LLMSW, Clinical Social Worker
Nicole graduated from LSSU in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and went on to finish her Masters in Social Work in 2021 from Michigan State University. Nicole has worked for Sault Tribe Victim Services for 11 years and interned with Great Lakes Recovery Center for a one year and Anishnabek Community and Family Services for one year. She specializes in CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing. Nicole enjoys spending her free time with her family and watching her children’s sporting events.

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Pete Andersen, Pharmacist
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Rafael P. Aguirre, LMSW Clinical Social Worker
Rafael was born and raised in El Paso, TX. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He continued his education and went on to graduate with a Master’s degree in Social Work from New Mexico State University in 2006. He completed his internship in Las Cruces, NM where he provided home-based and outpatient therapy. Rafael then moved to Chicago where he worked in the Crisis/Triage department at Community Mental Health for 4 years. He moved to the Sault area in 2010 where he worked as a social worker and outpatient therapist at WMH’s inpatient psychiatric unit for 4 and a half years. Rafael began working for the Sault Tribe in 2018 as an outpatient therapist. He specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing. He works primarily with adults diagnosed with substance abuse and mental health disorders. In his free time, Rafael enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and being outdoors.

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Rebeckah Zaragoza, LMSW, Clinical Social Worker
Rebeckah Zaragoza, LMSW- Clinical Therapist began her career in Human Services field in Sault Ste. Marie, MI in 2006. Rebeckah has a Bachelor of Science (BA) from Lake Superior State University and later went on to earn a Master’s of Social Work (MSW) from Grand Valley State University. Rebeckah enjoys spending time with her family, loves being outside, camping or going to the beach. Rebeckah is certified in Tai Chi Easy and is working on becoming a Registered Play Therapist.

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Steven Obreiter, DDS
Steve Obreiter, D.D.S., studied at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor, Mich., and has practiced with Sault Tribe since 2008. He participates in dental humanitarian missions to Guyana, South America and Alaska. He enjoys spending time with family, serving at church, following sports and helping his children with 4-H projects.

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Tina Robinson
Tina Robinson graduated from Lake Superior State University in 2013 with a bachelors in Exercise Science. She has 8 years’ experience in cardiopulmonary rehab through MyMichigan Medical Center, formerly War Memorial Hospital. Tina is certified through ACSM as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. She has also been trained by Mayo Clinic as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist. Tina provides services through Sault Tribe Community Health in the Physical Activity Program and the Nicotine Dependency Program.

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Vivica J. Fitzpatrick-Sherman, MD
Vivica J. Fitzpatrick-Sherman, M.D., studied medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pa. She conducted her residency at D.C. General Hospital in Washington, D.C. She began her practice with Sault Tribe in1988 and has special medical interests in children's health care. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, sewing, ceramic painting and singing in a drum group.

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Wm. Lane Barber MA.LPC. NBCC
Wm. Lane Barber has a master’s in guidance and counseling. He is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Michigan along with National Board Certified Counselor, certification. He has 20+ years of experience in the mental health field providing outpatient counseling services.

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