Board
Dianne Marie Johnson RN, MA, OCN
Mission Director / Founder / Public Spokesperson
Dianne Marie Johnson RN, MA, OCN, received her nursing license in 1972 and recently retired after 44 years of bedside nursing. She worked as an oncology certified nurse in radiation oncology at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis MN and has extensive experience in critical and intensive care units and as a “pioneer” nurse in radiology nursing. She graduated from St. Mary’s College now (St. Catherine’s) and in 1998 received her B.A. with double majors in Philosophy and Catholic Studies. In 2006 she received a M. A. in Catholic Studies with emphasis in biomedical ethics from the University of St. Thomas in St Paul. Her masters’ essay was on the “Charter for Health Care workers” which was written in 1995 by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance.
In 2001 she founded Curatio, aided by a few priests in the Archdiocese and St. Thomas professors, in part to answer her own longing for integrity between her faith and her work, and in part, to answer Pope John Paul II’s call for re-evangelization of the modern world and to recover the sacred, sacramental vision of the human person in health care. She has learned firsthand that bringing God’s charity to the bedside means being present in the hardest of situations with sometimes the most challenging of people. Through the grace of the sacraments she strives to see patients, families, and co-workers as children of God and to love them as God loves them. Most concretely this means she does not reduce her patients to facts on a chart, a computer screen, or a particular disease. Rather she sees herself as an instrument of God’s outpouring love for the sick and the suffering.
She is married to Reed Johnson and they have three wonderful grown children, 8 grandchildren and 5 step-grandchildren, all who keep her young at heart! She is passionate about helping others develop a closer relationship to Christ in healthcare and currently serves as the Mission Director for Curatio.
Dianne is the public spokesperson for Curatio and she can be reached at [email protected].
Rev. Andrew M. Jaspers
Chaplain
Father Andrew M. Jaspers, priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, was ordained to the priesthood in 2013. Father is from Lake Crystal, Minnesota and is the third of four of Dr. Anthony and Mary Jaspers’ children. Father graduated from Mankato Loyola High School, Marquette University, Fordham University (M.A. in philosophy), and the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity (MA in theology; M.Div.).
Father Jaspers was a Jesuit retreat master and parish mission preacher of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola during his ten years as a member of the Wisconsin Province of the Jesuits. God later led him to become a diocesan priest, which was a better fit.
Father taught philosophy and theology at Creighton University in Omaha from 2005-2008. Father has widely published on topics in philosophy and medical ethics and estimates that up to ten people, including his mom, have read his book chapters and articles in academic journals.
Katherine Haik
President
Katherine Haik has contributed to the pursuit of wellness in the health and fitness industry since 1984. Over the years, she has had the privilege of working with and learning from some of the greatest pioneers in the wellness industry. Katherine has her BS degree in Exercise Science from the University of MN and has spent much of her career designing and/or implementing programming for wellness centers throughout the Twin Cities. Katherine is also founder and President of KC Product Development, LLC where she has patented the Vizziq Trainer that promotes proper posture and gait mechanics. The Vizziq Trainer is being sold locally with on-going research and development conducted at the University of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN.
Christin Morey, ARPN CNP
Vice President
Graduated from U of Iowa with BSN then worked 10 yrs in Pediatric ICU’s. Graduated with MSN from U of San Diego Catholic college and became certified as both Family and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in 1991. Worked in preventative medicine at Kaiser in San Diego, then Pediatrics and College Student health, then after 7 yrs off when my children were little, I went back to work and become a founding healthcare provider for MinuteClinics and continued there 18 years as an Family Nurse Practitioner in the twin cities.
Married in the Catholic Church to cradle Catholic Dr Mitch Morey in 1990, raised our 2 sons in Catholic schools and attended St Bart’s parish in Wayzata, MN along with surrounding western suburb parishes.
My greatest education has been 15+ years of Bible Study with Theology professors at Providence Academy which is now incorporated into every part of my life. Serving Curatio along with other authentic Catholic and inspiring members has fueled my desire for the rest of my career to help spread Curatio’s mission and to be a part of the new evangelization of Catholics in healthcare to humbly grow in holiness with strength, perseverance and joy.
Gerry Pohl
Treasurer
In 1973, Gerry Pohl received a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota with a major in accounting. Shortly after graduation, he joined the Peace Corps and spent 2 years in Paraguay after 3 months of training in Costa Rica. Upon his return to the United States, he started his career in public accounting auditing small companies and helping in the preparation of their tax returns. He obtained his CPA certificate in 1978 and is an active member of the AICPA and MN State Society of CPA’s. In 1988 he became the Controller and Treasurer of Ted Glasrud Associates, where he is still employed today. He joined Curatio as its Treasurer in 2013. Other than auditing small non profit organizations, he also served as a board member of Project Life now known as Cradle of Hope. He was married to his beloved wife Bernadette for 27 years before she died after a long battle with cancer. Together they raised 2 sons, Michael and Joseph.
MaryAnne Frank, RN, BA
President Emeritus
MaryAnne graduated from St. Gabriel School of Nursing and from the University of St. Thomas with double degrees in Philosophy with a focus on Medical Ethics and English. She retired in 2010 after 47 years from Hennepin County Medical Center where she worked as an Administrative Nursing Supervisor. She was a member of the HCMC Bio Medical Ethics Commission from its inception in 1981 through 2016.
She presently is employed as a Parish Nurse at St. Charles Borromeo Church where she has been a lifelong member. Concerned with the increasing ‘industrialization‘ of health care changing the focus from patient to client and the concept of caring in hospitality being perverted to accommodating client demands, MaryAnne joined forces with Founder,Dianne Johnson and others, to form Curatio as a means to convey to Catholic health professionals the awareness of our sacred work to heal from the Heart of Christ.MaryAnne has served in various capacities as a member of the Board.
She was a founding member and past president of MAANS (Minnesota Association of Administrative Nursing Supervisors). MaryAnne is married to Stephen, mother of four children and grandmother to fifteen. In her spare time, MaryAnne enjoys gardening in her wildflower garden and writing poetry.
Teresa Peyton Tawil APRN, CNP
President Emeritus
Teresa is a “cradle Catholic” who attended Queen of Angels Catholic K-8 school and Pacelli Catholic high school in Austin Minn. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at the College of St. Benedict/St John’s University. After working as a staff nurse for a few years, she went on to complete a Masters of Science in Nursing at Michigan State University as a Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist in Primary Care, completing research with elderly spouse caregivers. She then became certified as a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner per the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Teresa is a founding board member of the Minnesota Nurse Practitioners and currently works for HealthPartners Geriatrics.
She feels privileged to have worked with elders in various settings over the past 30yrs as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and for being given the grace to see Christ with each encounter. Curatio Apostolate has guided her vocation of working to recognize the inherent dignity of each human person despite the daily struggles in a secular and increasingly stretched health care system.
She is a parishioner of St. Raphael’s in New Hope and is thankful for the 24/7 opportunity to adore the Blessed Sacrament. She attributes a deepening of faith and Catholic formation to exposure to teachings through her children’s school, Providence Academy, of which they are a founding family.
She enjoys playing tennis, walking and laughing with her family, and working with God’s creation in her garden.
Kelly Stein LDH, MDH
Board Member
Kelly is a licensed dental hygienist who has experience with direct patient care, hygiene education, equipment training, clinical research, field application testing, and project management. Currently she is a project manager at 3M Oral Care working to bring new products to the market. She is married and has 3 sons. She enjoys volunteering and is passionate about her faith. She has come to Curatio to help serve others. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them. (Rom 12: 6)
Meggie Humphrey, BSN, RN
Board Member
BSN, RN-St. Catherine University
Park Nicollet-Hospice Admissions Nurse
My name is Meggie Humphrey I am a Catholic, Wife, Mother and Hospice RN. I was raised Catholic, although fallen away, never saying goodbye completely. I only told Him to wait for me and He did. When I was sick of the worldly empty; I fell madly in love with His truth and now I can’t un-know it. I have my bachelor’s degree in nursing from St. Catherine university and have been a nurse since 2014 and have worked within the oncologic population and currently in hospice care. I am on the board of Curatio Apostolate. I manage Curatio’s Newsletter by design and content layout.
I am married to a very good man who is terribly patient with me. I have learned that the patience marriage requires is a reflection of God’s love a reflection of the true wedding feast. I am a mother to three beautiful children. If there is anything that’s called me to a virtuous life, it is the gift of children; the gift of being a mother and through this role it has further encouraged me to be a more charitable healthcare provider.
As an RN in my current role, I complete the admission process for hospice patients. This is a community-based program and we go to homes and facilities to provide care. I am often the first face a patient and family encounter from our hospice team. I spend several hours with patients and families explaining hospice care philosophy as well as assessing patient’s acute needs, medication need to aid in the alleviation of suffering; safety and education are all priority. We place utmost importance on the dignity of the person and the goals of care.
In my work I’m invited into these great and deep places of intimacy with the human person. Sometimes, these places feel like graceless darkness. The storm of suffering is raging, the gravity of death hovers. However, as I look again, as I whisper His name, when I align my will with His; I find I have come face to face with Jesus. Healthcare and the art of giving are empty without Him. We are called to give in this endless pouring out, a stream of joy and light. Jesus and His Church are the only way to sustain this profound vocation. God’s light has revealed in my life, through my vocations as a Catholic woman, Wife, Mother and Nurse that there is nothing more to want for than the hope of salvation for every soul we encounter. So, here I am my Jesus. Teach me to heal from Your heart. Teach me to point to heaven.
A great and many thanks, through this valley of tears,
Meggie Humphrey
Catherine Carlson RN
Board Member
I first saw bulletin blurbs about Curatio in the St. Charles Borromeo bulletin. I attended a retreat a few years ago. And I have attended some other events. I truly appreciate the prayer apostolate as well as the dynamic support in ethics and education. Being a Catholic Healthcare worker is becoming increasingly challenging, indeed, just being a Catholic in America today is becoming increasingly challenging. Curatio provides opportunity spiritual growth, camaraderie and professional development. I very much appreciate Curatio!
Nursing is a mid-life career change for me. I worked at the Post Office for 20 years, then decided to quit that job, and go get a nursing degree. I attended Minneapolis Community and Technical College and attained an Associates Degree in Nursing. While I was attending school I worked as a Nursing Assistant, then as an LPN. I passed my RN boards in 2007. I have worked my entire nursing careerin Long Term Care (Nursing Homes). I have been a staff nurse, RN PM Supervisor, RN Unit Manager, Post Acute Supervisor, Assisted Living Nurse and Director of Nursing.
I am currently an Assistant Director of Nursing for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
I am in the process of completing my Foot Care certification.
I am a member of St. Charles Borromeo parish. I graduated from St. Charles School in 1974. And I graduated from St. Agnes High School in 1978. I took 4 years of Latin in high school so medical terminology came pretty easy to me…even OS and OD.
My husband Steven and I have been married since 1987. We had 5 children. We currently have 2 grandchildren and more on the way!
Patrick Spencer, APRN , CNP
Board Member
I have been a Curatio Board member for 4 years.
In the 1980’s while attending the college of St Thomas, I worked 3 years as an orderly at a nursing home in northeast Minneapolis. I graduated from St Thomas in 1985 with a BA in Nursing after going through the nursing program at St Catherine College. I was also in Air Force ROTC at St Thomas. After graduation, I practiced as an RN for 9 years on active duty for the United States Air Force in 1985. My assignments included female surgery ward, oncology clinic, inpatient pediatric ward, outpatient pediatrics, and a combined labor/delivery, post-partum and newborn nursery ward. I held positions from staff nurse, to Officer in Charge, to Element Leader and Group Practice Manager with ongoing training in Medical Readiness. From 1994-1996 I attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences for my Master of Science in Nursing. I sat boards after that for Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and have been practicing in this capacity since 1996. I retired from the USAF in 2005 and moved back to Minnesota with my family. I have worked as an FNP in various practice setting since retiring and am currently employed at AALFA Family Clinic. In my spare time I enjoy traveling with my wife of 36 years to visit children and grandchildren.
Carmen Alvarez BA, CMI
Board Member
Carmen is a dedicated medical professional focused on offering the best possible patient experience to people of all cultural backgrounds.
She was born and raised in Spain and moved to Minnesota over 30 years ago when she married her husband. She has raised three wonderful children while becoming an important member of her community. She is very involved with her faith community at St. Pascal Baylon Parish where she was able to find a piece of Spain that she was missing so much. She joined her church’s Woman’s Club and chaired different committees. She was twice elected President of the club and is currently the Chair of the International Committee.
For over 15 years, Carmen has worked as a Spanish medical interpreter providing interpretation and cultural brokering in virtually every department of Regions Hospital. This includes working in procedure rooms, operating rooms, and emergency rooms. She is very proud to act as a voice for diverse and underserved patients. Carmen was promoted to a managerial role where she oversees a team of over 40 multi-lingual, medical interpreters.
A few years ago she experienced a traumatic case at work that made her ask herself many questions about ethical dilemmas in the medical field. She wanted to get answers to some of these ethical dilemmas and began exploring different educational programs. She first completed training to become a Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI) through the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. Carmen then enrolled and completed a one year graduate level certification in bioethics through Mary University/ National Catholic Bioethics Center. She continued her higher education graduating with a Bachelor of Arts focused on “Management of Biomedical Ethics and Interpretation in a Diverse Cultural Environment.” As a result, Carmen learned tools to analyze ethical dilemmas and find a recommendation based on her Catholic beliefs.
Sue Sendelbach, PhD, RN
Board Member
Before she retired, Sue Sendelbach was a nurse researcher and clinical nurse specialist at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. She directed all nursing research and evidence-based practice (EBP) projects conducted by staff nurses at Abbott Northwestern. She was responsible for the Evidence Based Practice Fellowship program that included educating staff nurses on how to conduct an EBP project, ensuring the scholarly approach, and completion of the EBP project in collaboration with the University of Saint Katherine’s. In addition to her clinical role, Dr. Sendelbach participated in several professional organizations including the American Heart Association, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists where she served both on the board and as president. She has many peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. Sendelbach received her diploma in nursing from Madison General Hospital School of Nursing and her BSN, MS, and PhD in nursing from the University of Minnesota. Early in her career, she worked as a staff nurse in cardiovascular critical care.
Advisors
Stephen J. Heaney PhD
Educational Advisor
He received his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross in 1979, and his Ph.D. from Marquette University in 1988. He is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of St. Thomas, where he has been teaching both introductory courses and upper level courses in bioethics, contemporary social issues, political philosophy and the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas since 1987. He has published numerous articles on life issues, marriage and sexuality in The Thomist, The Human Life Review, Nova et Vetera, Homiletic and Pastoral Review, Public Discourse, and The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly. He also serves on the Archdiocesan Faith in Action Board, and served for a number of years on the Archidiocesan Bioethics Commission. He has given many talks on marriage with his wife, Anne Maloney, whom he met at Marquette; they live in St. Paul and have three children, some of whom have children of their own. Since his children became older than his students, Dr. Heaney has decided to embrace geezerhood, at least as a hobby.
Heidi M. Giebel, PhD
Educational Advisor
Heidi received her Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame in 2003 and is currently Professor of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas (MN) and Managing Editor of American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly. Her research and teaching interests lie mainly in theoretical and applied ethics. Her current projects focus on the virtue-based ethics of Aristotle, the early Confucians, and St. Thomas Aquinas, and on the philosophy and psychology of moral development. She has published in several scholarly venues, including American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly, International Philosophical Quarterly, Journal of Medical Ethics, Proceedings of the ACPA, and Review Journal of Political Philosophy. Her forthcoming book, tentatively titled Ethical Excellence, uses philosophy, psychology, and her own interviews with real-life moral heroes to explain virtues like gratitude and humility—and how we can develop them. Heidi lives in Hudson, Wisconsin with her husband Jerry and their twelve wonderful children.
Deborah Savage PhD
Educational Advisor
Deborah is a member of the faculty at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota where she teaches philosophy and theology in the both the Pre-Theology and Masters in Pastoral Ministry Programs. She received her Doctorate in Religious Studies from Marquette University in 2005; her degree is in both theology and philosophy. Dr. Savage’s dissertation was entitled “The Subjective Dimension of Human Work: The Conversion of the Acting Person in the Thought of Karol Wojtyla and Bernard Lonergan.” The manuscript was published by Peter Lang in 2007.
Dr. Savage is a student of St. Thomas Aquinas with a particular interest in investigating his thought in light of contemporary questions. Her primary research interests are in philosophical and theological anthropology, especially as a foundation for human action and for the personhood of women, and the metaphysics of creation as a foundation for both stewardship and economics. She is a recognized scholar of the work of Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II and has written and presented or published several papers on how his philosophical anthropology informs his body of work as Pope.
She speaks regularly on the topics of the feminine genius within the context of the complementarity of men and women, human sexuality, and the theological meaning of human work. She is the co-founder of the Siena Symposium, an interdisciplinary think tank at UST, organized to respond to John Paul II’s call for a new and explicitly Christian feminism. Her more recent publications include an article entitled “The Metaphysics of Creation as a Foundation for Environmental Stewardship and a Sound Economy,” coming out in the journal, Nova et Vetera, in the spring of 2011; and a chapter on Women and Catholic Social Thought in the volume: Catholic Social Thought: American Reflections on the Compendium, Lexington Books, 2009. Before her decision to pursue a doctorate, Deborah worked for over 25 years in the business sector, holding a variety of positions primarily in manufacturing organizations.
During the ten years prior to the start of her doctoral work, Deborah owned her own consulting firm, The Triad Group, which provided consulting and training services in the areas of quality and process management and improvement, cross-functional management and strategic planning. She has taught in the Executive MBA program at the University of St. Thomas, as well as numerous public seminars. She has been studying the relationship between faith, spirituality, and work since her days on the production line, and has given talks and seminars and delivered papers internationally on the subject of the relationship between faith and human work.
Deacon Steven Koop MD
Medical Advisor
Steven is Medical director of Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and board certified in Orthopaedic surgery. He is a Permanent deacon with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He is known to work “intersecting the ministry of medicine and diaconal ministry, healing each in their own way.” In his words, regarding his work at Gillette: ”Each of the children who comes here is a creature of God, made for a purpose, inherently carrying with them a dignity that is just part of their being. And, if you recognize that, then the nature of taking care of these children changes dramatically. …I’m most proud of all the people who work here, and their unfailing commitment to the patients we serve. This organization and its people buy into the premise that the only reason that we exist is to serve people, to serve patients. It’s impossible to describe how much difference that makes in medicine.” “I think probably the single smartest thing I ever did in my career as a physician was to pick a place and stay there, and to have, as the Benedictines would say, stability. There are three vows or promises that Benedictines make when they become part of the community and one of them is stability — the pledge to stay, to come and to stay.”
Dr. Koop graduated from University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis. He has special expertise in 5 Areas, including Cerebral Palsy Childhood-Onset Disabilities., Cervical Herniated Discs, and Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease. Steven and his wife Debra, are parishioners at St. Rita parish of Cottage Grove and parents of four, now grown children, one of whom is a priest in the Archdiocese. Activities: Reading books, golf, jogging.
About Curatio
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