Medical Education and Research Costs (MERC)
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Health Care Workforce & Education Committee
Formerly the MERC Committee
The committee was established in 1993 by the Minnesota Legislature to examine the financing of medical education and research in Minnesota's changing health care market. The committee has provided essential support to the Department of Health, both through legislative recommendations and analysis of pertinent issues.
Meeting information
Refer to the agenda for call–in information.
- Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 1-3 p.m., virtual meeting
- Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 1-3 p.m., virtual meeting
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 1-3 p.m., virtual meeting
- Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 1-3 p.m., virtual meeting
Meeting Agendas and Minutes
2025
- November 5, 2025 Minutes (PDF)
- November 5, 2025 Agenda (PDF)
- August 6, 2025 Minutes (PDF)
- August 6, 2025 Agenda (PDF)
- May 14, 2025 Minutes (PDF)
- May 14, 2025 Agenda (PDF)
Committee Members
| Name | Professional Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Susan Culican, MD | University of Minnesota Associate Dean of GME & Professor of Ophthalmology | culican@umn.edu |
| Badrinath Konety, MD | Allina Chief Academic Officer | Badrinath.Konety@allina.com |
| Bradley Benson, MD | M Health - Fairview Health System Chief Academic Officer | benso040@umn.edu |
| Kelly Frisch, MD | HealthPartners Executive Director of Health Professional Education | kelly.k.frisch@healthpartners.com |
| David Dahlen | Mayo Clinic Administrator | dahlen.david@mayo.edu |
| Roger Dearth, MBA | Mayo Clinic Finance Director, Department of Development | dearth.roger@mayo.edu |
| Robert Miner, MD, FACP | Allina Health/Abbott Northwestern Hospital Director, Medical Education/Designated Institutional Official | robert.miner@allina.com |
| Troy Taubenheim | Metro Minnesota Council on GME Director | taube019@umn.edu |
| Miranda Gilmore, Psy.D., LMFT, LP | Fraser Integrated Healthcare Director, Clinical Staff Development and Compliance | miranda.gilmore@fraser.org |
| Michelle Noltimier, RN, BSN, MBA | HealthPartners Institute Director of PA & NP Graduate Education | michelle.t.noltimier@healthpartners.com |
| Lynda Welage, PharmD, FCCP | University of Minnesota Dean and Professor, College of Pharmacy | lwelage@umn.edu |
| Thomas Satre, MD - CHAIR | CentraCare Program Director, Family Medicine Residency Program | satret@centracare.com |
| Sheila Riggs, DDS, DMSc - VICE CHAIR | University of Minnesota Chair, Department of Primary Dental Care & Director, Public Policy | sriggs@umn.edu |
| Nate Mussell, JD | Fairview Vice President of Public Policy | Nate.Mussell@fairview.org |
| Meghan Walsh, MD, MPH | Hennepin County Medical Center Chief Academic Officer/DIO | meghan.walsh@hcmed.org |
Last Updated: 01/22/2026