ND EHDI Staff
Listed below is the ND EHDI project staff. A short project role description, biographical sketch, and contact information for each member is included.
Project Director - Neil Scharpe, MS
Email: neil.scharpe@minotstateu.edu
Primary responsibilities:
- Oversee the program and coordinate with stakeholder organizations throughout the state.
- Oversee program staff and activity timelines to assure program quality and efficiency.
- Work with staff of the CSHS Division to integrate ND EHDI into longterm planning processes.
- Liaison between ND EHDI and Advisory Group members, service associations, and other groups to build public awareness of ND EHDI.
- Represent program to funding agency grants management and project officers.
Project Director - Jerusha Olthoff, M.S.M.
Email: jerusha.olthoff@minotstateu.edu
Primary responsibilities:
- Work with EHDI stakeholders to promote quality data and ease data entry burden through automated processes and system enhancements
- Oversee the program and coordinate with stakeholder organizations throughout the state
- Oversee program staff and activity timelines to assure program quality and efficiency
- Work with staff of the CSHS Division to integrate ND EHDI into long term planning processes
- Represent program to funding agency grants management and project officers
- Report North Dakotas’ hearing screening, diagnosis, and intervention data annually to the Centers for Disease Control
- Monitor ND's statewide tracking database used to record newborn hearing screening, diagnosis, and intervention results and ensure proper hearing health protocol is promoted
- Develop OZ eSP training protocol and provide training/technical assistance to hospital staff and audiologists regarding statewide database, newborn screening, outpatient follow-up, diagnostic reporting and referral procedures
- Develop and maintain communication/networking relationships between hearing care professionals
- Provide tracking support to hospital staff, audiologists and pediatricians to increase awareness of infants requiring further care
- Prepare statewide, regional, and hospital specific data for hospital community visits, quarterly/annual reports and performance reviews
- Provide hospital CEOs/Administrators, Nursery Managers, and OZ eSP data personnel with quarterly letter and hospital specific data report
EHDI Specialist - Roxann Hayhurst, B.S.
Email: roxann.hayhurst@minotstateu.edu
Primary responsibilities:
- Coordinate and implement community visits to birth hospitals, early intervention programs and audiologists
- Provide technical assistance and support for implementing NICHQ quality improvement strategies
- Develop and maintain communication/networking relationships between hearing care professionals
- Provide technical assistance, training and support regarding the statewide database, hearing screening, follow-up and referral procedures
- Provide tracking support to hospital staff, audiologists, pediatricians and other hearing care professionals to increase awareness of infants requiring further care
- Prepare statewide, regional and hospital specific data for hospitals
EHDI Specialist - Sue Routledge, B.S.
Email: sue.routledge@minotstateu.edu
Primary responsibilities:
- Oversee ND's statewide tracking database used to record newborn hearing screening and follow-up results
- Develop OZ eSP training protocol and provide training/technical assistance to hospital staff and audiologists regarding statewide database, newborn screening, outpatient follow-up, diagnostic reporting and referral procedures
- Develop and maintain communication/networking relationships between hearing care professionals
- Provide tracking support to hospital staff, audiologists and pediatricians to increase awareness of infants requiring further care
- Prepare statewide, regional, and hospital specific data for hospital community visits, quarterly/annual reports and performance reviews
- Provide hospital CEOs/Administrators, Nursery Managers, and OZ eSP data personnel with quarterly letter and hospital specific data report
EHDI Specialist - Julie Wetzel, B.S.
Email: julie.wetzel@minotstateu.edu
Primary responsibilities:
- Oversee & monitor data entered in ND's statewide tracking database used to record newborn hearing screening and provide necessary action when rates are not at optimal levels
- Coordinate and conduct site visits to birth hospitals, early intervention programs, and audiologists
- Provide training and technical assistance about hearing screening, follow-up and referral procedures to early intervention and family support programs
- Create/order and disseminate educational materials
- Develop and maintain communication/networking relationships between hearing care professionals
- Develop OZ eSP training protocol and provide training/technical assistance to hospital staff and audiologists regarding statewide database, newborn screening, outpatient follow-up, diagnostic reporting and procedures for referrals
- Provide tracking support to hospital staff, audiologists and pediatricians to increase awareness of infants requiring further care
- Prepare statewide, regional, and hospital specific data for hospitals
Database Specialist - Thomas Orluck, B.A.S.
Email: thomas.orluck@minotstateu.eduPrimary responsibilities:
- Oversee ND's statewide tracking database used to record newborn hearing screening and follow-up results
- Responsible for linking state wide data set such as Vital Records with ND EHDI Data
- Provide technical support to hospital staff and audiologists regarding statewide database
- Point of contact for database related activities
Marketing Coordinator - Emily Rodacker, M.B.A.
Email: emily.rodacker@minotstateu.eduPrimary responsibilities:
- Responsible for developing and maintaining the ND EHDI web site
- Assist in the development of other information and public awareness materials
- Central point of contact for web-based project information dissemination
Administrative Assistant - Aimee Duchsherer
Email: aimee.duchsherer@minotstateu.eduPrimary responsibilities:
- Responsible for all administrative and clerical support for the ND EHDI project
State Implementation Coordinator - Kim Hruby
Primary Responsibilities:
- Represent ND EHDI project with other CSHS and Title V programs, including metabolic screenings and birth certificate initiative
- Liaison between Department of Health programs and initiatives and ND EHDI
- Assist and facilitate planning and integration of ND EHDI program with state and local disability prevention, early intervention, and health and family support activities
- Assist with fiscal and long-term sustainability planning for program
- Assist and facilitate planning activities for sustainability after current or futrue grants funds expire
- Assist and facilitate interagency data sharing agreements within ND and with Border States
- Assist in developing public awareness procedures and materials
- Assist in developing hospital and program annual reports
Program Administrator
ND Dept. of Health - Children's Special Health Services
701.328.4669 or 800.755.2714
