Join MAPS for a candid conversation with leaders from across the state as they share what they are seeing in their organizations and through their work with others.
Together, we’ll explore what’s changing, what’s working, and where progress is proving harder to achieve.
Learning Objectives
This interactive Lunch & Learn will invite participants to:
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Discuss insights into what safety leaders are seeing right now across Minnesota
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Describe real examples of how collaboration is supporting improvement
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Identify practical ideas to strengthen safety in their own settings
About Our Presenters:
Dr. Jennifer Lundblad
Dr. Lundblad leads Stratis Health, an independent non-profit quality improvement organization based in Bloomington, Minnesota, that leads collaboration and innovation in health care quality and patient safety. She has an extensive background in leadership, organization development, and program management in both non-profit and education settings.
Jennifer has a BA in speech communication and economics from Macalester College, an MBA in public and non-profit management from Boston University, and a PhD in Education with a focus on organization development from the University of Minnesota. Her dissertation research was “Teamwork and Safety Climates in Small Rural Hospitals,” and she has published articles in peer reviewed journals and is a frequent speaker on topics related to health quality and organizational change. She is a member of the boards of directors the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety (MAPS) and Superior Health Quality Alliance. She serves as a member of the national RUPRI (Rural Policy Research Institute) Health Panel, and many local and national committees and workgroups. She is Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.
Melissa Fritz
Melissa Fritz serves as the Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer at Methodist Hospital, part of the HealthPartners system. In this role, she provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for inpatient nursing and all patient care services. A proven healthcare leader and change agent, Melissa brings extensive experience in clinical care, operations, nursing leadership, administration, quality improvement, and professional development. She is deeply committed to delivering high-quality, safe patient care and creating an exceptional patient experience. Melissa is also passionate about fostering strong relationships, building trust within teams, and cultivating a culture where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and included.
Melissa received her doctorate in nursing practice from Baylor University, her master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, and her bachelor’s degree from Marquette University. She is certified in executive nursing practice, holds the fellow designation from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and is a Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing board member. Melissa and her husband, Pat, have three children: 13-year-old twins and an 11-year-old daughter. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, running, reading, and gardening.
Gary Bougie
Gary is a retired sales and marketing consultant who has been married for 49 years to his high school sweetheart. He has 3 children and 4 grandchildren. After losing his son to a medical error in 2014, he was in a dark place and knew he had to make a choice; either stay in the dark hole and wallow in self-pity OR climb out, get involved and Make a Difference.
For the last 10 years, Gary has met yearly with the system leaders for patient safety at the organization where his son died. He has been an “Ambassador of Life” for LifeSource since 2016 and was named Ambassador of the year in 2019. He has shared his story multiple times with MAPS, MHA and LifeSource audiences. He serves on the quarterly review board for the “good catch” award program. Gary Sr is committed to continue this work under the umbrella of “Continuous Improvement;” with a cultural focus on patient care/safety and embracing patient family inclusion.
Gary Sr has a BA in economics from the University of Minnesota. He enjoys spending time with family and friends at his lake cabin in Wisconsin.
Sara Craig
Sarah Craig, MSN, RN, joined Allina Health in 2021 and serves as the Safety, Quality, Experience Director for Allina’s Southwest Region. Prior to Allina Health, Sarah held nursing leadership roles in pediatric critical care and patient safety. Sarah committed to high reliability early on in her nursing career after making a serious preventable medication error in a critically ill pediatric patient. She believes it takes all of us to be all in to achieve zero preventable harm with high reliability and just culture principles guiding the way.
Sarah’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing in nursing leadership and administration. Outside her professional life Sarah resides in Saint Paul with her husband and three kiddos. Team Craig spends their free time going to and from the soccer fields of the Twin Cities.
