Dr. Longfors is a board-certified general surgeon, dedicated to providing advanced, high-quality surgical care to patients of all ages. Her experience covers a broad range of minimally invasive and traditional surgical techniques, including laparoscopic procedures and Trinity Health’s da Vinci Xi robotic surgery system. Areas of specialty include surgeries of the breast, colon, gallbladder, appendix, hernia, and gastrointestinal system. Born and reared in Minnesota, Dr. Longfors graduated with high honors from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed her general surgery residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. She practiced general surgery at hospitals in Arizona, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Prior to joining Trinity Health, Dr. Longfors provided general surgery services at CentraCare Health in St. Cloud, MN. In addition to being recognized for academic achievement, Dr. Longfors has been an advocate for improving patient access to surgical care, serving international medical missions in Kenya and other short-term trips in Africa. A member of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Longfors enjoys travel, hiking, biking, and spending time with family and friends.
Partial Lung Collapse
Robert Guttormson, MD
Robert Guttormson, MD, MHA, FACS, is a board-certified general surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. With a special interest in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery, Dr. Guttormson is dedicated to providing excellent surgical care to patients, with innovative approaches that involve less pain, less blood loss, and quicker recovery. A Minot native, he earned his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed his general surgery residency in Saginaw, Michigan, at an affiliate campus of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Following residency, he practiced at Altru Health System in Grand Forks for over nine years and served as Assistant Professor of Surgery for the UND Surgical Residency. His volunteer service includes medical missions work in Niger, Africa. His wife and their four children enjoy outdoor activities and travel. He also has an interest in photography. He is looking forward to helping serve his home community as a member of Trinity’s Surgical Associates Group.
Dustin Evans, MD
A member of our General Surgery team, Dustin Evans, MD, provides safe and effective surgical care to patients, with advanced treatment options and minimally invasive techniques for a wide range of surgical procedures. He is originally from Colorado and grew up on a dairy farm in Northeast Colorado. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He remained at UC for his general surgery internship, and completed his general surgery residency training at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. Evans’ experience is broad and includes things from working at a gold mine to volunteering as an EMT with Highland Rescue Team Ambulance Service in Golden, CO. In his spare time, he enjoys shooting sports, 4-wheeling, and spending time with his wife and four children.
Alicia Crosby, FNP-C
A member of our General Surgery team, Alicia Crosby, FNP-C, is a board-certified nurse practitioner trained to provide a wide range of services to patients undergoing surgical procedures, including patient assessment, follow-up care, and education to surgical patients. A Minot native, Alicia received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Minot State University and her Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner training from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. Her RN experience includes over five years of experience as a critical care nurse in Trinity Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Dwight Remington, DNP, FNP-C
Dwight Remington, DNP, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner and a member of our Pulmonary/Critical Care team. A Minot native, he received both his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in Nursing from the University of Mary in Bismarck. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Dwight worked as an RN for Trinity Health starting February, 2000, and practiced in various critical care departments, including the adult and newborn intensive care units, the cardiac catheterization lab, and as a flight nurse with NorthStar Criticair. Dwight provides treatment and support to patients in all stages of pulmonary disease and cares for critically ill patients in the ICU. He is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Jeffrey Verhey, MD
Dr. Verhey is board certified in three specialties. He is board certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Internal Medicine. His training gives him expertise in treating patients with respiratory and lung conditions. He also is trained to care for those critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Verhey has been with Trinity Health since 1996, and serves Trinity in many capacities. He is the Medical Director for Home Health/Hospice, ICU, Respiratory Therapy and NorthStar CriticAir. He has served as Trinity’s Chief of Staff from 2002-2008. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine for UND School of Medicine and has been honored as the Teacher of the Year at the Northwest Campus several times including three years in a row from 2012-2015. Dr. Verhey received his medical degree from the University of South Dakota-Vermillion, and did his Internal Medicine Residency and Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Verhey is a native of Madison, South Dakota. He and his wife, Janelle, have four children.
Gillian Lavik, MD
A member of our General Surgery team, Gillian Lavik, MD, provides safe and effective surgical care to patients, with specialty interests that include surgical oncology, abdominal surgeries and minimally invasive options for a wide range of procedures. A Rugby, ND, native, she completed her premedical education at Macalester College in Minnesota and received her medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Grand Forks. Her internship and residency were completed at Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, NY, an affiliate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where Dr. Lavik served as chief resident her graduate year.
Jerel Brandt, DO
Dr. Brandt is a board-certified general surgeon, experienced in the full range of surgical procedures. He specializes in minimally invasive techniques, including surgeries utilizing the da Vinci robotic system. A Minot native and 1996 graduate of Minot High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Mary and a Masters in Kinesiology from the University of North Dakota before receiving his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Des Moines University in Iowa. He completed his General Surgery residency at Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, MI. Throughout his educational career Dr. Brandt has been active in projects and initiatives to promote health and wellness.
Heidi Bender, FNP-C
Heidi A. Bender, DNP, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner and a key member of our Pulmonary/Critical Care team. A Minnesota native, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, and completed her Master’s in Advanced Practice Nursing from South Dakota State University, Brookings. In 2018, she received her doctorate in Nursing from the University of North Dakota. As an RN, Heidi practiced in Emergency Departments at MeritCare in Fargo, Avera St. Luke’s in Aberdeen, and at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, IA, where she also served as the department’s staff educator. She was an RN in Trinity’s ICU before completing her nurse practitioner training and joining Pulmonary/Critical Care specialist Jeffrey Verhey, MD, in his practice in 2007. Heidi is a member of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, Emergency Nurses Association, American College of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.