A member of our imaging team, Nana Appiawiah, MD, is board certified in diagnostic radiology and fellowship trained in neuroradiology, a subspecialty concerned with diagnosing abnormalities of the brain, head & neck and spine. he received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California Irvine. He joined the US Navy and during military service earned a medical doctorate from Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. He graduated with honors, earning the MD Honor Graduate Award and Outstanding Achievement in the Clinical Sciences and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Following a transitional internship at Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, he completed a four-year residency in Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Colorado, Aurora. Dr. Appiawiah served as a staff radiologist at Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms in California. He later joined the Naval Hospital in Rota, Spain, where he led the Radiology Department. He received the Navy Commendation Medal after fulfilling his military service. He then completed his neuroradiology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Appiawiah is a member of the American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and the American Society of Neuroradiology.
Trinity Hospital
Laken Kittelson, CRNA
A certified registered nurse anesthetist, Laken Kittelson, CRNA, provides anesthesia care to patients across a wide spectrum of surgical cases. A Burlington, ND, native, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from North Dakota State University, Fargo, and worked as a critical care nurse in the ICU at Sanford Health and Trinity Health. Later, she completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. A member of the North Dakota Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Laken and her husband, Collin Kittelson, have two children.
Jeremy Shuck, PA-C
A member of our hospitalist team, Jeremy Shuck, PA-C, is a physician assistant board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. He works in collaboration with doctors and other members of the care team to help patients through the healing process during their hospital stay. Originally from Alexandria, MN, Jeremy earned both his undergraduate degree and Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. His physician assistant training was completed at Essentia Health and St. Luke’s Hospital, both in Duluth, and Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital in Grand Rapids, MN. He and his family enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities.
Kristy Burchell, Speech Therapy – Inpatient
Evaluation and treatment across the lifespan with specialty in dysphagia, aphasia, TBI, cognitive-linguistic impairment, voice, and Passy Muir Valve (PMV)
Diane Schmidt-Krings, MD
A member of our anesthesiology team, Diane Schmidt-Krings, MD, provides safe and effective anesthesia care to patients undergoing the full range of surgical procedures, from elective surgeries to emergency and trauma care. Dr. Schmidt-Krings has extensive experience in the medical field, having spent more than a decade practicing in the specialty of plastic and reconstructive surgery before becoming an anesthesiologist. The Minneapolis native received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota in 1995 and completed a surgical residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. She completed her fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Cleveland Clinic and spent the next 13 years providing plastic and reconstructive surgical care to patients in St. Cloud, MN, Eau Claire, WI, Fargo, ND, and Jacksonville, FL. She received her residency training in anesthesiology at West Virginia University, where she was recognized for academic excellence. Dr. Schmidt-Krings enjoys painting, camping, and spending time with her family.
Jon Solberg, MD
A member of our Emergency/Trauma team, Jon Solberg, MD, FACEP, FAWM, DiMM, is a board-certified emergency physician with expertise in wilderness and mountain medicine. Prior to joining Trinity Health, he served as medical director of emergency medicine and urgent care at CHI St. Alexius Health, Bismarck. Since 2010 he has provided emergency care in civilian and military settings in Louisiana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, and California. During his military service he was deployed to a combat support hospital at Forward Operating Base Dwyer in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. A native of Stanley, Dr. Solberg earned his medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he currently serves as chair of the Emergency Medicine Department. He completed his emergency medicine residency at Madigan Army Medical Center, Ft. Lewis, WA. Later, he earned a Diploma in Mountain Medicine from the Wilderness Medical Society and University of Utah. His training in mountain and wilderness medicine has equipped him to provide rescue and care for patients in the most austere environments. In 2018 he was medical officer for the Expeditions 7 team which drove the length of Greenland for the first time in human history. He also serves as team physician for AMSOIL SnoCross Championship Series and is the medical editor for Overland Journal, “the world’s premier publication for environmentally responsible, vehicle dependent, expedition travel.” Dr. Solberg is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.
Courtney Black, MD
Trinity Health is pleased to welcome Courtney Black, MD, to our hospitalist team. Hospital Medicine is a specialty dedicated to providing timely, coordinated care for patients in a hospital setting, based on changes in their medical status. A Family Medicine specialist, Dr. Black received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Ross University and completed her Family Medicine residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. She began her medical career as a nurse, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Minot State University and practicing in Trinity Hospital’s emergency and medical surgery units for four years. Her professional affiliations include the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Board of Family Medicine. A Minot/Minneapolis native, Dr. Black’s personal interests include dog rescue, running, and gardening.
Brian Johnson, DO
Trinity Health is pleased to welcome Brian Johnson, DO, a diagnostic radiologist fellowship trained in breast imaging.
As a breast specialist, Dr. Johnson provides expertise and support for the full range of Trinity’s breast imaging services, including digital mammography, MRI, ultrasound, and minimally-invasive breast biopsy.
Dr. Johnson earned a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania. Following a transitional internship at Sanford Health – University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Fargo, he completed a four-year residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Strong Memorial Hospital – University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY. He went on to complete his breast imaging fellowship at New York University Langone Health Center in New York, NY.
Dr. Johnson is a member of the Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, and Society of Breast Imaging.
Julius Ngaile, MD
A member of our Anesthesiology team, Dr. Ngaile provides safe and effective anesthesia care to patients undergoing the full range of surgical procedures, from elective cases to emergency/trauma. Dr. Ngaile received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, and completed his four-year Anesthesiology residency at the UC School’s Department of Anesthesia, located in Aurora. Prior to pursuing his medical career he worked as a registered nurse in Colorado and Kenya. He’s a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and the American Medical Association. He enjoys swimming, soccer, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Barry Amos, DO
Barry Amos, DO, is an interventional radiologist fellowship-trained in cardiovascular and interventional radiology. He provides first-line treatments for a variety of medical conditions using image-guided catheters and minimally-invasive techniques that target health problems at their source. Procedures include arterial and venous interventions for cardiovascular disease and cancer treatments using chemo/radioembolization to shrink tumors. A graduate of St. Mary’s College of California, Dr. Amos earned his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, graduating with highest honors. He completed his internal medicine internship and diagnostic radiology residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, serving as chief resident his last year. He remained at Penn State to complete his fellowship in cardiovascular and interventional radiology. Throughout his medical education, Dr. Amos has received numerous honors, including the Residency Program Director’s award and Medical Student Education awards. Dr. Amos has conducted research on several minimally-invasive techniques including chemoembolization for treatment of hepatic tumors and image-guided treatments for gallbladder disease. A member of the Society of Interventional Radiology and the American College of Radiology, Dr. Amos and his wife, Rebecca, enjoy spending time with their two Dachshund’s, Daisy and Ginger, spending time outdoors, as well as cooking and food/wine tasting.