HPAC · Concordia Continuing Studies

Health Professions Advisory Team

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Preparing students for success in health professions.

The Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) is committed to helping students interested in health professions. Our job is to advise students, assist them in choosing courses, and help them navigate the requirements and expectations of each health-related field.

As a health professions student, you will need strong preparation in science, excellent communication skills, and an ability to demonstrate a passion for service to others. By understanding each student's strengths and needs, the Director of Health Professions will guide and mentor you throughout your studies. HPAC members will guide you as you cultivate the skills needed to write strong personal statements and interview confidently. They will assist with preparation for the MCAT and provide the strategy you need to become a competitive medical school applicant. After successful completion of the program, HPAC will provide a letter of recommendation - a key part of your medical school application.

Dr. Julie C. Rutherford

Associate Professor of Biology
Director | Pre-health Professions Program
Director | Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program

P | 218.299.4302
E | jrutherf@cord.edu

Julie Rutherford (BA, Biology, St. Olaf College; PhD, Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of North Dakota) joined the faculty of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1998. She is Associate Professor of Biology, and teaches the two-semester cadaver-based Integrated Anatomy and Physiology sequence. Before coming to Concordia, Dr. Rutherford completed a post-doctoral position as a research associate for Nutri-Pro, Inc. in Salt Lake City, UT, and taught a course in anatomy at the Salt Lake Community College. Dr. Rutherford also serves as the Director of Health Professions and chairs the Health Professions Advisory Committee. She serves as the primary contact for students (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate) who are preparing to apply to professional programs in their chosen field of healthcare.

Dr. Rutherford is passionate about inspiring her students to love learning and to appreciate the complexity and wonder of the human body. She employs interactive pedagogical practices in the classroom, and strives to provide an immersive and inspiring experience via the use of human specimens in the cadaver lab. She received Concordia College's Flaat Distinguished Teaching award in 2015. Dr. Rutherford is also passionate about helping students achieve their goals of obtaining their desired career in the health professions. She desires to form meaningful mentoring relationships with her advisees and seeks to provide them with the knowledge and opportunities needed to take the next steps toward their personal and professional goals.

Dr. Drew Rutherford

Associate Professor of Chemistry
HPAC Member | Advisor

P | 218.299.4308
E | rutherf@cord.edu

Drew Rutherford (BA, Biology and Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Morris; MS, Organic Chemistry, and PhD, Inorganic Chemistry, North Dakota State University) has been teaching at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN since 1998. An Associate Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Rutherford teaches the organic chemistry sequence. He is a member of Concordia’s Health Professions Advisory Committee and also serves as pre-optometry medicine advisor. Prior to joining Concordia, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Utah and has served as a Visiting Scientist at the USDA in Fargo, ND. His research with Concordia students center around the synthesis of interesting materials, specifically biologically active organic molecules, materials with potential for applied use and organometallic catalysts. Several projects in his laboratory involve collaborative work with scientists at the USDA-Biosciences Research Laboratory (BRL) to synthesize bioactive molecules in either radiolabeled form or suitable for immunochemical assay use.

Dr. John A. Flaspohler

Associate Professor of Biology
HPAC Member | Advisor

P | 218.299.3808
E | flaspohl@cord.edu

John Flaspohler (BS, Microbiology, University of Michigan; PhD, Molecular Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine) joined our faculty in 1999. He is Associate Professor of Biology, teaching courses ranging from Cell Biology and Genetics and Molecular Biology to Immunology and Parasitology. He also teaches Fundamental Microbiology to allied health students. He is a member of Concordia’s Health Professions Advisory Committee and also serves as pre-veterinary medicine advisor. Prior to joining Concordia, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Heidelberg, Germany as well as a served as Associate Scientist at Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle WA. His research with Concordia students focuses on identifying genes involved in organelle biogenesis in Trypanosome and Leishmania protozoan parasites of humans.

Dr. Flaspohler enjoys teaching Concordia students at all levels during their college careers. He finds satisfaction in following the maturation and increased scientific literacy and confidence that students attain during their time at the college. He utilizes an interactive, student-centered approach in the classroom and laboratory, incorporating case studies and other practical examples of biologically and medically important concepts in order to engage students in examining how fundamental scientific knowledge can be applied to real world problems. He strives to advise students to identify careers that are best suited to their skills and professional aspirations.

Dr. Emily C. Huber-Johnson

Assistant Professor
Program Director | Exercise Science
HPAC Member | Advisor

P | 218.299.3721
E | ehuber@cord.edu

Dr. Emily Huber-Johnson joined Concordia College in 2018 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Exercise Science. She serves as the Exercise Science Program Director and the Director of the Human Performance Laboratory. She is also the faculty advisor for the Exercise Science Club and the Exercise Is Medicine on-campus leadership team.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Promotion from South Dakota State University in 2011. She earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in Nutrition and Exercise Science from SDSU in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Dr. Huber-Johnson is a Certified Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine and also holds a certificate in Transdisciplinary Childhood Obesity Prevention.

Dr. Huber-Johnson’s research focuses on physical activity promotion and childhood obesity prevention efforts. She teaches coursework at Concordia including Introduction to Exercise Science, Health Promotion Programming and Evaluation, Testing and Prescription in Exercise Science, Research Methods and Testing, and Biomechanics of Human Motion.

Dr. Huber-Johnson lives with her husband and rescue coonhound in West Fargo, N.D. She enjoys being active outdoors, reading good books, and quality time with family and friends.