Cancer Care Conference

Melissa Buffalo, a citizen of the Meskwaki Nation, has nearly 20 years of experience advancing public health and equity for Indigenous communities. As CEO of the American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF), she leads efforts to reduce cancer disparities and improve outcomes for tribal nations and Indigenous communities nationwide. 

Under her leadership, AICAF has expanded culturally tailored cancer prevention programs, strengthened tribal partnerships, and raised national awareness of Indigenous health inequities. Melissa’s advocacy extends through her service on various boards and committees, where she amplifies Indigenous voices and champions better standards of care. 

Essentia Health

Jill Doberstein has worked in the public health field since 2003 and has been with Essentia Health since 2015.

Her career began in tobacco prevention, where she spent over 15 years advancing public policy at the state level through a national nonprofit and supporting grassroots initiatives in northeastern Minnesota.

Jill later transitioned into healthcare, joining Essentia Health’s Population Health department as a Program Manager. In this role, she implemented a comprehensive tobacco dependence treatment program across Essentia’s network of 17 hospitals and 67 clinics in three Midwest states.

Currently, Jill leads Community Health and Health Equity efforts at Essentia Health. She oversees outreach and engagement strategies to strengthen social care networks, build community infrastructure, and reduce barriers to care—particularly among diverse and underserved populations.

Jill holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Community Health Education and a Master’s Degree in Advocacy and Political Leadership, both from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Rashid Hussein is a community health specialist serving Fargo-Moorhead area and surrounding communities. Mr. Hussein has been with Essentia Health since April 2022. He previously served with county social services in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Staci Metzger has been a dedicated member of the Hospice of the Red River Valley team since August 2014, currently serving as Lead Social Worker. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of North Dakota, earned in 2005, and is a licensed social worker in both Minnesota and North Dakota. Staci is also proud to be one of the first social workers in North Dakota to become Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker - Certified, demonstrating her expertise in palliative and hospice care.

In her role, Staci provides compassionate support to patients and families, ensuring their end-of-life journey is met with dignity and comfort. She clinically supervises social work staff, ensuring that the team delivers exceptional, person-centered care and collaborates with an interdisciplinary team to create personalized care plans that address both the emotional and physical needs of patients.

Outside of her work at hospice, Staci has demonstrated leadership as the Committee Chair for the Northern Plains Conference on Aging from 2021 to 2024, further showcasing her commitment to the aging population. She is also deeply involved in her community, regularly seeking ways to give back, whether through volunteering or offering a supportive presence to those around her.

Connie has more than 40 years of experience as a community health worker, serving rural and urban communities in the field of public health. She is a graduate of the Health and Wellness Counseling program at the College of St. Catherine and also completed the Community Health Worker (CHW) program at Northwest Technical College.

Her extensive background in community health includes serving as a T-trainer and master trainer for evidence-based workshops developed by Stanford University. These include Chronic Disease Self-Management, Diabetes Self-Management, Chronic Pain Self-Management, Tai Ji Quan, and Matter of Balance. She has facilitated these programs for many years, supporting individuals in managing their health and wellness.

In urban settings, Connie has worked with organizations such as Migizi, the Indian Health Board, and the Native American Community Clinic. She also developed and managed the Running Wolf Fitness Center in Minneapolis - a collaboration between the Indian Health Board and Native American Community Clinic - for four years. Over the past decade, she has also been instrumental in helping develop community health worker roles at Sanford Health and PrimeWest Health.

Most recently, Connie was hired to direct the newly formed Red Lake Community Health Services in Bemidji, with satellite offices in Red Lake and Blackduck. In this role, she supervises a team of 12 community health workers and a targeted case manager. The program supports tribally enrolled people (from any tribe) and IHS-eligible clients on medical assistance.

Connie is actively engaged in public health leadership and advocacy, serving on the board of the Minnesota CHW Alliance and the governing board of the Minnesota Public Health Association.

She has lived in Bemidji for more than 10 years and considers it a wonderful place to live. Surrounded by the Red Lake, Leech Lake, and White Earth tribal nations, the region fosters strong, collaborative efforts to promote the health and well-being of all our relatives.

Feel free to reach out to Connie at cnorman@redlakenation.org.

Fargo Cass Public Health

Dr. Ryan James Smart, D.M.D., M.D., F.A.C.S. is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon specializing in head and neck oncology and reconstructive surgery. He is a graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (summa cum laude) and Harvard Medical School, and completed extensive surgical training at Massachusetts General Hospital and LSU Health Sciences Center.

Dr. Smart is the owner and partner at Prairie Oral Surgery in Fargo, ND, and serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. He holds medical and dental licenses in North Dakota and Texas, and has earned numerous honors, including the “Golden Stethoscope” recognition for clinical care.

In addition to his surgical practice, Dr. Smart is a prolific lecturer and published author in his field, contributing to major textbooks and journals. He has also been featured in media for his innovative jaw reconstruction techniques.