Mora

As a trusted leader in healthcare throughout East-Central Minnesota, Welia Health is known for its patient-centered approach that puts the needs of individuals and families at the forefront of care. A self-sustaining, integrated health system and designated Critical Access Hospital, Welia Health has proudly served the region for nearly a century, delivering high-quality care with compassion, integrity, and innovation. 

Welia Health offers a comprehensive range of services, including family medicine, women’s health, orthopedics, sports medicine, rehabilitation, mental health services, pain management, and more. Its main campus is located in Mora, MN, with a hospital, provider-based clinic and community pharmacy. Additional Rural Health Clinics in Pine City and Hinckley extend Welia Health’s exceptional care into surrounding communities, with another community pharmacy and urgent care conveniently located within the Pine City site. 

Beyond medical services, Welia Health places a strong emphasis on preventive care, community wellness, and education, consistently working to improve population health outcomes across the region. Guided by a clear mission, vision, and enduring values, Welia Health remains deeply rooted in the communities it serves. From routine checkups to specialized care, Welia Health is honored to be the healthcare partner of choice for generations of families in East-Central Minnesota.

Ambulatory Care, Elective- Rural Health

Kati Dvorak, PharmD, BCACP, is a clinical pharmacist at Welia Health, residency site coordinator, and one of the primary preceptors for the Welia Health residency program. Dr. K. Dvorak completed her ambulatory care residency with the University of Minnesota at Goodrich Pharmacy and is board certified in ambulatory care. She specializes in caring for patients during transitions of care, inpatient care and provides MTM services. Dr. K. Dvorak is heavily involved in MphA and enjoys working to advance the profession of pharmacy. She was the 2017 recipient of the MPhA Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year Award and the 2025 UMN College of Pharmacy PGY1 Preceptor of the Year Award. She likes the challenge of taking care of patients in all settings and enjoys precepting pharmacy interns and residents. 

Acute Care, Institutional, Elective- Oncology  

Nicholas Giller, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, BCID is a hospital-based clinical pharmacist at Welia Health and has over twenty years of experience in acute care.Dr. Giller is a graduate of the University of Minnesota in 2005 and has since become triple board certified. Dr. Giller specializes in infectious disease and oncology and serves as Welia Health’s acute care preceptor APPE interns, in addition to assisting with the precepting of the acute care portion of the residency. Nick was preceptor of the Year in 2018. 

Elective- Administration, 340B:  

Joseph Dvorak, PharmD, 340B ACE is the Director of Pharmacy Services at Welia Health. Dr. J. Dvorak, graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, brings a wide range of community, management, and leadership experience to Welia Health. He has worked in both small and large chain pharmacy practice settings, has firsthand knowledge of opening a new independent community pharmacy, and is a 340B Apexus Certified Expert. For his practice advancements he received the MPhA Excellence in Innovation Award in 2019.  He is a member of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), Minnesota Society of Health System Pharmacists (MSHP), and serves as the Treasurer for the Minnesota Pharmacists Association.

Other Preceptors:  

Jenny Houglum, PharmD, is a hospital-based clinical pharmacist at Welia Health. Dr. Houglum graduated from the University of Minnesota and has over twenty years of community and hospital experience. Dr. Houglum, a 2015 recipient of the Bowl of Hygeia Award, concentrates her clinical work in the fields of diabetes, narcotic management and health care associated technologies. Dr. Houglum assists with the precepting of the acute care and educational components of the residency. 

Aimee Burk, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist at Welia Health with a focus of emergency medicine, acute care and health information technology. Dr. Burk graduated from the University of Minnesota and completed a University of Minnesota Ambulatory Care residency at Welia Health in 2015. She then worked at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby, MN where she gained experience with chemotherapy, emergency medicine and inpatient care. Dr. Burk is Welia Health’s ambulatory care preceptor for APPE interns and serves on many essential committees throughout the health system.  

Chelsea Benson, PharmD is a clinical pharmacist at Welia Health and the manager of the inpatient pharmacy. Dr. Benson graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2015. She then completed a University of Minnesota Ambulatory Care residency at Welia Health in 2016, where she gained experience in Medication Therapy Management (MTM), inpatient pharmacy, chronic care management and palliative care. Dr. Benson enjoys using the knowledge she gained through residency to precept students and residents at Welia Health. She is a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP). 

Ryan Albrecht, PharmD is the Pharmacist in Charge (PIC) of the Pine City Community Pharmacy. A graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth Campus, Dr. Albrecht completed a University of Minnesota Ambulatory Care Residency at Coborn’s Pharmacy in 2021, gaining knowledge in community pharmacy management and operations and Medication Therapy Management services. Dr. Albrecht started at Welia Health in 2022 and became the PIC in early 2024. He precepts our IPPE and APPE students in our Pine City location and is a great resource for our new Ambulatory Care Residents. 

Erin Shierts, PharmD is a community pharmacy specialist practicing in our Mora location. Dr. Shierts graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth Campus in 2012 and has over 13 years of experience working in an outpatient/community pharmacy setting. She is an expert at dispensing processes and workflow efficiency, and her extensive clinical knowledge ensures our patients receive high quality, patient-centered care. Dr. Shierts has worked at Welia Health since 2019 and precepts our IPPE and APPE students moving through the Mora location. 

Additional Preceptors: 
Aaron Terning, PharmD, Cari Thompson, PharmD, Andrew Zych, PharmD

• This experience is designed to give students the opportunities to expand knowledge in all areas of rural health.  
• Students will be able to complete Acute Care, Institution, Ambulatory Care, and Community rotations and have the option of additional elective rotations in rural health, oncology, administration, 340B, or antimicrobial stewardship depending on student interests. Rotation order will be determined together between the preceptors and student.   
• R-RxAP students will have the opportunity to work with RPAP students, APPE pharmacy students, PGY1 pharmacy residents, and other interns rounding throughout the health system.  
• As a member of the pharmacy team, the R-RxAP students will work with all members of the Welia healthcare team, pharmacists, providers, nurses, social workers and other staff. 
• The clinics, hospital, and community pharmacies have an integrated EPIC based electronic health record ensuring continuity of care for patients as they transition throughout the health system.  
• East Central Minnesota is predominantly a white, English-speaking population, with the health system seeing a high volume of elderly patients and those with low socioeconomic status.  
• Typical conditions of our population include heart failure, ASCVD, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, COPD, asthma, osteoporosis, infectious disease, mental health concerns, substance use disorder, oncology, emergency medicine, and preventative health.   
• Hours of rotation will depend week-to-week based on current rotation activities. Hospital pharmacy hours are 7:00 AM- 8:00 PM, clinic hours are 8:00am-4:30pm, and community pharmacy hours are 8:00 AM- 6:00 PM. 
• The typical workday will depend on the area of focus. 
• Travel between the three sites (Mora, Pine City, and Hinckley) may be necessary depending on the rotation picked by the student.  
• Dress code is business casual.  
• Flexibility and a positive attitude will provide students with the best opportunity to be successful in this learning experience.

Housing requests should be made as soon as possible to secure available free housing in Mora, MN. Each student would have their own, lockable bedroom, with shared bathroom, kitchen, and dining/common areas. Housekeeping staff will maintain towels, linens and public cleaning.