Board Members
diane tower, chair
Diane was diagnosed with MG more than 20 years ago, and brings passion and commitment to her role as chair of mgMN. She was secretary of the MGFA Minnesota chapter and has been a support group member for 19 years. "I hope to reach out to more people locally who have MG," she says. "I am looking for ways to identify, reach out to, and provide support to everyone who has this condition. I am especially interested in expanding our support group network and developing new strategies that meet the needs of young people with MG."
ann miller, Vice chair
Ann Miller is a long time support group member and became a board member in January, 2024.
Laurie Meyer
Laurie Meyer is a long time support group member and became a board member in September 2022.
Pete Engler, Secretary
Pete was first introduced to Myasthenia Gravis at the start of his administrative fellowship with HealthPartners in 2018. He was given the opportunity to partner with a neuromuscular physician to improve care for patients with MG and similar conditions in the community. Throughout the project, he met many patients and clinical leaders to understand life with MG and was welcomed to the mgMN support group in Roseville. He was invited to serve on the board in early 2019 and is excited to partner with board members to further the mission of mgMN, develop relationships in the community, and assist in creating a strategic plan for the organization. Prior to healthcare, Pete worked in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and interned for Senator Al Franken. He completed a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota and a degree in Political Science from University of Minnesota Duluth.
Monica St. Germain, Treasurer
Monica was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Minnesota after college. She held various accounting management positions in prominent Twin Cities companies for over 39 years. After retirement she taught English to adult immigrants. Her husband, Bud was diagnosed with MG on Christmas Day, 2016 and sadly passed in late 2023. Monica finds the support group especially important in the mission of disseminating accurate information about MG and emotionally supporting members with this disorder.
Barb corner, communication chair
Barb was diagnosed with MG more than 50 years ago. "I told my parents I would not let this rare disease stop me, and it hasn't," she says. Barb went on to obtain her bachelor's and master's degrees and had a 33-year career as a teacher. She and her husband have three grown children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Barb began attending annual meetings of the state's MGFA chapter in 1990. A couple years later, she started (and still leads) the Mid-Minnesota support group. Barb started a lending library for people with MG in 1995, and chaired the MGFA state chapter for more than a decade.
PUBLICITY Chair - Position open
torri johnson, Web Designer
Torri became involved with the organization after attending the Twin Cities Support Group meetings with her mother who passed away with MG in 2019. Torri has experience running websites for non-profit organizations mainly in the area of youth sports and also maintains the mgMN Facebook page.
Medical ADVISORY Board
Gaurav K. Guliani, M.D.
Healthpartners
295 Phalen Blvd 3rd Floor
Saint Paul MN 55130
Dr. Guliani is a neurologist with Healthpartners, his practice includes work with neuromuscular medicine. He has been a valuable resource for our community. He has been a keynote speaker at our annual conference. He also visited the Twin Cities support group.
Visit Dr. Guliani’s page, click here