Kenneth P. Olson, MD

Dr. Olson is a family physician who has practiced Family Medicine for over 40 years. His undergraduate studies were from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, and he received his MD at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. He completed his UMN (University of Minnesota Medical School) Family Medicine residency at North Memorial Medical Center in Minneapolis. 

His first five years began in rural Minnesota with the subsequent years in the Twin Cities Metro area. Dr. Olson enjoys his service in multiple educational pursuits which have included the roles of teaching as Adjunct Clinical Professor at the UMN Department of FM, Family Medicine Clerkship, as well as teaching in the Foundations of Clinical Thinking course for first- and second-year students. He was also the lead physician facilitator for the Significant Event Reflection session for third- and fourth-year students. Ken Olson is a faculty member of the Academy on Communication in Healthcare and has been a facilitator for Healer’s Art for first year medical students. In 2007, he received the Minnesota Medical Foundation’s Exceptional Community Faculty Teaching Award for his teaching at the U of M.

Dr. Olson and his wife Birdie, share a passion for Tanzania. He enjoys working “shoulder to shoulder” with the Tanzanian clinicians at the Ilula District Hospital near Iringa, and teaching US medical, pharmacy and other students and residents there as well as at home.

Dirk Halverson, DPM
Medical Director, AHI Podiatry Services

Dr. Halverson has 22 years of podiatry care experience. He brings experience in prevention recommendations, treatment plans for existing issues and surgical interventions to patients.

Dr. Halverson received his Bachelor of Science of Pharmacy from South Dakota State University in 1991. While working part-time as a Pharmacist he attended and graduated from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA. He earned a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine in 1995. While attending school, he was a student member of the American Podiatric Medicine Association and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He also earned membership in the National Podiatric Honorary Society.

Dr. Halverson is dedicated to continuing his education and did a Podiatric Surgical Residency in Flint, MI at Genesee/Wheelock Memorial Hospitals. After completing his residency, he entered into private practice in Marshall, MN. He later moved to Appleton, WI and practiced for 10 years. The last 3+ years he has been practicing in the Minneapolis area. His areas of expertise include diabetic foot care and wound care, sports medicine and foot surgery.

Dr. Halverson is a current Member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, he is Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery and is Board Certified in Foot Surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Michael R. Wilcox, MD, FACEP, FAAFP, ABFM

Dr. Michael Wilcox paved a road of early success as the Class President, Valedictorian and even Homecoming King of his high school graduating class. He was involved in athletics and music to round out his early education, as well as achieving Eagle Scout status. While attending his undergraduate years at the University of MN, he became a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and Alpha Omega Alpha while obtaining his medical degree. Dr. Wilcox took his post graduate training at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and completed his Bush Medical Fellowship in Critical & Emergency Care in 1985. Dr. Wilcox has been a practicing Board Certified Family Practice Physician for nearly 50 years.

Dr. Wilcox has retired as the Coordinator at the Emergency Care Plus Program for North Memorial Medical Center in Minneapolis. He served as Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency & Family Medicine, University of Minnesota.  Dr. Wilcox maintains his position as the Medical Director for Rural EMS Services, as well as Medical Director at the Community Paramedic Program at Hennepin Technical College in addition to being a CALS instructor.

An early architect of community paramedicine, Dr. Wilcox offers clinical skills training and oversight, CME/curriculum development, the development of policy and protocol, outcome analysis and quality assurance initiatives. Also, a national conference speaker, he is a gifted ambassador of community paramedicine.

While he has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, a Board Member on the Minnesota EMS Medical Director Association, his latest recognition was a Lifetime Achievement Award from his alma mater of 1964. During the school’s 102-year history, this award has only been honored by 13 other recipients.

Alanna Valadez, NP & Director of TruHeal Wound Care Program

Alanna Valadez is the Director of the AHI TruHeal Wound Care Program and sees patients as a CWOCN Nurse Practitioner.  Day to day she is assisting long term care facilities and assisted living staff and residents.  She and the AHI TruHeal team work to improve skin and wound health both on an individualized basis, as well as, from a process/ program perspective.   

Alanna came from Bethesda Hospital where she managed the Wound Ostomy Continence Program and provided patient care for 9 1/2 years in the long-term acute care setting. During her time at Bethesda, she started the WOC program. As the program grew with excellent patient outcomes and provider word-of-mouth the community recognized Bethesda’s wound program as being one of the best in the Twin Cities.  

In addition to program growth, Valadez has done significant work around pressure injury prevention and was a valued team member on the Pressure Injury Committee for Minnesota Hospital Association. Valadez is a certified wound ostomy continence nurse and received her Master of Science in Nursing in 2010 and has been a practicing nurse practitioner since. She also obtained a Master of Business Administration degree with a Health Care emphasis in 2015. Valadez was the winner of the 2019 Outstanding Nurses award for the category of advance practice nurse for the Minneapolis/ St. Paul Magazine. 

Rhianna Gawrys, Somatic Yoga Therapist

Rhianna was diagnosed with chronic back pain at the age of 24 and lived in high levels of pain with only surgery or opioids as her options after trying everything. She refused to believe those were her only options – especially as the doctors didn’t know what exactly was wrong with her. So, Rhianna fiercely searched for a solution, found it, and became 100% pain free with zero limitations within 2 years.

Rhianna is now certified in the therapy that transformed her life from a black tunnel of despair to abundance, freedom, and the certainty that she will never be in chronic pain again. She’s celebrated her life of pain relief – not pain management – by hiking Machu Picchu, playing soccer again, and getting scuba certified (those tanks are heavy!) to name a few.

Rhianna knows intimately the mental and emotional struggle of living with chronic pain and how it affects all areas of life. Her specialty is chronic pain. It’s because of her experience and client’s that she believes a life of real pain relief is possible for anyone.

Kasey Meyer, Director of Mental Health, MSW, LICSW

Kasey graduated with a bachelor’s in social work from Winona State University-Rochester in 2012, her master's in clinical social work from St. Catherine’s University and St. Thomas University in 2019, and reached full Independent Clinical Licensure in 2023. Kasey has experience treating mental health concerns like, but not limited to: ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, Adjustment Disorder, Brain Injury, Mood Disorders, and/or Trauma-PTSD.  

Her treatment approach is client-centered, integrating the individual’s goals, lifestyle, environment, medical, and nutritional needs to treat the whole person and create space for health and healing.  

Kasey is an adventurer, and she loves to be outdoors. She can be found hiking, camping, running, or relaxing next to a fire in the summer months. In the winter months, she spends most of her time in a hockey rink, supporting her children.  

NARA Zhang-Lunser, Acupuncturist, L.Ac.

Nara earned a Master's Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, focusing on areas such as pain relief, stress reduction, women's health, digestive health, and cosmetic treatments. She is licensed by the Minnesota State Medical Board and certified by the National Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

Introduced to Traditional Chinese Medicine by her grandparents, Nara’s lifelong interest in mastering these techniques began early on while growing up in China. Her approach incorporates a variety of treatments like acupuncture, scalp and facial acupuncture, ear acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, tui na, moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, cosmetic acupuncture, micro- and nano-needling, and dietary advice. Also, as a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, she is dedicated to helping clients achieve their health goals.

Before her career in wellness, Nara obtained a Master's Degree in International Relations, Economy, and Trade. Working in a high-stress business environment in China, she gained insights into the impact of lifestyle on health. This background enhances her ability to create tailored, balanced, and effective wellness plans for her clients.

Nara joined the AHI team because she was drawn to the breadth of integrative health and wellness services offered with a focus on compassion and empathy.

Outside of her professional life, Nara enjoys exploring nature, hiking, practicing yoga, reading, and cooking Chinese cuisine.

Marissa Hoffmann, Treatment Director

Marissa Hoffmann is a seasoned leader in the field of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services and is known for her compassionate, whole-person approach to treatment. Having previously ran her own company for over 6 years, Marissa oversaw the day-to-day operations and ensured that all staff delivered exceptional care and support to healthcare facilities in Minnesota. Her academic background in psychology, with a concentration in addiction counseling, complements her extensive practical experience.

In her Director of Social Services positions, Marissa excelled in coordinating new admissions, developed behavioral plans, and ensured comprehensive documentation and follow-up on client care. She consistently demonstrates excellence in overseeing grievance and complaint investigations, enhancing client care through behavioral management techniques, and leading interdisciplinary teams including nurses, social workers, psychologists, and pharmacists.

Beyond Marissa’s primary roles, she has significantly contributed to the mental health sector by serving as a Mental Health Service Coordinator for Native American tribal members, integrating traditional and cultural practices into comprehensive treatment plans. Her dedication to social advocacy was evident in her work with the Women's Rural Advocacy Program (WRAP) as a Floating Advocate, addressing domestic abuse through direct service and community education. As a skilled Treatment Director, Marissa is highly attuned to the needs of various populations and manages a diverse caseload with sensitivity and expertise.