Linda Berglin, Tom Huntley named U of M Alumni Association 2010 Legislators of the Year

Pair honored for support of medical education at Aug. 24 U of M Alumni Association national board meeting

Media Note: For high-resolution images of the 2010 Legislators of the Year with U of M President Robert Bruininks, please contact jfalk [a] umn (p) edu.

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (08/25/2010) —Minnesota Sen. Linda Berglin and Rep. Tom Huntley were honored as the University of Minnesota Alumni Association 2010 Legislators of the Year at the association’s national board of directors meeting on Aug. 24.

“Senator Berglin and Representative Huntley are receiving this award for their strong, enthusiastic support and commitment to the University of Minnesota and to higher education,” said Ertugrul Tuzcu, national chair of the Alumni Association. “They are especially committed in their support of medical education and the financing required to meet the health care workforce needs of our state.”

During the 2010 legislative session, Berglin and Huntley both played critical roles in the preservation of the Medical Education Research Certificate (MERC) grant program. MERC’s goal is to support the clinical training of health care professionals in all settings, including in rural areas and safety-net facilities.

The MERC fund flows through the federal Medicaid program, with federal matching funds providing the state with additional resources for medical education. The university’s Academic Health Center is central to the training of health professionals in Minnesota, and has always been a key stakeholder in the MERC discussions at the state Capitol.

A reduction in the MERC program’s funding would have been devastating to the hands-on education and training of the university’s students in area hospitals, health and dental clinics, pharmacies and other health care sites.

Each year the Alumni Association honors legislator(s) who exhibit outstanding leadership in support of the University of Minnesota resulting in the passage of or preservation of higher education policy and/or funding.

“Senator Berglin and Representative Huntley are true champions of medical education,” said Phil Esten, president and CEO of the Alumni Association. “They value the work of the Academic Health Center schools, and have been tremendously supportive of our efforts over many years."

Berglin, who represents District 61 in Minneapolis, is serving her ninth Senate term. She chairs the Health and Human Services Budget Division of the Senate’s Finance Committee. Huntley is serving his ninth term, representing District 7A in Duluth. He chairs the Health Care and Human Services Finance Division of the House’s Finance Committee.

The University of Minnesota Alumni Association is a 60,000-member organization whose members are ambassadors for the outstanding teaching and discovery that happens at the university every day. For more information, visit www.MinnesotaAlumni.org or call (612) 624-4982.