MNPQC Executive Branch

Dr. Yamaura is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health at the University of Minnesota. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecolgoy at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Minnesota. In addition to being an active clinical partner in the University MFM practice, she also serves ACOG District VI Champion for FASD Prevention and is the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Director at the University of Minnesota. Her primary interests are medical education and preterm birth prevention. Dr Yamamura is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and has a subspecialty certification in Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

MPO Executive Director/Treasurer, MNPQC Co-Director

Susan has been a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Women’s Health for over 30 years. She has a long history with MPO as a volunteer, conference presenter, planning committee member, and has served on the Board of Directors. She is currently the MPO Executive Director and Co-Director of the Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MNPQC).

She enjoys the outdoors, hiking and kayaking, and loves the solitude of their cabin in the Boundary Waters.

MBA, MHA, Ed.D

Jane Taylor is an Improvement Advisor and Learning Designer.  She supports learning collaboratives, networks, and innovation projects by providing expertise in improvement approaches and measurement. She has advised over 100 collaboratives for both adult and pediatric populations. Jane has worked with many states on reducing infant mortality, maternal health, medical home, primary and specialty care, reducing readmissions; to name a few. She also focuses on building quality improvement capability and improving healthcare around the world. Also, Jane is keen on reducing disparities of care and developing equity and in both primary and acute care settings.  Dr. Taylor has leadership experience as a hospital CEO and COO for over ten years and as an improvement consultant to healthcare for 20 years.  She is a wife, sister, and loving friend to many.

MNPQC Executive Branch

Anne Walaszek, MPH (Anishinaabe) is the Maternal and Child Health Quality Improvement Specialist in the Women and Infant Health Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health. In her role, she leads two quality improvement grants, the Perinatal Quality Collaborative and the Communities Collaborating to Prevent Girls Opioid Abuse. Ms. Walaszek has experience working at a national non-profit addressing cancer inequities within American Indian and Alaska Native communities. In this role, she provided leadership for a clinic and community health approach to develop and implement culturally tailored evidence-based interventions to effectively build capacity in health systems across Indian Country. Her public health experience reflects grant writing, program development, research and data management throughout her experiences at the Minnesota Department of Health Diabetes Program, Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, and SAMHSA for their Child, Adolescent and Family Branch. She is a 2017 recipient of the Lou Fuller Award for Distinguished Service in Eliminating Health Disparities.