Our Staff
Dr. Simon Mittal
Dr. Mittal graduated from medical school from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, completed his training in Denver, Colorado and is a Board Certified Internist. After spending 6 years in the Army where he was recognized with the Surgeon General’s Award, he spent 10 years with the Mayo Health System and was a Clinical Instructor for the Mayo Medical School. Over the last few years, Dr. Mittal has seen the increasing need for high quality care in assisted living, skilled nursing and long term care facilities as he has helped his father navigate the complex medical issues that seniors face. His desire is to improve the standard of care, improve quality and help facilities provide the care that seniors deserve. He is a Member of ACP, ACPE, AMDA, ACHE.
William (Bill) Knutson, MBA
Bill is a senior healthcare executive and consultant with extensive experience in strategy formulation, physician integration, campus development, service line formation and operational performance. Bill held numerous leadership positions in the HealthEast system in Minnesota, including leading St John’s Hospital as Vice President/Administrator. His consulting projects in hospital and senior services include developing/implementing a neurologist/hospital call system, a medical tourism hospital, senior living campus, geriatric physician practice, payer contracting for a national primary clinic group and critical access hospital strategic plans. Bill has also served as an advisor to medical device startup companies. He recently participated in the development of a virtual ACO in rural Minnesota (Southern Prairie Community Care) under the MN DHS IHP program, is part owner in a wound care company and partner in a physician practice and consulting group for post- acute services. He has been appointed an “Executive in Residence” at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Bill has a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Nichole Pelerine
Nichole joined CareChoice in 2011 after relocating to the Twin Cities from Los Angeles. She is an experienced leader with a diverse background in several different industries and passionate in her belief that collaboration is the key to successful innovation. As a mission-driven leader, Nichole particularly enjoys working with CareChoice facilities to identify improvement opportunities and support effective change, and has played an integral role in the development and management of the CareChoice collaborative quality improvement projects. Innovation in the senior care environment can be challenging to balance with regulatory and resource considerations, and serving an organization dedicated to the continued pursuit of excellence is deeply satisfying.
Stacy Ellerbusch, LSW
Stacy is a graduate from The College of St. Scholastica and has 20+ years of experience in long term and home health care settings, including positions in Laundry, Housekeeping, as a Home Health Aide, Payroll, Accounts Payable and Lead Receptionist Coordinator. She joined CareChoice in 2014 to work on the CMS Healthcare Innovation Award project titled "Person Centered Care Connections". Since then, Stacy has provided implementation and management support for multiple CareChoice quality improvement projects focused on medication safety, behavioral health and mobility. Stacy is currently engaged in supporting the development of the CareChoice Clinically Integrated Network.
Berg Ellenberger, RN
Berg graduated from Indiana University with her bachelor’s degree in nursing. She is currently a doctorate student at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, specializing in the program of Health Innovation and Leadership. Go Gophers! Berg is passionate about the need for change within our healthcare system and helping the aging population thrive.