Administrator
Custer Health
Mandan, North Dakota

What is your background?

I am from Raleigh, North Dakota, and I graduated from NDSU in 2012 with my undergraduate degree in microbiology and received my MPH degree in December 2013. During my time in college, I worked for the USDA Agricultural Research Services and studied antibodies and drug interactions in animals. 

What did you specialize in at NDSU?

I specialized in infectious diseases. 

How did the NDSU MPH program prepare you for the workforce?

As an MPH student, I learned about the different social and behavioral aspects of health that have considerably helped my work with communities and how to interact with them. The program also helped me to be aware of the various aspects that affect health and how best to reduce health disparities in the different communities and cultures that I come across. 

What is your current position or academic pursuit?

Erin is an administrator at Custer Health in Mandan, ND. Custer Health is a five county district health unit that provides public health services to the people of Grant, Mercer, Morton, Oliver and Sioux Counties in North Dakota. Ourada started her career at Custer Health in 2014 after graduating from North Dakota State University with her Master’s in Public Health. Her first position at Custer Health was as a regional coordinator for a regional public health unit collaboration between Custer Health, Emmons County Public Health, and Kidder County District Health Unit. She has continued in that role and in 2015 also added environmental health practitioner to her list of duties. 

How are you impacting the health of North Dakotans?

In her role as administrator, Ourada inspects food and beverage establishments, on-site septic systems, body art facilities, public swimming pools, and public health nuisances. In 2016, Erin received her Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian credential through the National Environmental Health Association. At the end of 2019, Erin will transition in to her new role as Custer Health’s administrator. She will be the third administrator Custer Health has had since its creation in 1950.