MARQUETTE — The Superior Health Foundation has elected Elise Bur of Marquette to its board of directors.

Bur brings to the SHF board of directors a vast background in health care and issues relative to improving health in the Upper Peninsula.

Bur was hired as the inaugural director of the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health in July 2020. In that role, Bur is creating and improving an integrated healthcare network to better serve Upper Peninsula residents. The center is also expanding access and improving the quality of essential healthcare services.

Prior to that role, Bur served as the administrative director for the Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center for six years. In that role, she conducted advocacy efforts by developing and maintaining professional relationships with organizations, foundations, partnering agencies and legislators at local, state and national levels. In addition, she helped develop, implement and sustain comprehensive marketing and outreach initiatives including media campaigns and internal and external communications.

Nominated for the Michigan Center for Rural Health’s “Michigan’s Rural Health Professional of the Year Award” in 2023, Bur owns a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from Suomi College, with concentrations in business communications, English and music. Suomi College later became Finlandia University.

Bur said she is excited to join the SHF board.

“I view this as an opportunity to collaborate with others who are passionate and committed to understanding and addressing regional health-related needs. I look forward to strengthening and expanding Superior Health Foundation’s impact in our U.P. communities,” Bur said.

Bur said she is hopeful that the relationships she has fostered will prove beneficial to the SHF board going forward.

“I believe the board, and in turn, the Foundation will benefit from the relationships I’ve developed within the healthcare and higher education industries as well as my experience in developing and implementing rural health-centered projects, services and programs,” she said. “As someone who is often viewed as thinking ‘outside of the box,’ I’m excited about strategically aligning and leveraging regional and statewide efforts that are forward thinking and will contribute to improving the health and well-being of U.P. residents.”

Away from work, Bur enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, traveling, golfing and watching sports.

With Bur’s addition, there are now 14 directors on SHF’s board. Sara Giles serves as the president, David Jahn is the vice president and Kara Katona is the secretary/treasurer.