Russ Wilke, MD, Internal Medicine Physician at Sanford Health in Fargo. Wilke is a co-author in a study published in Nature Communications about how statin medications that can be attributed to genetic factors. Statins are the most commonly prescribed class of drugs in the United States. These drugs reduce the frequency and severity of cardiovascular disease in patients at risk for heart attack and stroke. The study looked at genetics, drugs and side effects in patients.