Dr. Joan Connell recognized by NDMA for humanitarian efforts

Dr. Joan Connell, a pediatrician practicing at UND’s Center for Family Medicine in Bismarck, was recognized during the North Dakota Medical Association (NDMA) Annual Meeting recently for being the 2024 recipient of the Copic Humanitarian Award.

This prestigious award honors an NDMA physician for volunteer medical services and contributions to the community. The award is sponsored by Copic (NDMA’s medical liability partner) and designates a $10,000 donation to the recipient’s charity of choice.

Nominated by Dr. Michael Jankoviak, who sees first-hand Dr. Connell’s dedication to always put the patient first, Dr.Connell has served as a health advocate and leader in North Dakota, going out of her way to make a difference by serving as NDMA’s Physician Advisory Group Chair, advocating for underserved populations and many other health-related causes.

“Dr. Connell has become the go-to person when navigating some of the most challenging patient care hurdles,” noted an NDMA news release on Dr. Connell’s award. “She volunteers many hours researching and navigating possible solutions to consistently and successfully achieve that goal. The time and tenacity required to successfully accomplish this can never occur in an eight-minute office visit.”

Dr. Connell selected Soul 57 as the recipient of the $10,000 Copic donation. Soul 57 strives to provide a community for youth who’ve experienced the tragedy of losing a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. With the help of mental health professionals and trained individuals who provide tools in the grieving process, Soul 57 offers a setting where youth can connect, communicate, and navigate their grief with peers who have experienced similar loss.

Congratulations, Dr. Connell!