Family & Community Medicine Chair David Schmitz among 2025 NRHA Rural Health Award recipients

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) announced the Association’s 2025 Rural Health Award recipients last week. Among the winners was Dr. David Schmitz, chair of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences Department of Family & Community Medicine.

In a news release announcing the awards, Schmitz was named NRHA’s Outstanding Educator Award winner.

“In my mind, recognition in the form of an award is most often a realization that the named individual has been blessed with an aligned mission, support, and an opportunity to accomplish more because of that support and the people forming the team around them,” said Schmitz. “I feel this certainly is the case for me at UND. This NHRA recognition of our collective efforts will be one of the milestone moments in my career.”

As the NRHA news release continues, “Schmitz has piloted multiple programs geared toward fostering rural health experience and advocacy in students. He also serves on the leadership team for family medicine residencies in North Dakota, helping ensure the sustainability of rural health care in the state.”

NRHA is a nonprofit organization working to improve the health and well-being of rural Americans and provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research. NRHA’s membership consists of a wide variety of individuals and organizations that share the common bond of an interest in rural health.

The NRHA Rural Health Awards are given each year to individuals and organizations in the field of rural health who have dedicated their time and talents to improving the health and well-being of others. The winners will be honored during NRHA’s 48th Annual Rural Health Conference May 20-23 in Atlanta, Ga.

“We’re extremely proud of this year’s winners, who showcase the resilience and innovation of rural health care providers and communities,” said NRHA CEO Alan Morgan. “They have each made tremendous strides to advance rural health care, and we’re confident they will continue to help improve the lives of rural Americans.”

The Director of UND’s Center for Rural Health, Dr. Jacob Warren, agreed.

“The impact that Dr. Schmitz has had on health in rural North Dakota is extensive and hard to give full justice to,” said Warren. “Even beyond his direct work with medical students and residents, his research on recruitment and retention helps to address shortages of providers in the state and to ensure that North Dakotans have access to quality care close to home. His work on UND’s Rural Health Interest Group, Primary Care Week, and on supporting students in attending national conferences has made him a vital partner with the Center for Rural Health as we seek to improve health for rural North Dakota and beyond.”