University Letter

UND's faculty and staff newsletter

Rural and public health award recipients announced

The 37th Annual Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health will feature the Rural and Public Health Awards Banquet to recognize outstanding North Dakota rural health and public health advocates for their accomplishments. The awards banquet is slated for June 9 at 6 p.m. Central in the Alerus Center, Aurora Ballroom 5. A social hour will take place immediately before the banquet, beginning at 5:15 p.m.

2022 Rural and Public Health Awards Recipients:

  •  Outstanding Rural Health Provider – Wayne Anderson, Chief Medical Officer and general surgeon at CHI St. Alexius Health Williston
  • Outstanding Rural Health Professional – Mara Jiran, CEO of Spectra Health, Larimore/Grand
    Forks
  • Outstanding Rural Health Volunteer – Dr. Brad and Gayle Aafedt, a retired interventional radiologist and a retired chemical engineer, respectively, Grand Forks
  • Outstanding Rural Health Educator/Mentor – Annie Paulson, nursing program director at Bismarck State College, Bismarck
  • Outstanding Rural Health Program – The House of Everyday Learning and Beyond Boundaries Therapy Services, Fargo
  • Outstanding Rural Health Career – Pete Antonson, CEO of Northwood Deaconess Health
    Center, Northwood
  • R-COOL-Health Scrubs Camp of the Year – Towner County Medical Center, Cando
  • Public Health Worker of the Year – Theresa Schmidt, nurse manager at Bismarck Burleigh
    Public Health, Bismarck
  • North Dakota Public Health Association Outstanding Service Award – Julie Ferry, retired

administrator at Nelson-Griggs District Health Unit, McVille

  • Public Health Team of the Year – The North Dakota State University Department of Public
    Health
    , Fargo

How to Attend

Tickets for the awards banquet are $35 for conference participants and $40 for those not registered for the conference. Registration is mandatory for those who wish to attend. For information on getting tickets, visit https://ruralhealth.und.edu/dakota-conference/awards. Registrations are due by June 2.