O'Neil Named 2025 North Dakota Community Star

Nov 13, 2025

In celebration of National Rural Health Day, the Center for Rural Health and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) proudly unveil the North Dakota 2025 Community Star, Alan O'Neil!

Community Stars are a part of an annual recognition program that honors remarkable individuals and organizations going above and beyond for rural health. O'Neil exemplifies the true spirit of collaboration, turning challenges into opportunities, ensuring access to quality care, and fostering a sense of unity and support within rural communities.

About Alan O'Neil

O'Neil serves as the CEO of Unity Medical Center (UMC) in Grafton, North Dakota, an organization he has been with since 2014. During his time at UMC, he has focused on the future; dedicating himself to shaping the organization into a growing and thriving hospital.

Under O'Neil's leadership, UMC has grown – adding an emergency department, a surgery center, 11 private patient rooms, and a conference center/rural medical education center. This physical expansion also increased the hospital's workforce and led to the acquisition of a Da Vinci robot – the only one in North Dakota located at a Critical Access Hospital.

O'Neil has been deeply involved in the interests of rural health and policy. He is a member of the North Dakota Hospital Association and was previously a chair for the organization. In addition, he serves as an American Hospital Association Region 6 Policy Board delegate, where he advocates for rural health in Washington, D.C. O'Neil has also worked with the American Hospital Association to improve benefits and access to care for veterans, striving to honor them for their service.

Before joining UMC, O'Neil worked in different capacities during his career for the betterment of several other North Dakota organizations, including as the CFO of Jamestown Regional Medical Center; a Regional VP for Health Management Services, where he worked with several North Dakota communities to renovate healthcare facilities; and as the director of operations for the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences Department of Family Medicine.