2026 Rural Health Award Recipients Announced

May 13, 2026

The annual Dakota Conference on Rural Health will feature the Outstanding Rural Health Awards Banquet to recognize North Dakota rural health advocates for their accomplishments. The awards banquet is slated for June 3 at 12:05 pm Central at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

2026 Rural Health Awards Recipients

• Emerging Rural Health Leader: Tessa Strand, RN
  McKenzie Health, Watford City
• Outstanding Rural Health Program: Indians Into Medicine (INMED)
  University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks
• Outstanding Rural Health Professional: Jenna Bredahl, RN
  Jamestown Regional Medical Center, Jamestown
• Outstanding Rural Health Provider: Erika Stein, MD
  Northwood Deaconess Health Center, Northwood
• Outstanding Rural Volunteer: Matt Hager
  Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center, Elgin
• Outstanding Rural Health Educator/Mentor: Shawnda Schroeder, PhD
  UND Department of Indigenous Health, Grand Forks
• Rural Health Legislator of the Year: Don Schaible
  State Senator, Mott
• Flex Quality Reporting Award: Trinity Health Kenmare Hospital
  Kenmare
• R-COOL-Health Scrubs Camp of the Year: Northeast Education Services Cooperative (NESC)
  Devils Lake

How to Attend

Tickets for the awards banquet are included in conference registration and are $40 for those not registered for the conference. Registration is mandatory for those who wish to attend. For more information on how to attend, visit the Dakota Conference on Rural Health attendees webpage.