Rural and Public Health Awardees Honored at Dakota Conference

May 22, 2024

The 39^th Annual Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health will feature the Rural and Public Health Awards Banquet to recognize outstanding North Dakota rural health advocates for their accomplishments. The awards banquet is slated for June 5 at 11:50 am Central at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.

Rural Health Awards

Brad Gibbens, acting director and assistant professor at the Center for Rural Health, will receive the Outstanding Rural Health Career award.
Steven Barlow, family nurse practitioner at Dakota Regional Medical Center, will receive the Outstanding Rural Health Provider award.
Jean Limvere, volunteer with Hospice of the Red River Valley, will receive the Outstanding Rural Health Volunteer award.
The Rough Rider High Value Network will receive the Outstanding Rural Health Program award.
Alyson Kornele, CEO of West River Health Services, will receive the Emerging Rural Leader award.
Gretchen Dobervich, North Dakota State Representative, will receive the Legislator of the Year award.
First Care Health Center will receive the R-COOL-Health Scrubs Camp of the Year award.
Sanford Hillsboro Medical Center will receive the Flex Quality Reporting award.

Susan Kahler, substance abuse prevention coordinator at Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, will receive the Public Health Worker of the Year award.
Stephen McDonough, MD, pediatrician at McKenzie Health, will receive the Public Health Outstanding Service award.
The Blue Zones Project will receive the Public Health Team of the Year award.

Tickets for the awards banquet are free for conference participants and $30 for those not registered for the conference.