71 hospital and health system teams and individuals received awards
May 28, 2025, Saint Paul, Minn. — 71 hospital and health system teams and individuals from across the state were recognized by MHA this week for their efforts to bolster the workforce, tell impactful health care stories, and improve quality and safety in Minnesota’s nonprofit hospitals and health systems. The awards were presented at MHA’s 2025 Spring Innovation Forum.
“Health care professionals make an impact on the lives of individuals and the wellbeing of our communities every day,” said MHA President and CEO Rahul Koranne. “We’re grateful for this opportunity to celebrate the talented teams and individuals leading this work.”
Award recipients were recognized by MHA in three categories:
Communications
Communicators of the Year
• Ana Alexander, Glencoe Regional Health
• Christine Hill, Hennepin Healthcare
• Jodi Martin, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital
Delivering the Message
• Rick Breuer, Community Memorial Hospital
• Amy Hart, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center
• Greg Ruberg, Aspirus Lake View Hospital
Editorial Excellence
• Karla Eischens, Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
• Nick Petersen, Children’s Minnesota
Positive for Patients
• “The story of Mayo Clinic’s second face transplant, a decade in the making,” by Dené Dryden, Rochester Post Bulletin
• “Hospitals scramble to conserve IV fluids amid nationwide shortage,” by Kent Erdahl, KARE 11
• “One day in the frantic life of a Children’s Minnesota emergency room nurse,” by Jeremy Olson, The Minnesota Star Tribune
Shining Stories
• Video Newsroom, Allina Health
• Riverwood Healthcare Center
Social Media and Digital Engagement
• Emily Arjune, Fairview Health Services
• Angie Cole, Stevens Community Medical Center
• Cam Kaleda and Brady L. Kerkman, Windom Area Health
Workforce Winners
• Andreas Haffar, CentraCare
• Jennifer Lowe, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center
• Talent Acquisition/Recruitment Marketing Team, Essentia Health
Quality in Patient Care Delivery
Antibiotic Stewardship
• Allina Health
• Beth Hartshorn and Abigail Sirek, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital
Clinical/Quality Innovation
• Elaine Stevens, United Hospital, Allina Health
• Jodi Ulmen, Madelia Health
Clinical/Quality Innovation Program
• Allina Health
• Shay Bolton, Chandra Brower, and Shannon Krumvieda, CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital
Community Collaboration in Addressing Social Determinants of Health
• Sanford Stable Housing Program, Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
• Riverwood Healthcare Center
Coordination of Care
• Health Coaches, Astera Health
• Swing Bed Team, HealthPartners – Olivia Hospital & Clinic
Good Catch for Patient Safety
• Mariah Bartholomew, HealthPartners – Regions Hospital
• Jennifer Coauette, RiverView Health
High Reliability Organizations
• Rapid Process Improvement Work Team, Mercy Hospital, Allina Health
• Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
MHA Committee Legacy
• Dan Collins, Essentia Health
MHA Committee Stewardship Leadership
• Stacy Barstad, Sanford Tracy Medical Center
• Lori Johnson, Hennepin Healthcare
Patient and Family Engagement
• Cultural Navigator Team, Hennepin Healthcare
• Patient and Community Advisory Council, River’s Edge Hospital & Clinic
Quality and Safety Champions of the Year
• Janelle Rauchman, River’s Edge Hospital & Clinic
• Linda Reuber, M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital
Substance Use Treatment Innovators
• Natalie Winchell, Olmsted Medical Center
• Children’s Minnesota Substance Use Disorder Team
Workplace Violence Prevention
• Amy Grossman, Judy Kuhn, and Emelia Rogers, Gillette Children’s Specialty Hospital
• John Kannas and Tiffany Zemke, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital
Workforce
Community Health Worker of the Year
• Amanda Rodriguez, Winona Health
• Paul Sweere, Essentia Health St. Mary’s – Detroit Lakes Clinic
Dietary Departments of the Year
• Liz Eystad and Team, Stevens Community Medical Center
• Food & Nutrition Services Department, River’s Edge Hospital & Clinic
Environmental Services Departments of the Year
• EVS Team, Glacial Ridge Health System
• Terri McDannold, Aspirus Lake View Hospital
Health Care Workforce Champion
• Tanya Velishek, Fairview Health Services
• Nicole Wallentine, CentraCare – Rice Memorial Hospital
Hiring and Recruiting
• Jill Bothwell, Fairview Health Services
• Dan Schletty, Riverwood Healthcare Center
• Talent Acquisition Team, Essentia Health
Nursing Assistant Excellence
• Genet Abaye, United Hospital, Allina Health
• Monica Cid-Guadarrama, Stevens Community Medical Center
• Johanna Peterson, Windom Area Health
Nursing Excellence
• Angela Harmon, Riverwood Healthcare Center
• Nick Houkom, North Memorial Health Hospital
Nursing Innovations
• Joni Gutknecht, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center
• Michelle Hartnett, Cambridge Medical Center
Nurse Leader of the Year
• Adam Karlen, M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital
Organizational Culture, Infrastructure, and Commitment
• Ridgeview
Pharmacy Excellence
• Tamara Bezdicek, Fairview Health Services
• Elizabeth Rumpca, Winona Health
Pipelines and Partnerships
• Jill Bothwell, Fairview Health Services
• Courtney Wieser, Winona Health
• Workforce Strategy Team, Essentia Health
Retention and Resiliency
• Dr. Mary Beth Lardizabal and the Center for Provider Well-Being Team, Allina Health
• Human Resources Team, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital
For interviews and more information, contact Lou Ann Olson or Tim Nelson.