Community Health Awards

The annual Community Health Awards recognize and acknowledge individuals or groups who make significant contributions to public health in Minnesota. Recognition of these accomplishments by elected officials and local and state public health staff is a long standing and honorable tradition of the annual Community Health Conference.

Recipients of the awards are nominated by their peers. Nominations are received for review and selection by the Nominating and Awards Workgroup of the State Community Health Services Advisory Committee (SCHSAC). Awards are presented by the Commissioner of Health at the conference during an awards ceremony.

2013 Award Nominations

2012 Community Health Award Recipients
2012 Community Health Award recipients, above, left to right:
Larry Kittelson; Gloria Tobias; Joyce Bredesen, Kathy Landwehr,
Bonnie Brueshoff, and Linda Olson Keller (representing the Henry
Street Consortium); Wilhelmina Holder; Commissioner Ehlinger;
Sue Zuidema; Ann Kinney; Kim Edelman; Bonnie Engen
Not pictured: Ann DeLaVergne


2012 Community Health Award Winners

2012 Jim Parker Leadership Award

For persons or groups who have demonstrated significant statewide leadership in public health

  • Bonnie Engen, director of the Clearwater County Nursing Service and current administrator of the North Country Community Health Board

2012 Jack Korlath Partnership Award

For individuals whose work has strengthened the state-local partnership

  • Kim Edelman and Ann Kinney, both of the Minnesota Department of Health's Minnesota Center for Health Statistics

2012 Commissioner's Award for Distinguished Service in Community Health Services

For individuals or groups who have contributed to advancement in the field of public health

  • Sue Zuidema, formerly of Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department (HSPHD)

New2012 Lou Fuller Award for Distinguished Service in Eliminating Health Disparities

For individuals or groups who have made a significant contribution to the elimination of health disparities in Minnesota

  • Wilhelmina Holder, executive director of the Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment (WISE)

2012 Award for Outstanding Dedication to Local Public Health

For individuals who have made a significant contribution to the promotion and implementation of local public health in Minnesota

  • Pope County Commissioner Larry Kittelson

Certificates of Recognition

For individuals or groups who have demonstrated a significant commitment to public health

  • Gloria Tobias of Countryside Public Health
  • Ann DeLa Vergne, formerly of Washington County Public Health and Environment
  • Henry Street Consortium, a collaboration of schools of nursing, local health departments, and the Minnesota Department of Health