Pamela Knudson, a features and arts/entertainment writer for the Grand Forks Herald, will be honored with the Outstanding Rural Health Career award at the 39th Annual Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health in Grand Forks this week. Knudson will be among 11 rural health and public health advocates and organizations to be recognized for their accomplishments at an awards banquet set for 11:50 a.m. Wednesday, June 5, at the Alerus Center.
Knudson has been working for the Herald since 2011 and has covered a wide variety of topics, including the latest performances in the region and health topics. Other award recipients from this area are: Public Health Team of the Year – Blue Zones Project, Grand Forks; R-COOL-Health Scrubs Camp of the Year – First Care Health Center, Park River; and Flex Quality Reporting Award – Sanford Hillsboro Medical Center, Hillsboro. Other award recipients are: Outstanding Rural Health Provider – Steven Barlow, family nurse practitioner, Dakota Regional Medical Center, Cooperstown; Outstanding Rural Health Volunteer – Jean Limvere, Hospice of the Red River Valley, Fargo; Outstanding Rural Health Program – Rough Rider High Value Network; Emerging Rural Leader – Alyson Kornele, CEO, West River Health Services, Hettinger; Legislator of the Year – State Representative Gretchen Dobervich, Fargo; Public Health Worker of the Year – Susan Kahler, substance abuse prevention coordinator, Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, Bismarck; and Public Health Outstanding Service Award – Dr. Steven McDonough