Rural Health Ambassador Award

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Rural Health Ambassador Award

Purpose:

The Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) has established the Rural Health Ambassador Award to recognize employees at member hospitals or collaborative partners who have gone above the call of duty in promoting their respective organizations, and made significant contributions to rural health care in general. The award criteria do not necessarily emphasize job performance or years of service – although these may be used as secondary factors in your internal selection process. Any organization that is a current member of RWHC is encouraged to select one employee to receive this annual award. The ideal candidate should demonstrate a history of fostering positive communication and relations within the hospital's respective service area - and beyond.

Criteria:

  1. Nominee must be a current employee or collaborative partner of a hospital that is an active member of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative.
  2. Primarily, nominee must be involved in one or more activities that enhance either the image of the hospital or the relationship between the hospital and the surrounding service area. Examples include:
    • Serving as the hospital representative on community boards/service organizations
    • Taking advantage of volunteer or public speaking opportunities through the hospital
    • Participating in hospital events (health fairs, outreach activities, parades, etc.)
    • Supporting community health activities beyond the scope of the hospital
  3. Secondarily, nominee supports and strengthens rural health care within their community, including participation in RWHC task forces and committees.
  4. Nominee routinely demonstrates a positive attitude and demeanor during interactions with patients, visitors, co-workers and other customers
  5. Nominees may not be an active hospital volunteer/auxiliary member (there are other awards that recognize those who serve in this capacity). An employee may not be re-nominated for the award within three years of receiving the award.

    2022 Rural Health Ambassador Award Winners

    Bellin Health
    		Charles Heyka, MD
    Black River Memorial Hospital
    		Dena Graff
    Black River Memorial Hospital
    		Chris Plaisance
    Cumberland Healthcare
    		Nicole Huber
    Door County Medical
    		Peggy Westin
    Edgerton Hospital
    		Christine Wonder
    Grant Regional Health Center
    		Tami Chambers, MSN, MHA, RN
    Gundersen Tri-County Hospital & Clinics
    		Mark Zellmer, PAC
    Mile Bluff Medical Center
    		James Logan, MD
    Prairie Ridge Health
    		Karen Sell
    Southwest Health
    		Julie Stephenson
    SSM Health Monroe Hospital
    		Amy Hollis
    SSM Health St. Clare Hospital
    		David Kitkowski
    The Richland Hospital, Inc. DeAnna Caspers
    Upland Hills Health
    		Maria Leary
    Vernon Memorial Healthcare
    		Dr. Deborah Prior
    Western Wisconsin Health
    		Dr. Dennis Hartung
    Previous Rural Health Ambassador Award Recipients

    The 2021 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Dr. Michael Brenner – Bellin Health Oconto Hospital and Clinics
    • Julia Smith – Black River Memorial Hospital
    • Andrew Revak – Cumberland Healthcare
    • Nancy Daoust – Door County Medical Centerter
    • Alison Hanaman – Edgerton Hospital
    • Steve Braun – Grant Regional Health Center
    • Dr. Martin Cleary – Memorial Hospital of Lafayette Cty
    • Dr. Amy Schneider – Memorial Medical Center - Neillsville
    • Anne Fenwick – Mile Bluff Medical Center
    • Tammie Jamiska – Monroe Clinic
    • Rachel Selm – Prairie Ridge Health
    • Kim Reuter – Southwest Health
    • Lyle Kratochwill – The Richland Hospital, Inc.
    • James Newlun – Tomah Health
    • Lynn Hebgen – Upland Hills Health
    • Kimberley Larson – Vernon Memorial Healthcare
    • Shannon Fayerweather – Western Wisconsin Health

    The 2020 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Dan Henderson – Black River Memorial Hospital
    • Anita Tomczik, EMT – Cumberland Healthcare
    • Dr. James Heise MD – Door County Medical Center
    • Angie Cohen – Grant Regional Health Center
    • Dr. Katie Winiarczyk, MD – Marshfield Medical Center - Ladysmith
    • Sherise Vaassen – Mile Bluff Medical Center
    • Dr. Robert Smith, MD – Richland Hospital
    • Kerri Sue Stange, MPT – Southwest Health
    • Nicole Faust – SSM Health St. Clare Hospital
    • Scott Blackledge – Stoughton Health
    • Dr. Gordon Grieshaber, MD – Upland Hills Health
    • BreAnn Cook – Western Wisconsin Health

    The 2019 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Dr. Aaron Carpiaux – Baraboo
    • Karen Gilbertson – Richland Center
    • Weight Wisdom Group – Baldwin
    • Sandy Vandertie – Sturgeon Bay
    • Morgan Leix – Platteville
    • Heather Kleinbrook – Stoughton
    • Ruth Chipps – Black River Falls
    • Kim Hetland – Rhinelander
    • Laura Isaacson – Dodgeville
    • Kristine Schlimgen – Edgerton
    • Rhonda Larson – Mauston
    • Rebecca Ekenstedt – Cumberland
    • Melissa Osterhoff – Columbus
    • Ben Crenshaw – Sparta
    • Kari Due – Portage
    • Rochelle Williams – Lancaster
    • Amy Evenstad – Viroqua
    • Dr. Maria G. Cruz- Apolinario – Neillsville

    The 2018 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Natasha Ward - Baldwin
    • Deedee Heath - Baraboo
    • Kim Schlifer – Black River Falls
    • Carol Black - Columbus
    • Mary Beth Waldo, NP - Cumberland
    • Wendy Marr-Smith - Dodgeville
    • Jenny Ludwig – Edgerton
    • Bridget Monahan – Fort Atkinson
    • Courtney Meyer – Ladysmith
    • David Hoffmann, MD - Mauston
    • Ken Marg - Neillsville
    • Candy Marg – Neillsville
    • Brian Allen - Platteville
    • Jodi Clarson – Richland Center
    • Terry Brenny - Stoughton
    • Karen Myers - Stoughton
    • Michael Saunders, MD – Tomah

    The 2017 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Carrie Doro - Baraboo
    • Dawn Jacobson - Black River Falls
    • Luanne Gould - Columbus
    • Kaitlyn Jensen - Cumberland
    • Vicki Scheel - Dodgeville
    • Kathy Dobson - Edgerton
    • Connie Prell - Mauston
    • Mary Austin - Monroe
    • Tammie Richter – Platteville
    • Ted Shinners, MD - Rhinelander
    • Angela Metz - Richland Center
    • Shaunda Klongland - Stoughton
    • Adam Gingery - Sturgeon Bay
    • Carrie Lord - Tomah
    • Kris Benusa - Whitehall

    The 2016 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Melanie Mielke - Baraboo
    • Mary Beth White-Jacobs - Black River Falls
    • Jeannie Pittenger - Chippewa Falls
    • Janet Stafford - Columbus
    • Merilee LaPoint - Cumberland
    • Rebecca Tank - Dodgeville
    • Natty Krantz - Mauston
    • Ron Spielman - Monroe
    • Susan Klemm - Rhinelander
    • Cindy Hanold - Richland Center
    • Heidi Antonneau - Sparta
    • Autumn Kumlien - Stoughton
    • Tanya Fischer - Sturgeon Bay
    • Whitney Sanjari - Tomah

    The 2015 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Amy Yaeger - Black River Falls
    • Cathy Butterbrodt - Columbus
    • Karen Meade - Cumberland
    • John Mason - Dodgeville
    • Dr. Timothy Hinton - Mauston
    • Angie Hupf - Medford
    • Lori Rodefeld - Monroe
    • Sarah Trunkel - Neillsville
    • Terri Slapak-Fugate - Platteville
    • Jodie Molitor - Reedsburg
    • Dr. Jerel T. Berres - Richland Center
    • Nancy Moskal - Stoughton
    • Sandy Sievert - Sturgeon Bay
    • Kelly Thayer - Tomah

    The 2014 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Mary Sime – Stoughton 
    • Dr. Joanna Laukant – Reedsburg
    • Karl Pustina – Dodgeville
    • Julie Kepler – Richland Center 
    • Brenda Totzke – Mauston 
    • Jerry Fushianes – Tomah 
    • April Holler – Baraboo 
    • Jane Nickell, RN, BAN – Cumberland
    • Kelly Krause – Berlin
    • Kevin Grohskopf – Sturgeon Bay 
    • Nicole Schweitzer – Black River Falls 
    • Lisa Rebman – Edgerton
    • Mary Myskewitz – Whitehall 
    • Rae Priske – Columbus
    • Marie Wamsley – Platteville

    The 2013 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Barb Bair, RN, BSN – Baraboo
    • Nora Munson – Boscobel 
    • Diane Weiner – Columbus 
    • Kristin Olson, RN, BSN – Cumberland 
    • Phyllis A. Fritsch – Dodgeville
    • Nancy Burdick-Seelendbinder, RN – Friendship
    • Rev. Jeffrey D. Fairchild – Mauston
    • Dennis Schommer – Reedsburg
    • Debra O'Connell – Richland Center
    • Carmen Schroeder, RD – Sturgeon Bay 
    • Evie Chapman, RN – Tomah 
    • Gary Tricker – Viroqua

    The 2012 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Mary Ann Zjala - Dental Coordinator of the MDCMC Dental Clinic – Sturgeon Bay 
    • Tina Strandlie, RN, BSN - Nursing Coordinator, Emergency Department – Stoughton
    • Darla Karasek, RN, BSN - Informatics Nurse – Boscobel
    • Kathryn Sutton Anderson, PT - Physical Therapist  – Viroqua
    • Kevin Beaver, PT - Physical Therapist  – Friendship
    • Beverly Niebuhr, RN, BSN - Medical/Surgical Director – Tomah
    • Kaaron R. Keene, RN, MSN - VP of Patient Care Services – Medford
    • Peter Vrabec, RPH - Director of Pharmacy Services – Baraboo
    • Darcy Gaston, MS, LAT - Athletic Training Supervisor – Mauston
    • Jaime Austin, RD - Dietician -- Team Facilitator – Dodgeville
    • Ty Mulholland, RD - Richland Center
    • Renee Davis, RD - Diabetes Services Coordinator – Columbus

    The 2011 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Danny R. Sessler, MD – Baraboo 
    • Stephanie Wanek, RN, BSN, MHA – Boscobel
    • Mary Crowley, RN – Mauston
    • Lora Wagner – Neillsville 
    • Linda Stadler, RN MSN – Richland Center
    • Lois Oswald, RN – Sauk - Prairie
    • Kathy Dreyer, RN – Stoughton 
    • Tim Kortbein, PT – Tomah 
    • Bonnie Anderson, CES, RCEP – Viroqua
    • Deb Whitelaw-Gorski – Sturgeon Bay 
    • Brad Vamstad, LAT – Dodgeville

    The 2010 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Baraboo – Kristen M. Wells, MD
    • Boscobel – Gretchen Graham, RN
    • Columbus – Chris DeLapp
    • Mauston – Martha Airth-Kindree
    • Mauston – Ann Raabe, MS, CCC-A
    • Neillsville – Karen King, RN
    • Richland – Carolyn Anderson RN, BSN
    • Stoughton – Julie Stenbroten, RN
    • Tomah – Shelly Egstad, RN BSN
    • Viroqua – Garith Steiner
    • Whitehall – Doug Severson

    The 2009 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Antigo – Sister Dolores Demulling
    • Baraboo – Dr. Daniel Trotter
    • Black River Falls – Sue Nordahl
    • Columbus – Sandy Waugh
    • Friendship – Maureen Bruce
    • Dodgeville – Steven McCarthy
    • Hillsboro – Bill Bruce
    • Mauston – Sharon Rosine
    • Neillsville – Harriet Weaver
    • Platteville – Sandra Andrews
    • Prairie du Chien – Debbie Morovits
    • Reedsburg – Tammy Koenecke
    • Richland Center –Dick Lee
    • Ripon – Jean Surguy
    • Stoughton – Dorothy Peterson
    • Tomah – LaVonne Smith
    • Viroqua – Angie Dahl
    • Whitehall – Rita Hove

    The 2008 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Boscobel – Theresa Braudt, RN
    • Columbus – Sue Peeler
    • Dodgeville – Dr. John Lehman
    • Hillsboro – Dr. Scott Larson
    • Mauston – Kathy Marose
    • Reedsburg – Bev Hoege
    • Richland Center – Jane Greiling, RN
    • Sturgeon Bay – Brian Stephens
    • Tomah – Darla Wilson
    • Viroqua – Jon Myhre

    The 2007 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Baraboo – T. Rex Flygt, M.D.
    • Columbus – Kristina Lavis
    • Dodgeville – Jill Roethe
    • Hillsboro – Mark Sullivan 
    • Mauston – Dolly Fleming
    • Medford – John Strama
    • Neillsville – Candy Marg & Ken Marg
    • Prairie du Sac – Melanie Breunig
    • Richland Center – Marsha Jones 
    • Stoughton – Amy Hermes
    • Tomah – Mary Rezin 
    • Viroqua – Dan Nelson
    • Whitehall – Reuben Adams, M.D.

    The 2006 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • Baraboo - Keri Olson
    • Columbus - Greg Tiedt
    • Dodgeville - Claire Holland
    • Hillsboro - Cory Frederick
    • Medford - Ron Bohn
    • Monroe - Kris Wisnefske
    • Prairie du Chien - Diane Koth
    • Prairie du Sac - Pam Schreiner, R.N.
    • Richland Center - Mary Gillingham
    • Ripon - Delena Chappell-James
    • Stoughton - Joyce Williams
    • Tomah - Jan Path
    • Viroqua - Julie Steiner
    • Whitehall - Asher Niazi, M.D   

    The 2005 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • St. Clare Hospital & Health Services, Baraboo, James Damos, MD
    • Columbus Community Hospital, Columbus, Carol Smith
    • Upland Hills Health, Dodgeville, Wendell Hamlin
    • St. Joseph’s Community Health Services, Hillsboro, Alice Sebranek
    • Memorial Health Center, Medford, Clem Johnson
    • Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital, Prairie du Sac, Marilyn Sprecher
    • Reedsburg Area Medical Center, Stan Sukup
    • The Richland Hospital, Richland Center, Sherry Cooper
    • Stoughton Hospital , Stoughton, Polly Schnese
    • Tomah Memorial Hospital, Tomah, Toby Freier
    • Vernon Memorial Healthcare, Viroqua, Jane Gaskell
    • Tri-County Memorial Hospital, Whitehall, Shirley Melby

    The 2004 RWHC Rural Health Ambassadors:

    • St. Clare Hospital & Health Services, Baraboo, Lois Luethy
    • Columbus Community Hospital, Darlene Marks
    • Upland Hills Health, Dodgeville, Linda Griffiths
    • St. Joseph’s Community Health Services, Hillsboro, Terry Sosinsky
    • Memorial Health Center, Medford, Nancy Di Legge
    • The Monroe Clinic, Onalee Marx
    • Memorial Medical Center, Neillsville, Timothy Meyer
    • Southwest Health Center, Platteville, Joan Bahr
    • Divine Savior Healthcare, Portage, Lynn Martin
    • Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital, Prairie du Sac, Dave Eberdt
    • Reedsburg Area Medical Center, Pat Roloff
    • The Richland Hospital, Richland Center, Chris Drea
    • Ripon Medical Center, Colleen Dolata
    • Stoughton Hospital, Mary Quisenberry
    • Door County Memorial Hospital, Sturgeon Bay, Katie Graf
    • Tomah Memorial Hospital, Tracy Myhre
    • Vernon Memorial Healthcare, Viroqua, Donna Nelson
    • Tri-County Memorial Hospital, Whitehall, Kathy Kulig