Two MMA Members Receive Rural Health Awards

November 10, 2022

As part of National Rural Health Day on November 17, the Minnesota Rural Health Association, the Duluth-based National Rural Health Resource Center and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) are presenting the 2022 Minnesota Rural Health Awards to the following honorees: 

  • Rozalina McCoy, MD, medical director, Community Paramedic Program, Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service, Rochester, will receive the 2022 Minnesota Rural Health Hero Award for her work establishing a Community Paramedicine Program that brought care out into the community and to residents in their homes, hotels, shelters and other living situations. 

  • Wesley O. Ofstedal, MD, medical director of Living Center, Essentia Health-Fosston, will receive the 2022 Minnesota Rural Health Lifetime Achievement Award for his devotion to his patients and his focus on geriatric care and preventive medicine. His work as a compassionate physician and mentor for multiple generations of local families benefited his entire community. 

  • Wilderness Health, Two Harbors, will receive the 2022 Minnesota Rural Health Team Award for improving patient experience, advancing patient and community health outcomes, lowering costs, and enhancing the care team while serving a large area with some of the most remote parts of the state. 

McCoy and Ofstedal are both MMA members.  

More information about award winners and their photos can be found at the 2022 Minnesota Rural Health Awards webpage. In addition to the Rural Health Day recognition, the recipients will be honored at the 2023 Minnesota Rural Health Conference in Duluth, June 12-13, 2023. 

Latest News

Physician/Olympian to Give Inspirational Address at Empowering Physicians Event

August 20, 2026

A physician and Olympian will give an inspirational address as part of this year's Empowering Physicians event on Friday, September 25, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Minnesota Vaccination Rates Trending in Wrong Direction

August 20, 2026

Minnesota received some disturbing news this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as data shows that for the 2025-2026 school year, vaccination rates decreased and non-medical exemptions increased.  

Appellate Court Sides with Texas Medical Association in No Suprises Act Lawsuit

August 20, 2026

On August 11, a federal appellate court sided with the Texas Medical Association (TMA) argument that the way the No Surprises Act’s qualifying payment amount (QPA) is calculated has historically favored payers in arbitration.