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Mark Stewart nominated for MNSOPHE Dose of Prevention Award. The award is for an individual who focuses on curbing substance misuse. Today at 12:00 PM News Reporting WORTHINGTON - Mark Stewart was recently nominated for Minnesota Society for Public Health Education's (MNSOPHE) Dose of Prevention Award for his work with Unspoken Truth and his commitment to promoting mental health and preventing substance misuse in the community. According to Luke Ewald, awards chair for MNSOPHE and public health educator at Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services (DVHHS), the Dose of Prevention Award is new this year. Keep Watching Worthington High School 2024 Veterans Day Program "Mark and Unspoken Truth, I know the work that he's been doing. I know the work that he continues to try to do," Ewald said. "I know the impact Mark has made." Nominations opened in early summer and closed in September. "It's always interesting reading all of the nominations and obviously I always feel everyone's deserving but at the end there's a group that votes on who is the winner," Ewald said. Stewart's nomination write up mentioned his prevention and education efforts by leading COMET and Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings, "helping equip community members and young people with skills to promote mental well-being and recognize when someone may need support." His work aims to increase awareness of local mental health resources and provide community members with the knowledge and tools they need to respond to substance-related emergencies and support those in need. "This means the world to me," Stewart said. "Harm reduction is part of our recovery journey and sharing what we know to prevent drug use, help curve the addiction and promote healthy lifestyles. We do this just by taking care of ourselves and loving and connecting with others that help us in return, they generally help themselves. MORE NOBLES COUNTY NEWS: "This has been such a group effort that it's hard to accept," Stewart continued. "The team, the support, the ones that put up with me when I'm on edge and pushing hard for programs, they all deserve this." Stewart then thanked Ewald, along with Taylor Schumacher and Kate Hill with Nobles County Community Services, Canvas Health, Windom Area Health, Southwest Initiative Foundation and many more. "Without them I would not have taken the next steps to achieve this goal. It's hard without that support," Stewart said. "I now have all these certificates because of them, to the point that the balance has shifted and there is no going back. The weight is now leaning forward and it is only achieving the next steps in my recovery and that's giving back through these programs." While Stewart was a finalist for the award, Laura Palombi, a research scientist at Essentia Institute of Rural Health in Duluth, won the Dose of Prevention Award. Other MNSOPHE award categories include the Dr. Judith Luebke Award, Wellness Warrior Award, Teamwork Titan Award and the Green Guardian Award. Several DVHHS staff members were nominated for awards. Roger Polhman won the Emergency Preparedness Powerhouse Award for helping address Lakefield's aging and malfunctioning emergency-warning sirens. He also supported improvements to communication for local first responders and participated in hazard-mitigation planning. Michelle Ebbers was nominated for the Dr. Judith Luebke Award. Her nomination write up included that she played a vital role in the emergency preparedness and response efforts of Jackson and Windom. She has driven public health policy change and collaboration at both the regional and state levels. Matt Haley was nominated for the Wellness Warrior Award. Although he has only been with DVHHS for a short time, he has already made a lasting impression through his dedication, compassion and commitment to serving others. His contributions to the Out of the Darkness Walk were highlighted. Casey Williams won the Teamwork Titan Award. He is also early in his career at DVHHS, but has already been making an impact. His nomination read that from helping develop strategic plans to successfully applying for and securing a housing grant in partnership with Rebuilding Together, he consistently steps forward to turn ideas into meaningful action. He is now working collaboratively with several counties to develop a community health worker application that explores innovative ways of partnering with state-sponsored agencies. Ewald, who has been with DVHHS for just over 12 years, was also a winner of the Green Guardian Award for demonstrating exceptional impact on environmental health initiatives. He has attended council meetings in Cottonwood and Jackson counties to assist with walking trails, ensuring streets are safe for individuals in wheelchairs to travel. According to his nomination, he works beyond his hours and has the health of all as his priority. Award winners and nominees will be recognized at MNSOPHE's annual summit Nov. 5 at Winona State University. Stewart and his team plan to attend. MORE BY CHLOE FARNSWORTH

Essentia honored for commitment to well-being of clinicians. Essentia Health has earned Bronze Level recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine organization. The prestigious recognition from the country's leading physician association honors health systems, hospitals and medical groups that prioritize proven methods to reduce burnout and enhance the professional fulfillment of clinicians that comes from patient care. Organizations that meet the rigorous criteria of the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program are leaders in the national effort to transform healthcare work systems and address the root causes of burnout among care teams. The Joy in Medicine designation recognizes health systems that have invested in the structures, leadership practices and continuous-improvement efforts needed to support clinicians in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. At Essentia Health, colleague well-being is an important part of fulfilling the organization's mission to make a healthy difference in people's lives. Essentia's Office of Well-Being opened in 2021 to help colleagues manage stress, build resilience and avoid burnout. Its initiatives include an employee support line; a peer-support network for providers; and CARE Champions, a volunteer network of colleagues who promote well-being. A range of additional resources are available to support staff throughout Essentia's service area. "For me, the value of this designation is not the plaque or the announcement," says Dr. Nancy Sudak, chief well-being officer at Essentia. "It is the validation that clinician well-being deserves the same level of attention as quality, safety, patient experience and financial performance. When organizations measure clinician experience, reduce unnecessary burden, invest in leadership development and strengthen support systems, they create better environments for both caregivers and patients." Although burnout rates are declining, clinicians in the United States continue to face a higher risk of burnout than other workers. Systemic drivers like administrative burden, staffing shortages and stigma around mental health continue to pose challenges to the day-to-day work environment of its clinicians. Continued efforts are essential to ensure providers receive the support they need to thrive and achieve national health goals. "Supporting physician well-being helps create better care for everyone," said AMA President Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH. "Studies show that when physicians are supported, patients benefit from safer care, higher quality and a better overall experience. Organizations recognized by the Joy in Medicine Program are leading the way by investing in workplaces that support physicians and help them deliver compassionate, high-quality care. The AMA is proud to honor these leaders for their commitment to physician well-being and healthier communities." Since its inception in 2019, the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 250 [N(1][JM2][N(3]organizations across the country. Recognition levels are valid for two years. This year, a total of 92 health organizations nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout and demonstrated competencies in commitment, assessment, leadership, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork and support. Organizations that earned 2026-2027 recognition join a strong group of currently recognized organizations from the 2025-2026 program, bringing the currently recognized cohort to 194 recognized organizations.