Minnesota Hospital Association Honors OMC for Excellence in Patient and Digital Engagement

We’re honored to be recognized by the Minnesota Hospital Association at the 2026 Spring Innovation Forum for excellence in Social Media & Digital Engagement and Patient & Family Engagement. 

Congratulations to our teams behind Olmsted Medical Center’s patient engagement efforts and the Pelvis Party Podcast for helping connect, educate, and engage our communities in meaningful ways.

This recognition reflects the creativity, collaboration, and dedication our teams bring every day to better serve patients, and we’re proud to stand alongside health care organizations across Minnesota working to advance quality, innovation, and communication.

View the full press release below:

Minnesota Hospital Association Honors Health Care Organizations for Advancing Quality and Safety, Workforce Innovation, and Impactful Communications

The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) recognized 60 hospital and health system teams and individuals from across the state this week for their work to strengthen patient care, communicate with patients and their communities, and support Minnesota’s health care workforce. The awards were presented during MHA’s 2026 Spring Innovation Forum. 

“Across Minnesota, hospitals and health systems are finding innovative ways to improve care, strengthen the workforce, and better serve their communities,” said MHA President and CEO Dr. Rahul Koranne. “At a time when hospitals and health systems are navigating significant uncertainty, these awards highlight the dedication, creativity, and collaboration happening every day in health care organizations across our state.” 

Award recipients were recognized by MHA in three categories: Quality and Safety, Workforce, and Communications.  

Quality and Safety 

Adverse Event Reduction 

• Adult ICUs, M Health Fairview – University of Minnesota Medical Center 

Clinical/Quality Excellence 

• Brianna Green, Allina Health Cambridge Medical Center 

Clinical/Quality Innovation 

• Cuyuna Regional Medical Center 

• RISE Unit, HealthPartners – Regions Hospital  

Coordination of Care 

• St. Francis and Scott County Integrated Health Center, St. Francis Regional Medical Center 

• OrthoEdge Program, River’s Edge Hospital & Clinic 

• Conexiones Collaboration, Stevens Community Medical Center 

Emerging Leader 

• Devyn Hudoba-LaRoque, North Memorial Health 

Enduring Legacy 

• Rick Ash, United Hospital District 

Excellence in Addressing Social Influencers of Health 

• Community Connect Program Resource Navigators, Children’s Minnesota 

• The Nest, Lakewood Health System 

Excellence in Emergency Services 

• Emergency Department, Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital 

• Emergency Department, Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center 

Excellence in Quality and Safety 

• Kimberly Piersak, CentraCare 

• Jessica Slaughter, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital 

Good Catch for Patient Safety 

• Alisha Matusiak and Dan Gunderson, HealthPartners – Lakeview Hospital 

• Ashley Remer, Riverwood Health Center 

High Reliability Organization 

• Allina Health 

MHA Committee Legacy 

• Mike Phelps, Ridgeview Medical Center 

MHA Committee Stewardship 

• Joe Clubb, Allina Health 

Patient and Family Engagement 

• Olmsted Medical Center 

• Native American Patient Family Advisory Council, Sanford Bemidji Medical Center 

Substance Use Treatment Innovator 

• Julie Ingram, North Memorial Health 

• Naloxone Distribution Program, Sanford Bemidji and Sanford Bagley Medical Centers 

Workplace Violence Prevention 

• Jason Thompson, CentraCare 

• MOAB Trainers, River’s Edge Hospital 

Workforce 

Commitment to Organizational Culture 

• Aspirus Lake View 

• Facilities Team, Winona Health 

Dietary Department Excellence 

• Diana Buffington, Sanford Luverne Medical Center 

Excellence in Community Health 

• Community HUB Navigators, Winona Health 

• Food Resource Navigators, Fairview 

Excellence in Environmental Services 

• North Memorial Health 

Excellence in Nurse Leadership 

• Caroline Njau, Children’s Minnesota 

• Colin Yahnke, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital 

Health Care Workforce Champion 

• Avera Health Tyler and Granite Falls 

Hiring and Recruiting 

• Katie Peltier, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center 

• Talent Acquisition Team, Fairview 

Nursing Assistant Excellence 

• Indera Persaud, Fairview Ridges Hospital 

Nursing Excellence 

• Katherine Rousslang, Astera Health 

• Stephanie Janson, CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital 

Nursing Innovations 

• Theresa Reichert, CentraCare 

• Cuyuna Regional Medical Center 

Pharmacy Excellence 

• Taylor Lee, Appleton Area Health 

• Shawna Sprengeler, Sanford Tracy Medical Center 

Pipelines and Partnerships 

• Aspirus Lake View 

• Medical Transportation EMT Trainee Program, HealthPartners – Regions Hospital 

• Stevens Community Medical Center 

Retention and Resiliency 

• Office of Well-Being, Essentia Health 

• Michele Silence, North Shore Health 

Communications 

Communicator Excellence 

• Dana Cantleberry, Lakewood Health System 

• Madelin Faust, Winona Health 

• Kate Olson, North Memorial Health 

Delivering the Message 

• Lisa Bjerga, Lakewood Health System 

• Rachelle Schultz, Winona Health 

Editorial Excellence 

• Communications Team, Essentia Health 

• Communications Team, United Hospital District 

Positive for Patients 

• “Care Chronicles” collaboration with Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, Fairview 

Shining Stories 

• “Freddie’s Superpower Legacy”, Children’s Minnesota 

Social Media and Digital Engagement 

• Social Media Team, Children’s Minnesota 

• Pelvis Party Podcast, Olmsted Medical Center