The North Dental Access Center in Bemidji was recently recognized as one of the National Rural Health Association’s 2022 Rural Health Award winners, winning this year’s Outstanding Rural Health Organization award.

The NRHA annually awards awards to individuals and organizations in rural health who have dedicated their time and talent to improving the health and well-being of others. The winners were honored May 10-13 at the NRHA’s 45th Annual Rural Health Conference held in Albuquerque, NM.

The Northern Dental Access Center is a non-profit, community-based clinic that provides dental care to low-income families in many rural northwest Minnesota counties.

“We are extremely proud of this year’s winners, particularly given the additional challenges that rural healthcare providers have faced since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said NRHA CEO Alan Morgan. “They have each made tremendous strides in advancing rural health care, and we are confident that they will continue to help improve the lives of rural Americans.”

Healthy Hillsboro in Hillsboro, IL and the Rural Medicine Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA were also recognized. They both received the Outstanding Rural Health Program Award.