Public Health Impact Awards
Certificates of Recognition
Certificates recognize individuals or groups who have demonstrated a significant commitment to public health.
About this award
Eligibility and nominations
Past honorees
About certificates of recognition
Certificates of Recognition were created in 1985 as a way to recognize individuals as well as groups, including public health partners (such as emergency medical services, physicians, and others) for their contributions to public health.
Eligibility and nominations
Eligibility requirements include: Current SCHSAC member or alternate member, local community health services staff, Minnesota Department of Health staff, local advisory committee member, elected official, or volunteer.
Past honorees
| 2019 | Better Together Hennepin team and partners Countryside Public Health Community Leadership Team David C. Johnson, epidemiology manager, Hennepin County Public Health |
| 2018 | Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Healthy Communities Leadership Team Metro area environmental health partners: Super Bowl food defense and food safety operation Minneapolis Health Department and youth tobacco prevention community partners |
| 2017 | Marna Canturbury, Lakeview Health Foundation C.A.R.E. Clinic Volunteers Minneapolis Health Department Food, Pools, and Lodging Division |
| 2016 | Chris J. Johnson, Minnesota Department of Health Stearns County Health Protection and Promotion Unit Sara Chute, Minnesota Department of Health |
| 2015 | Patrick Hanlon & Mpls. Green Business Matching Grant Program Carol Meissner, Horizon Public Health Wright County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council |
| 2014 | Wendy Kvale, Minnesota Dept. of Health Smoke-Free Housing Collaborative, City of Minneapolis David Stroud, ret., Minnesota Dept. of Health |
| 2013 | FATHER Project Team, St. Joseph's Area Health Services Raise it for Health Coalition Kathy Bystrom, Fairview Lakes Health Services |
| 2012 | Gloria Tobias, Countryside Public Health Ann DeLa Vergne, formerly of Washington County Henry Street Consortium |
| 2011 | HealthyLiving Minneapolis - Community Resources for Everyone Susan Ross, Minnesota Dept. of Health |
| 2010 | Blue Earth H1N1 Vaccine Team, Blue Earth County Project Harmony, Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Counties Steven Simenson, Anoka County |
| 2009 | Rita Dovre, Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Pipestone Public Health Homegrown Minneapolis Terry Stoltzman, Anoka County |
| 2008 | Minneapolis/Hennepin County Childhood Lead Poisoning Workgroup |
| 2007 | Doris Cogelow, Kandiyohi County Public Health Bill Carlson, Isanti County Active Living Rich Peter, Olmsted County Public Health Services Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Pipestone Emergency Preparedness Advisory Team |
| 2006 | Aitkin County Public Health Department Carlton County Public Health Department Cook County Public Health Department Koochiching County Public Health Department Lake County Public Health Department Saint Louis County Public Health Department Litchfield Area Rural Partners in Prevention Jennifer Nelson, Rochester Downtown Farmers' Market Cheryl Sapp, Clay County Public Health Smoke Free Coalitions of Meeker and McLeod Counties |
| 2005 | Kathy Nowak, McLeod County Craig Malm, Anoka County Community Health Advisory Committee Gene Winstead, Mayor, City of Bloomington Bloomington City Council, City of Bloomington |
| 2004 | Gary Thostenson, Countryside Community Health Board Arthur van Vranken, Graceville Health Center Minnesota Family Investment Program Public Health Nurse Home Visiting Team, Ramsey County |
| 2003 | The Minor League, Polk County Charles Bransford, Stillwater Medical Group Jill Bruns, Renville County |
| 2002 | Margaret Langfeld, Anoka County Northern Minnesota Wastewater Technical Committee Kaye Stennes, North Country Safe Communities, Wright County |
| 2001 | Chemical Health Team, Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Counties Wendy Thompson, Kanabec-Pine Counties |
| 2000 | Mary Ho, Rice County Mary Tambornino, Hennepin County |
| 1998 | Northeastern Minnesota Public Health Cooperative Otter Tail Dental Health Clinic Project Team |
| 1997 | Viola Rau, Kandiyohi County Steve Louwagie, Countryside Public Health Sandy Macziewski, Countryside Public Health Gloria Tobias, Countryside Public Health |
| 1995 | Farming Healthy Coalition, Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Counties |
| 1994 | Robert Welch, Goodhue County Jane Dietzman, Goodhue County |
| 1993 | Howard Warnberg, Morrison County Marilyn Krueger, Saint Louis County Gayle Hallin, City of Bloomington |
| 1992 | Paul Gunderson, Minnesota Dept. of Health Vonna Henry, Benton-Sherburne Counties |
| 1991 | Rolleen Walgenbach, Leech Lake Carrie Lapham, Houston County Health Promotion Team, Nicollet County |
| 1990 | James Lehmann, Carver County South Central Regional Counseling & Testing Site Joint Powers Board |
| 1989 | Mary Ann Blade, Cass-Todd-Wadena-Morrison Counties |
| 1988 | Diane Thorson, Otter Tail County Lester Kachinski, Aitkin County |
| 1987 | Viola Rud, Quin County Natalie Haas Steffen, Anoka County |
| 1986 | Yvonne Hargens, City of Bloomington |
| 1985 | Linnea Mannausau, Koochiching County |
Last Updated: 03/06/2026