Rochester doctor to receive 2022 Minnesota Rural Health Hero Award

(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester doctor is being honored with the 2022 Minnesota Rural Health Hero Award.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and partners, the Minnesota Rural Health Association and the Duluth-based National Rural Health Resource Center, are recognizing dedicated health care professionals who have made significant contributions to the health and well-being of their rural communities as part of National Rural Health Day on November 17.

Rozalina McCoy, M.D., a trained endocrinologist and primary care physician, is one of three honorees that will be presented awards for their duty in serving Greater Minnesota.

Dr. McCoy delivers primary and diabetes care to communities in Southeast Minnesota. McCoy established a Community Paramedicine (CP) program with Mayo Clinic Ambulance and expanded the program’s service to bring health care to individuals in non-traditional settings. 

Today, the Mayo Clinic Ambulance Community Paramedic Service brings medical care to residents in their homes, hotels, congregate living facilities, and homeless shelters. The program helps improve chronic disease management and reduces emergency department visits and hospitalizations by providing health equity to local residents not able to access mainstream healthcare. 

The other two honorees are:

• Wilderness Health, Two Harbors, receives 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.
• Wesley O. Ofstedal, M.D., medical director of Living Center, Essentia Health-Fosston, receives 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.

The three honorees will be honored at the 2023 Minnesota Rural Health Conference in Duluth, June 12-13, 2023.