Raymond Christensen, M.D., Named Minnesota Rural Health Hero

June 19, 2007, Duluth, MN   

Raymond G. Christensen, M.D., was named Minnesota’s Rural Health Hero today by Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dianne Mandernach.  Mandernach presented the award to Christensen at the Minnesota Rural Health Conference, Growing Rural Healthy Communities, at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. 

Christensen is the Assistant Dean for Rural Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School--Duluth campus, where he has developed programs that enhance the school’s mission: encouraging students to become family and primary care physicians in rural and Native American communities.  He was the driving force behind the Minnesota Summer Internship in Medicine Program. His honor includes a long list of other contributions to enhancing rural health. 

“Dr. Christensen’s contributions to this medical campus and to the rural health initiatives of Minnesota are broad and deep,” commented Gary Davis, Ph.D., interim senior associate dean of the medical school campus in Duluth.  “This award is more than well-deserved.”   Davis had received the Rural Health Hero award last year for his role developing telemedicine for rural health clinics. 

“From his patients, to his students, to the policy he has affected, Minnesota’s rural health and health care system would not be what it is today without Dr. Christensen,” said Minnesota Area Health Education Center program manager Angela Bowlus who nominated Christensen.

Christensen was chosen as Minnesota Rural Health Hero for advocating on behalf of today’s health care consumers and educating tomorrow’s rural health providers. He is a board-certified family physician and co-founder of the Gateway Family Health Clinic in Moose Lake, Minn., where he continues to practice. Dr. Christensen helped develop the trauma system in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, the Arrowhead EMS Association, the Northern Lakes Health Care Consortium, the Minnesota Center for Rural Health, the Minnesota Office of Rural Health and Primary Care and the Rural Health Resource Center. He has advocated for rural health through the Minnesota Health Care Commission, Area Health Education Center and regional coordinating boards. He served as president of the Minnesota Rural Health Association and is currently the Clinical Services Chair for the National Rural Health Association.

“You don’t receive an honor like this without the assistance of many deserving people working by your side,” commented Christensen.  “I interfaced with a lot of great people; the stars were right; we took some risks and effected some important change.”   Looking toward the future, Christensen said that his job isn’t done. “I have always felt my calling was to provide health care access in rural America personally, to work on policy that improved access and to do what I could to help select and excite young people about living and serving rural America.”

Pictured from left to right:  Dr. Gary Davis, Interim Senior Associate Dean and Lori Isaacson, Executive Administrative Specialist, celebrate with Dr. Ray Christensen.  Photo by Dan Schlies.

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