Nursing graduate student receives national public health award Nursing student Debbie Swanson was recently recognized by the American Public Health Association (APHA) for her contributions to improving health. Swanson, a student in the Advanced Public Health Nursing master’s specialization, was honored with the 2009 Committee on Affiliates (CoA) Award for Excellence at the annual meeting in Philadelphia, PA. The award is given to a member whose service is exceptionally meritorious. Swanson, also a graduate of the College of Nursing bachelor’s program, is currently the nursing and nutrition supervisor at the Grand Forks Public Health Department. As a dedicated advocate for public health, Swanson has spearheaded numerous efforts to advance public health policy in nursing for issues such as tobacco control, immunization, oral health, and obesity. Tracy Evanson, director of the Advanced Public Health Nursing graduate specialization states, “It was my great pleasure to be present to see Debbie receive this award. Debbie has long been one of our top leaders in public health and public health nursing at the local, state, regional levels, and in recent years she has increasingly been recognized for her influence at the national level, through her work in the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Leader Fellowship and her representation on the governing council of APHA. This national award provides formal recognition of her contributions and she is a very deserving recipient.” “Debbie is a wonderful asset to nursing and healthcare in Grand Forks, the state and region,” states Julie Anderson, dean of the College of Nursing. “It is through her steadfast leadership that many health initiatives have been developed. Her latest work with the new Northern Valley Dental Health Clinic adds to the cadre of programs that Debbie has played a key role in over the years.” -- Becky Cournia, alumni and development officer, College of Nursing, beckycournia@mail.und.edu, 777-4526