Novy honored with Rural Health Ambassador Award
The Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) recently honored Cameron Novy, community wellness coordinator at Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital and Clinics, with its 2024 Rural Health Ambassador Award. The award recognizes health care employees at RWHC hospitals who have gone above and beyond in promoting their respective organizations, while making significant contributions to rural health. Each recipient demonstrates a history of fostering positive communication and relationships within the hospital's respective service area by serving on community boards/service organizations, taking advantage of volunteer or public speaking opportunities, and supporting community health activities beyond the scope of the hospital.
Since joining Gundersen Boscobel in 2020, Novy has been instrumental in bringing renewed focus and energy to improving rural health through awareness efforts, education and numerous community collaborations. The primary focus of her role – and her passion – is finding innovative ways to bridge the gap between traditional healthcare and the greater needs within the communities we serve – igniting others to do more and reach further.
Novy was nominated for her unmistakable desire to do more. She has pursued partnerships with area middle/high schools to offer vaping education, launched Safe Sitter classes, introduced wellness workshops (Dining with Diabetes, Cruising the Aisles, Back to the Table, etc.) and continues to advocate for programing and partnerships that improve rural health.
Additionally, Novy was instrumental in bringing the HungerCare Program through Second Harvest Food Bank to patients of Gundersen Boscobel. The nutritionally tailored food box program provides enrollees experiencing food insecurity and living with diabetes or chronic heart disease with 30 pounds of fresh and non-perishable food items monthly, along with wellness education. She serves as Gundersen Boscobel’s primary contact and local program coordinator and receives and distributes boxes to nearly 40 people each month.
Building upon the program, Novy and former FoodWIse Nutrition Educator Kathy Lange teamed up to offer free monthly nutrition/cooking classes at Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital, affectionally known as Cooking with Kathy. Each session offered enrollees a sneak peek of their box contents, nutrition education, an interactive cooking demonstration and taste-testing. These monthly pick-ups have proven to mean far more to our HungerCare enrollees, as many look forward to seeing Novy's bright smile, sharing feedback about a recipe they’ve tried or simply giving their day a boost.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the Rural Health Ambassador Award. I am so proud of the great work we do here at Gundersen Boscobel, and I feel so lucky to be a part of such a remarkable team. It’s pretty amazing to be recognized for doing what you love,” Novy said.
“From leading health improvement initiatives, bringing content to life with her impressive design and social media skills, creating educational materials that are easy to understand, and collaborating with area organizations and civic groups, Cameron’s commitment to rural healthcare and passion is infectious,” said Natalie Tollefson, director of business operations. “Cameron has a true gift for bringing people together and her inclusive approach allows people to feel comfortable and safe being their authentic selves.”
Incorporated in 1979, the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative receives national recognition as one of the country's earliest and most successful models for networking among rural hospitals. RWHC serves as a catalyst for regional collaboration and as an aggressive, creative force on behalf of rural communities and rural health. Owned and operated by 45 acute, medical-surgical hospitals, RWHC offers its members a wide range of shared services that meet local community health needs, including staffing, consulting, management, networking and education. Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital and Clinics is an active member of RWHC; their employees support the shared mission of “strengthening and sustaining rural health.”