Champion Spotlight
American Heart Association (AHA) Target Blood Pressure awardees
MDH’s mission is to protect, maintain, and improve the health of all Minnesotans. Every year, the American Heart Association (AHA) recognizes organizations that have achieved a high level of hypertension control for their patients. In 2025, many clinics across Minnesota who partner with MDH were recognized for their efforts. We want to acknowledge and thank these clinics and AHA for their efforts in improving hypertension control and management for Minnesotans.
On behalf of the MDH Center for Health Promotion, we congratulate cardiovascular health grant-funded partners on this award and honor your achievements!
- Axis Medical Center and Family Clinics
- Lake Superior Community Health Center
- Native American Community Clinic
- Neighborhood HealthSource
- Open Cities Health Center
- Open Door Health Center
- People’s Center Clinics & Services
- Riverland Community Health
- Southside Community Health Center
2025 Stroke Quality Improvement Award recipients
Successful and effective stroke systems of care require a commitment to continuous quality improvement across the stroke continuum of care. These efforts drive improvement in prevention, education, assessment, emergency transport, hospital care and treatment, rehabilitation, follow-up outpatient care, and long-term care. In 2025, 11 hospitals across Minnesota were awarded for their successful stroke focused quality improvement projects in the following categories:
The Continuous Impact Award went to Winona Health and Essentia Health- Virginia for starting initiatives that created a meaningful and long-term improvement in quality of stroke care.
The Operational Excellence Award went to Sanford Wheaton Medical Center, Essentia Health St. Mary's-Detroit Lakes, and M Health Fairview Ridges for initiatives that focused on collaboration between different programs to improve quality of stroke care.
The Outstanding Achievement Award went to Mayo Clinic – Mankato and Rochester, Hennepin Health, and CentraCare Monticello for starting initiatives that created a meaningful and long-term improvement in quality of stroke care.
The Community Champion Award went to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital, and Essentia Health for initiatives that focused on filling a community need related to quality stroke care.
Resources
Newly translated heart and brain health materials
MDH is proud to announce additions to our Heart and Brain Health Tips for Change educational materials, with new translations into Oromo and Amharic through a partnership with the International Oromo Health Professionals Association, based here in Minnesota. These materials cover topics including:
- Physical activity, healthy eating, and cholesterol
- Controlling high blood pressure
- Quitting tobacco and reducing alcohol use
- Signs and symptoms of stroke and heart attack
These Heart Health Materials are now available in six languages: English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Oromo, and Amharic. We also have short videos in Spanish and Hmong. Please use these and share with your partners.
Educational opportunities
CHW Learning Circle
MDH Cardiovascular Health team joins the CHW Learning Circle to present statewide data and information about cardiovascular health, share tips and strategies to improve heart health, and discuss the CHW role in preventing, mitigating, and managing heart health conditions. Please join on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 3-4:30 p.m. for a free, live webinar with the CHW Learning Circle and MDH Cardiovascular Health team.
Register here: Hypertension Take Down! Community Health Workers & Cardiovascular Health Tickets, Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m.
Minnesota Gerontological Society
Join us on Nov. 18 from noon-1 p.m. for a special webinar recognizing National Family Caregivers Month. Learn from Minnesota experts how local organizations and statewide initiatives—like Age-Friendly MN, Reframe Aging MN, and Dementia Friends MN—recognize and communicate the vital role and challenges of family caregivers, celebrate their dedication and compassion, and offer resources and support to help prioritize their own health and wellbeing.
Register here: National Family Caregiver Month, Tuesday, Nov. 18 at noon.
1.0 CEU is provided after the presentation.
Funding opportunities
Social Impact Funds
The American Heart Association Social Impacts Funds are now accepting applications from organizations that are advancing equitable health in Minnesota. Please share widely with your contacts who may be interested.
This opportunity is made possible by the generous support of Gary and Sue Ellis.
The Social Impact Funds support local, evidence-based solutions that improve health care access and quality, food security and economic empowerment projects. We’re looking for nonprofit and for-profit organizations that have:
- Demonstrated ability to drive change in under-resourced communities.
- Strength and quality of team, program design and operational plan.
- A meaningful and trusted connection to the target community.
- Potential to scale and achieve sustainability for maximum health impact.
AHA accepts applications online. Applicants must be local to Minnesota for this funding opportunity.
Please email SocialIm...@heart.org with any questions.
Stroke Rehab Initiative
The American Heart Association is working on a stroke rehab initiative in Minnesota and is currently recruiting Skilled Nursing Facilities, Critical Access Hospitals, and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities to participate. Sites will receive $10,000 and quality improvement support to build/enhance their stroke rehab programs by following published post-acute stroke program standards.
Linked is a short video that gives a brief overview of the program, requirements, and benefits. The video is about 10 minutes and can be watched here: MN Stroke Recording.
Email Sarah Donnelly at Sarah.D...@heart.org with any questions.
Other resources
Public health in action: Pharmacy deserts
Minnesota data show that access to community pharmacies in Minnesota has decreased over the past decade. This leads to more Minnesotans having to travel longer distances for pharmacy services like filling prescriptions, getting education and recommendations on medications, and receiving health care services.
The Minnesota Department of Health worked with the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy to identify and address the issue of pharmacy gaps. Read more about the project: Pharmacy Closures Are Impacting More Minnesotans.
This story is part of the MDH Spotlight on Chronic Disease Prevention and Management series.
Data Briefs
Working age stroke in Minnesota
Did you know that stroke is not just a concern for older adults? MDH has recently released a report focusing on stroke occurrence in younger adults, particularly those of working age. When strokes occur at younger ages, survivors often live many more years with the resulting complications, including an increased risk of recurrent strokes. Read more in our Data Stories series in Issue 3: Working Age Stroke in Minnesota (PDF).
New regional prevalence maps
Cardiovascular risk factors are more common in some parts of Minnesota than in others. For example, the west central region sees the highest burden of adults with high cholesterol in Minnesota with a prevalence of 37.2%, while the burden of hypertension is highest at 33% in the northeast and northwest regions. Check out our updated chronic disease prevalence dashboard with a new regional map feature here: Chronic Disease Prevalence Dashboard.
MN 2035 Plan
Mental Health Resources: Supporting the body, heart, and mind
Most Minnesotans who experience serious mental illness and substance use disorders also struggle with one or more chronic medical conditions. Many of these people lack the supports and resources they need to be healthy. Even when receiving mental health care services, many of these patients experience shorter, less healthy lives due to unrecognized and/or unmanaged chronic health conditions.
Read how a local nonprofit Mental Health Resources creates workflows to improve care for clients: Supporting the Body, Heart, and Mind.
Call for stories!
Is your organization helping advance the goals of the Minnesota 2035 Plan? We want to hear from you! Share how your work is making a difference across Minnesota.
The Minnesota 2035 State Plan team will reach out to the primary contact listed on this form within seven (7) business days to learn more and collaborate on the final version of your story before it is shared publicly.
Submit your proposal here or email health.m...@state.mn.us.
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