North Dakota Public Health Association

10/29/2026

🌟 Mentor Spotlight: Zach Bruns 🌟

We’re excited to welcome our new and returning mentors and mentees to the 2026–2027 NDPHA Public Health Mentorship Program! As this cohort gets underway, we’re continuing to celebrate some of the people who made our 2025–2026 cohort special, including Zach Bruns!

Zach is an Emergency Preparedness & Response Regional Coordinator at First District Health Unit in Minot, North Dakota. He partners with healthcare, public health and community organizations to strengthen emergency preparedness and protect the health of North Dakotans.

To Zach, mentorship is an act of selflessness. It means sharing your experiences and lessons learned to help others grow, succeed and confidently navigate their own path.

Outside of work, Zach enjoys reading, listening to music and spending time with his St. Bernard–Great Pyrenees. 📚🐾 His favorite book is The Great Gatsby, his favorite movie is The Grey and his go-to sweet treat is classic Oreos. 🍪

Thank you, Zach, for your commitment to building stronger communities and investing in the next generation of public health leaders. We're honored to have you as part of the North Dakota Public Health Mentorship Program! 💙

10/27/2026

🌟 Mentor Spotlight: Barbara Augustino 🌟

As we prepare to welcome new and returning mentors and mentees to our 2026–2027 NDPHA Public Health Mentorship Program, we’re celebrating some of the people who made our 2025–2026 cohort special. First up, meet Barbara!

Barbara Augustino is a passionate public health advocate, future physician and lifelong learner committed to improving the health and well-being of communities wherever she serves.

Currently pursuing both an MPH at North Dakota State University and an MD at Johns Hopkins University, Barbara believes that mentorship is a powerful force for personal and professional growth. To her, it is about sharing guidance, encouragement and wisdom that helps others achieve their goals while strengthening the future of public health.

When she's not advocating for healthier communities, you'll find Barbara staying active through workouts, dancing, golfing or enjoying a piece of dark chocolate. 🍫

Thank you, Barbara, for inspiring others through your passion, leadership and commitment to lifting those around you. We're honored to have you as part of the North Dakota Public Health Mentorship Program! 💙

10/26/2026

Supporting healthy families starts early! 💙

Join Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota on Thursday, October 29, to learn how Waterford Upstart connects early learning with health and family support, giving caregivers free tools to help children learn at home.

Find registration details in the original post below! ⬇️

Sign up today for our next educational webinar! We'll be joined on Thursday, October 29th by Crystal Rodriguez and Angela S. Okuda of Waterford.org for a conversation about how the Waterford Upstart program can be embedded into the broader health and family support ecosystem, providing caregivers with tools to support early learning at home at no cost. Register here: bit.ly/4BhOrdd

10/24/2026

📚 Scholarship Opportunity!

Investing in education means investing in the future of our communities! 💙

The American Indian College Fund offers scholarship opportunities for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native students, including those pursuing graduate degrees.

Know a student who could benefit? Help spread the word by sharing this opportunity!

The American Indian College Fund offers scholarships averaging $2,000–$3,000 to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native students, including those pursuing graduate degrees!

Who is eligible?
✅ Enrolled members of a federally or state-recognized tribe, or descendants of enrolled members
✅ Students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
✅ Students enrolled full-time at an accredited nonprofit college or university

Students only need to complete one application to be considered for multiple scholarship opportunities!

📅 Spring Application Deadline: January 25 (for newly enrolled spring students)

Learn more about eligibility and apply: https://collegefund.org/students/scholarships/college-students/

10/01/2026

📣Event Update: October 6 NDSU Public Health Seminar Cancelled📣

NDSU has shared that its October 6 Public Health Seminar featuring Dr. Alonzo L. Plough has been cancelled due to unexpected medical circumstances involving the speaker.

We know many were looking forward to this conversation and send our well wishes to Dr. Plough.

NDPHA appreciates NDSU’s continued efforts to bring public health leaders to North Dakota and create opportunities for our community to learn, connect and exchange ideas. We encourage you to watch for future NDSU Public Health Seminars!

Thank you for your understanding. If the event is rescheduled, we’ll share updated information.

09/22/2026

Last Thursday, September 17, NDPHA members gathered at the Mandan Public Library for a day of learning, collaboration and planning!

We heard from public health association leaders in Oklahoma, Minnesota and Iowa, who shared their experiences and insights. Members also worked together to begin strategic planning for NDPHA and discuss how we can continue strengthening our organization and supporting public health across North Dakota.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the conversation! ☺️

09/16/2026

🎉Public health advocacy makes a difference!🎉

In May, NDPHA members adopted a resolution proposing a ban on kratom and requesting action from the Governor. We are so thankful to NDPHA member Barb Frydenlund, who volunteered to author the resolution on behalf of the association.

Earlier this month, Governor Armstrong called a special legislative session to address the issue and signed a bill banning synthetic kratom and restricting the sale of natural kratom to people ages 21 and older.

With a vision that every person in North Dakota can live their healthiest life, NDPHA is proud to be a state leader in promoting and advocating for the public’s health.

Today North Dakota lawmakers passed House Bill 1628 banning synthetic kratom products and restricting the sale of natural kratom products to those ages 21 and older while also requiring accurate labeling.

This marks a victory for public health and safety, keeping dangerous synthetic kratom products off the shelves and protecting our young people from the adverse and unknown long-term effects of natural kratom.

I have now signed the bill, and the sale of kratom remains prohibited in North Dakota until administrative rules are implemented in accordance with HB 1628.

We appreciate the Legislature convening in special session and working hard to pass a meaningful law that protects the well-being of our citizens. We especially want to thank Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, Sen. Michelle Axtman, Rep. Pat Heinert and Attorney General Drew Wrigley for their leadership on this issue.

https://www.governor.nd.gov/news/updated-armstrong-signs-bill-banning-synthetic-kratom-restricting-natural-kratom-21-and-older

09/14/2026

🎉 Celebrating NDPHA Advocacy in Action! 🎉

Chelsea Ridge recently provided testimony on behalf of NDPHA to the Kratom Workgroup, sharing our association’s support for prohibiting the sale of kratom and kratom-containing products in North Dakota.

Chelsea serves as Chair of NDPHA’s Alcohol, To***co and Other Drugs Section and Policy and Advocacy Committee. Her testimony highlighted NDPHA’s 2026 resolution supporting this important public health action.

We are grateful for Chelsea’s leadership and advocacy leading up to the Legislature’s discussion of North Dakota’s kratom ban during the special legislative session earlier this month.

Read NDPHA’s full resolution here:https://www.ndpha.org/resources/Documents/PolicyAdvocacy/Resolutions/2026/ResolutionKratom.pdf

08/13/2026

🎉 North Dakota public health leadership on the national stage! 🎉

NDPHA is proud to celebrate two of our members and local public health leaders who have been elected to leadership roles on the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) 2026–2027 Board of Directors!

👏 Renae Moch, MBA, FACMPE, Public Health Director at Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, will serve as President-Elect.

👏 Patricia Bisch-Steinke, RN, BSN, Administrator and Director of Nursing at Kidder County District Health Unit, will serve as an At-Large Director.

What an incredible representation of North Dakota’s local public health system at the national level! We are proud to see Renae and Tricia bringing their leadership, experience and North Dakota perspective to NACCHO.

Please join us in congratulating Renae and Tricia on these well-deserved roles! 🥳

Read the full NACCHO announcement and meet the 2026–2027 Board of Directors at the link below:
https://www.naccho.org/blog/articles/naccho-announces-its-2026-2027-board-of-directors

08/13/2026

FREE car seat checks going on NOW until 2pm at the Cavalier County Courthouse. Come ensure that your child is riding safely in your car. 🚗❤️