Ted Uecker, West River Health Services Foundation Director, was recognized during the North Dakota Medical Association’s (NDMA) Annual Meeting for being the 2024 Friend of Medicine Award recipient.

Each year, NDMA honors an outstanding individual who has effectively advocated for health care and patient services in North Dakota.

NDMA Past President Dr. Josh Ranum nominated Ted for his enthusiastic efforts to revitalize a much-needed foundation in rural southwest North Dakota.

In the past ten years, Ted has reenergized a languishing foundation, allowing West River Health Services (WRHS) to take on several ambitious projects to improve healthcare access. Philanthropy is important for any healthcare organization, but it is vital for rural healthcare to modernize facilities, recruit and retain staff, and update equipment.

“Fundraising is a challenge for rural facilities as the pool of donors is smaller than in urban areas and you’re repeatedly asking for donations for each new project,” said Dr. Ranum. “Despite those challenges, Ted has had an amazing fundraising run.”

Ted’s first project was fundraising for an in-house MRI facility. This is WRHS’s first dedicated, in-house MRI unit, requiring additional construction to house it safely. Ted fundraised a substantial amount of the project cost, which allowed this longstanding ambition to become a reality. 

He developed recruitment and retention endowment funds for physicians and staff, recognizing the importance of staff to any healthcare organization. The initial goal was to fully fund these within five years, and he accomplished this within two years.

Other successes include fundraising for a new ambulance, an annual campaign for smaller equipment upgrades, and the annual Giving Hearts Day campaign.

“He is a West River community ambassador and a passionate advocate for rural health and rural Main Streets,” said Ranum. “His enthusiasm for what’s possible in rural healthcare is contagious.”

NDMA, a member organization dedicated to protecting physician practices and patient care, created the Friend of Medicine Award in 1999. The award formally acknowledges non-physician citizens who have distinguished themselves by serving as effective advocates for health care, patient services, or the profession of medicine in North Dakota.

Learn more about NDMA at ndmed.org

Submitted by the ND Medical Association
Donna Thronson, Communications Director