Heritage Health’s Ruddell honored for serving the homeless

Kerri Ruddell, a nurse practitioner with Heritage Health, was named Clinician of the Year by the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved.

Ruddell works in the Street Medicine and Community Outreach program, which primarily serves Kootenai County’s homeless population. She joined Heritage Health nearly four years ago, working in Coeur d’Alene, Rathdrum and Kellogg.

“The Clinician of the Year represents the heart of our work and has demonstrated their commitment to improving the health of underserved communities through compassion and excellence in health care delivery,” said ACU Executive Director Amanda Pears Kelly. “The ACU is proud to recognize you for practicing trauma-informed, non-judgmental and equitable care. Your passion and leadership truly reflect our shared values and mission and we are honored to present you with this award.”

Ruddell is known for her compassion, leadership and her ability to handle tough situations, said Heritage Health CEO Mike Baker. “Kerri has a huge heart for the work that we do and is amazing with those we serve. She deserves this award and to be recognized for the amazing work she does with our Street Medicine team.”

The Street Medicine program serves roughly 500 individuals throughout the year via its office in Coeur d’Alene and its mobile outreach vehicles,” said Elise Cuentas, clinic director for Street Medicine.

“Our Street Med clinic’s abilities have grown significantly since Kerri came on board and our patients are definitely benefitting from the preventative and acute care measures she provides,” Cuentas said.

The Clinician of the Year award will be presented during the 2023 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., on July 25.