Celebrating Healthcare Week: Honoring our caregivers and strengthening rural healthcare
May 8, 2026
Healthcare Week is a special time for our community — a moment to reflect on the essential role rural healthcare plays in people’s lives and to honor our caregivers whose dedication makes our mission possible. At Winona Health, the spirit of We Care More continues to guide us, reminding us that exceptional care begins with exceptional people.
Rural healthcare is the backbone of our nation’s health system. It provides a lifeline for individuals and families who depend on accessible, affordable, high quality care close to home. The challenges rural communities face — from limited resources to geographic barriers — are real and intensifying. Yet it is in communities like ours that the true heart of healthcare shines brightest and reveals something powerful — the extraordinary commitment of the people who choose to serve here.
Our caregivers are the heart of Winona Health. Every day, they bring skill, compassion, and a deep sense of purpose to their work. They inspire us all. Later this month, we are celebrating our caregivers with 5 to 50 years of service! Imagine what these caregivers have experienced in their tenure – and their steadfast dedication to our regional community. Their collective experience, wisdom, and commitment is both humbling and precious in this time of change. They support patients through moments of uncertainty, celebrate their milestones, and ensure that every person receives the care they deserve. Their dedication — often in the face of mounting demands — is what allows us to fulfill our mission.
As an independent rural health system, we understand the unique needs of our region. We know that rural patients often face longer travel distances, fewer provider options, and barriers to specialty care or insurance coverage. That is why we continue to invest in advanced technologies, expand services, and strengthen care coordination across the continuum. Our goal is simple: to ensure that rural patients receive the same level of care and access as those in larger suburban/urban centers.
This Healthcare Week, we celebrate not only the work our caregivers do, but the spirit with which they do it. Their heart, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to caring for people define who we are as an organization. We also honor the resilience of our patients, who trust us with their health and well being.
As we look to the future, our focus remains clear. We will continue to transform and grow — always with the goal of taking care of people. For more than 130 years, Winona Health has been here for our community, and we remain steadfast in our mission to build a healthier, stronger future for all.
We Care More. We Are Winona.
Rachelle Schultz, Ed.D. President/CEO
