Deborah Swanson, MS, RN, BC

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  • 2002 Alumni
    Deborah Swanson

Nursing and Nutrition Supervisor

Grand Forks Public Health Department

Grand Forks, ND

Deborah Swanson is the Nursing and Nutrition Supervisor, Grand Forks Public Health Department in Grand Forks, ND, a position she has held since 1996. Past professional experience includes positions as a Community Health Nurse with the Grand Forks Public Health Department and a staff nurse position at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, MN. She holds ANCC Certification in Community/Public Health Nursing. In her work at the health department, she provides leadership to a variety of public health programs that are local, state and federally funded and served as a project director for a HRSA Community Health Center planning grant that led to the establishment of a Health Center in her community in 2014.

 Ms. Swanson is a Member of the American Nurses Association, ND Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, Association of Public Health Nursing, American Public Health Association, and North Dakota Public Health Association. She served on the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region Oversight Committee. Coalition building is her area of expertise, assisting to establish the Alliance for Health Care Access, Northern Valley Dental Health Coalition, Grand Forks Tobacco Free Coalition,  Greater Grand Forks Immunization Coalition, and First Night Greater Grand Forks. Ms. Swanson has held leadership roles with the Region IV Children's Services Coordinating Committee, ND Directors of Public Health Nursing, and Healthy ND Tobacco Policy Committee. She currently serves as the Affiliate Representative to the Governing Council of APHA for North Dakota and the APHA Action Board.  Ms. Swanson is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of North Dakota and serves as a guest lecturer in the MPH program at UND.

 Deborah was the recipient of the American Public Health Association Committee on Affiliates Award for Excellence (2009), The ND Public Health Association Public Health Worker of the Year (2009 & 1991)  ND Nurses Association Outstanding Nurse Award (1996), the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce Health Care Provider of the Year Award (1995) and the Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award from Eta Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau (2001). She has received other community and state awards for her work in tobacco prevention, substance abuse, maternal and child health.