Riverwood Healthcare Center is proud to celebrate RN Gordon “Gordy” Schwartz, recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The DAISY Award is a national recognition honoring nurses who demonstrate exceptional dedication to patients. Gordy was nominated by the wife of a patient he cared for during two Emergency Department visits. When the patient returned, […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Knopik, FNP-BC, to its Family Medicine team in Aitkin and Garrison. Knopik joins the team as a core clinical partner, supporting patient care through appropriate visits, in‑basket management, preventive health services, and chronic disease management. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Nurse Practitioner Andrea Wippler, FNP-BC, to its Family Medicine team in Aitkin. Wippler joins the team as a core clinical partner, supporting patient care through appropriate visits, in‑basket management, preventive health services, and chronic disease management. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, from […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to welcome Andrew Highum, DPM, a highly trained foot and ankle surgeon/podiatrist, to its medical staff. Dr. Highum completed his undergraduate degree at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and earned his doctorate from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago. He completed his residency training at […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center has been designated as a Blue Distinction® Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. Awarded by Blue Cross Blue Shield, this designation recognizes hospitals that meet rigorous quality standards and demonstrate excellent patient outcomes. The Blue Distinction® program is built on criteria developed by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in partnership with the American Academy of Orthopedic […]

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month—a time to shine a light on a disease that often hides in silence. The good news? Colon cancer is highly preventable and treatable when caught early. By raising awareness, encouraging screenings, and making healthier choices, we have the power to protect ourselves and the people we love. Regular screenings […]

Shoulder pain was starting to limit Heidi Olesen’s daily life. Simple movements hurt, her favorite activities felt out of reach, and persistent throbbing kept her from sleeping. Seeking relief, Heidi turned to Riverwood’s Orthopedic team — the same experts who had helped her regain mobility after bilateral hip replacement surgery with Dr. Erik Severson years earlier. In August 2025, […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is proud to highlight the success of its Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Externship Program as two local students, Anika and Morgan Just, have completed their CMA training in eight months.    Riverwood’s CMA program removes barriers to entering healthcare by fully funding the one-year CMA training for selected candidates in exchange for a two-year […]

In honor of the late Roger and Sandy Wilson, the Wilson family of Aitkin established the Roger and Sandy Wilson Scholarship to support individuals advancing their education in healthcare. The fund is administered by Riverwood Foundation at Riverwood Healthcare Center. These scholarship funds are intended to ease the burden of tuition costs so that aspiring […]

The Aitkin Community Hospital, Inc., dba Riverwood Healthcare Center, will host its 78th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom with participants signing in remotely via phone or computer.    Riverwood will present an overview of the finances for the organization, fiscal year 2025 accomplishments, and Foundation and Auxiliary updates. These presentations will be followed by a business meeting.       […]

Your heart is the hardest‑working muscle in your body. At Riverwood Healthcare Center, Heart Health Month is your cue to pause, check in, and make a few smart choices that support your long-term wellbeing. Timothy Dirks, MD, cardiologist with the Minneapolis Heart Institute who provides care at Riverwood, shares this quick checklist: know your numbers, […]

Riverwood is hosting a free educational seminar on Friday, Feb. 20, for community members seeking information about treatment options for hip, knee, or shoulder pain. The seminar will be led by Erin Mason, physician assistant specializing in orthopedic care at Riverwood. The event begins at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Isle. Mason will […]

Riverwood is introducing a Cancer Support Group to provide a welcoming space for individuals who are newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, or navigating survivorship. The group meets from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month in Conference Room C/D at Riverwood Healthcare Center, 200 Bunker Hill Drive, Aitkin. Led by Kirstiane Bilyeu, […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center proudly welcomes Mya VanNurden, MS, PT, a local graduate, to its Therapy Services team serving Aitkin and McGregor.  VanNurden brings four years of experience as a traveling physical therapist, caring for patients in clinics and hospitals across Minnesota and Florida. She earned both her bachelor’s degree and Master of Science in Physical Therapy from […]

Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce the addition of Dawn Back, DMSc, MSOL, PA-C, as a hospitalist on its medical staff. Dawn brings decades of experience in family medicine and emergency care, along with a strong commitment to serving rural communities.  Back earned her Doctor of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Butler University […]