SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Dr. Bruce Ellsweig, the medical director with Sullivan County Public Health Services and a family physician at Crystal Run Healthcare, has been recognized as the 2023 Dr. Gary Ogden Rural Health Practitioner of the Year.

The award is given by the New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH).

Dr. Ellsweig was honored in November for his exemplary contributions to rural health, public health and community involvement in Sullivan County that span the last several decades, a spokesperson from NYSARH said. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ellsweig was on the front lines serving his community by providing guidance, education and support as medical director for the local health department and as previous chair of the Health Services Advisory Board and Professional Advisory Committee. 

Dr. Ellsweig contributed hundreds of hours of his own time volunteering at mass vaccination clinics and supporting emergency operations during 2021 and 2022 while continuing to care for patients in his practice.

NYSARH is a nonprofit, non-partisan, grassroots organization working to preserve and improve the health of the residents of rural New York State. 

Learn more at www.nysarh.org.