Bio: Thomsen, Jessica (Award - 2008)

Contact: R. Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Miller, Schultz, Thomsen

----Source: Tribune-Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) Volume 48, Number 35, August 27, 2008 (Authored by Ben Schultz)

Colby grad named public nurse of the year

Jessica Thomsen, a Colby High School class of 1996 graduate, recently receive the Lillian Wald New Public Health Nurse of the Year Award.

Thompson, a registered nurse received her bachelor’s degree from UW-Oshkosh School of Nursing in 2004. After working at a nursing home in Oshkosh and the intensive care unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, she joined the Clark County Health Department in September 2007.

Thomsen has been attending as many conferences as he can, sometimes a many as five month, to learn as much about nursing as she can. She said she enjoys the communities she works in and wants to maintain her commitment to them.

"I love public health and plan to be her for years to come," she said.

Deborah Miller, the Clark County health officer who nominated Thomsen, said "her honesty and empathy shine through her work. Her work is impeccable. She ahs a compassion and willingness to learn. She remains focused and productive even when faced with challenging situation."

Thomsen is the school nurse for Loyal and Greenwood school districts, a First Breath coordinator, emergency preparedness coordinator, prenatal and postpartum visiting nurse and tobacco prevention coordinator.

"She promotes advocacy for all residents through her nursing work. She takes the imitative for projects that are put before her," Miller said.

Thomsen has implemented the Cribs for Kids and School Surveillance program in Clark County. Miller said her involvement with the fluoride varnishing in Clark County schools is noteworthy.

Before the county’s grant objective they wanted to help 120 children a year. Miller said this year alone 250 kids have received assistance through the program.

"She’s a very hard-working person and really wants to be able to promote a healthy county and help people that way," Miller said. "Her compassion for what she’s doing has stood out."

This is the first award a member of the Clark County Health Department has received. The state Public Health Association sent out nomination forms, and Miller submitted Thomsen’s name. A state committee then picked the award winner.

"It’s a great honor to have someone from Clark County win an award like this through the state," Miller said.

Thomsen lives in Dorchester with her husband and daughter.

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