Sawtooth Mountain Clinic (SMC) is pleased to welcome Cecilia Bloomquist, LICSW as our new Behavioral Health Director. Cecilia is a Licensed Independent Social Worker who is joining the team as part of our behavioral health service expansion. SMC CEO Kate Surbaugh notes “We are thrilled to welcome Cecilia to the SMC team. In recent years, […]

The Minnesota Department of Health and its rural health partners today  awarded its prestigious 2024 Rural Health Team Award to the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic’s Oral Health Task Force (OHTF). The OHTF team will be honored during the 2025 Minnesota Rural Health Conference in Duluth June 9-10, 2025. The OHTF works to provide dental care, regardless […]

Would you like to meet a local author and illustrator? The Early Childhood Connections Program is thrilled to announce our January guest and co-host for our monthly social, Local Author and Nurse Practitioner, Kristin DeArruda Wharton author of Your Big Lake Family Gets Bigger. She will be at the Community Center with us to celebrate […]

Recently, the National Association of Community Health Centers held its annual meeting. The Health Resources and Services Administration announced its 2023 Quality Recognition Awards at that meeting. We are happy to announce that Sawtooth Mountain Clinic won 3 awards: Covid-19 Public Health Champion, Health Center Quality Leader – Silver, and Patient-Centered Medical Home. The Patient-centered […]

The Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers (MNACHC), an organization that supports the state’s 17 community health centers (CHCs) and its patients in improving and maintaining the health and wellness of local communities, presented Senator Grant Hauschild with it’s 2023 Legislative Champion of the Year award on Friday October 27th at the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic […]

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic (SMC) is pleased to announce that Kristin DeArruda Wharton, CNP will be joining our team of providers in 2024. Kristin DeArruda Wharton is a nurse practitioner trained in primary care of the family, as well as adult and geriatric acute care. SMC CEO Kate Surbaugh notes “Kristin’s career has demonstrated commitment to […]

June 30, 2023 – Sawtooth Mountain Clinic is pleased to announce that Dr. Alexys J. Hillman will be joining our team of providers this August. Dr. Hillman brings rich experience to the SMC team and will offer full-spectrum and high-quality primary care services to residents of and visitors to Cook County and Grand Portage. “Dr. […]

Recently, the National Association of Community Health Centers held its annual meeting. At that meeting, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced the Quality Recognition Awards. We are happy to announce that Sawtooth Mountain Clinic won 3 awards: Covid-19 Public Health Champion, Health Center Quality Leader – Bronze, and Patient-Centered Medical Home. The Patient-centered Medical […]

June 21, 2022 – Cook County Public Health and Human Services and Sawtooth Mountain Clinic have scheduled local COVID-19 vaccination events on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at the Cook County Community Center for children in the 6-months to 5-year-old age group using the age-appropriate Moderna vaccine. This follows last week’s decision by the Centers for […]

May 20, 2022 – Cook County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) and Sawtooth Mountain Clinic (SMC) announce expanded eligibility for COVID-19 booster vaccines following updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those ages 5-11 are eligible for a booster five months after receiving the initial two-dose Pfizer vaccine series. “Vaccination […]

(GRAND MARAIS, MN – January 10, 2022) Sawtooth Mountain Clinic (SMC) announces that the on-site pharmacy will reduce hours temporarily to cope with staffing shortages over the next few weeks. The SMC Pharmacy has served the community safely during the course of the pandemic. “We are lucky that the pharmacy staff is currently healthy” states […]