Written by Kari Sundberg
Nov 20, 2025
City of Fosston proclaims November 20th as Nicole Kiesow Day as the new Headwaters Health clinic begins serving the community.
Today marks a pretty special moment for a member of our community!
The City of Fosston has officially proclaimed November 20th as Nicole Kiesow Day in honor of PAC Nicole Kiesow, a Goodridge resident and one of the founding providers at the new Headwaters Health clinic in Fosston. The day also coincides with National Rural Health Day, making the celebration all the more fitting.
The Mayor of Fosston delivered the proclamation after Nicole was named the 2025 Rural Health Practitioner Hero Award recipient by the Minnesota Department of Health. In their proclamation, the City of Fosston shared, “This honor celebrates her exceptional dedication to providing compassionate, high-quality care and her lasting impact on rural healthcare in our region.”
They continued, “As one of the founding providers of Headwaters Health, Nicole has shown tremendous courage and leadership in standing up for rural health and ensuring access to compassionate, high-quality care right here in our community.” Nicole received her award on November 13th surrounded by family, friends and coworkers who were all there to celebrate this well-earned achievement.
Headwaters Health officially opened its doors on October 15th in Fosston. The clinic is owned and operated by six providers:
Dr. Darren Swanson
Dr. Cheryl White
Maija Duppong FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner)
Sheila Teiken FNP
Bryan Johnson PAC (Physician Assistant Certified)
Nicole Kiesow PAC
These six providers, along with their team of nurses, reception staff and support personnel, came together with a shared commitment to strengthening rural healthcare close to home. While the providers previously practiced through Essentia in Fosston, they have now established an independent clinic built around local needs and community values.
Headwaters Health is a primary care clinic caring for patients through all stages of life, offering well-child checks, annual exams, chronic disease management, prenatal and postpartum care, addiction care, mental health support and much more. New patients and walk-ins are welcome, and the clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm.
Nicole summed up their mission perfectly: “We are passionate about providing good quality healthcare for our rural communities and keeping it here. Just because we live far from bigger hospitals and clinics doesn’t mean we have to settle for mediocre healthcare.”
To celebrate both the season and the excitement of their opening, Headwaters Health is hosting a festive open house tomorrow evening, November 21st, from 5-7pm. The event, called Light Up the Night, will include holiday treats, sleigh rides provided by Norsk Farms, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, ornament-making for kids, and visits with local vendors, including 3D printing and Up North Mini Cakes. Warm cider and hot cocoa will be served, making it a perfect chance to congratulate Nicole, meet the team and take a look inside the new clinic.
From being honored as Minnesota’s Rural Health Practitioner Hero, to being recognized by the City of Fosston, to helping open a brand new clinic, today is a big day for Nicole!
Stop by Headwaters Health tomorrow night, grab a treat and be a part of celebrating big things happening right here in our northern neighborhood.
Headwaters Health
111 2nd Street, Fosston, MN
Ph: 218-435-1111
