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The chief of staff at Coulee Medical Center was given a statewide award at the annual Washington Rural Health Association’s Northwest Regional Health Conference in Spokane Wednesday.

Dr. Andrew Castrodale was awarded the Dr. John Anderson Memorial Award for Outstanding Rural Health Practitioner.

The award is given to healthcare providers who have demonstrated a dedication to healthcare in rural communities and provided leadership and outstanding service to the community and region.

For years, Castrodale has worked with a University of Washington program that places medical students in rural settings so they can experience the practice of medicine in places like Grand Coulee.

The WWAMI programs places students in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Many have worked with Castrodale at Coulee Medical Center.

He was nominated by Dr. John McCarthy, assistant dean of the Washington State University Spokane/University of Washington School of Medicine.