05/28/2026
May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
This month, we’re highlighting the people behind behavioral health at Appleton Area Health.
Mitch Ejnik, PMHNP, shares how Appleton’s strong sense of community brought him back to serve the people of rural Minnesota:
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"Appleton will always hold a special place in my heart. When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in nursing way back in 2016, I stumbled across a job posting for registered nurses for Appleton Area Health. Of course, the first thing I had to do was research, “Where is Appleton, MN?” After realizing that Appleton was only an hour’s drive from my hometown of New London, MN, I decided to go through with the interview and was eventually hired. This is where I started my professional career and started my family.
Over the course of my professional career, I have had the opportunity to work in different locations across the state, and what always impressed me the most about Appleton is the overwhelming sense of community and the importance it plays in each community member’s life. The community cares deeply about its members, and there is a sense of personal responsibility instilled in the community more so than in any of the other places I have lived in. This was evident when I was working in the Care Center and was impressed each day by the compassion displayed by the staff day in and day out. This was also true of the family members who visited the residents and the community members who volunteered to offer a helping hand frequently along the way. I was actively involved in the Chamber of Commerce, where I was able to see numerous demonstrations of caring, compassion, and kindness from within the community. This is what makes Appleton Area Health, and Appleton in general, so much more than a place to live. The sense of community is what brought me back to serving the great people of rural Minnesota.
After five years of working at Appleton Area Health in the Care Center, I briefly moved on to work in a mental health hospital while obtaining my master’s degree as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to, once again, return to AAH where I am currently able to assist the community and surrounding areas meet their mental health needs as a psychiatric medication prescriber. As a whole, mental health services have been sparse in rural Minnesota, which contributes to stigmas related to mental health and simply reduces access for the community. Being able to have the opportunity to address those areas has brought a lot of joy and honor for me as I am able to contribute to the growth and overall development of the local community where I started my adult professional career, bought my first home, got married, and started a family.
I am proud to be able to work for a progressive organization that continues to allow access to services within the rural community. There are so many great people within Appleton Area Health who have had to dedicate countless days and nights to increasing services to better serve our community. Being able to be a part of something bigger than myself is always what I have strived for and look forward to doing for the foreseeable future. To the Appleton Area Health team, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your mission! To the people of Appleton and the surrounding areas, thank you for your trust and for your commitment to us. It is with great honor and appreciation that we are able to serve you!"
