 The President's budget proposal eliminates public media funding. Learn how you can help at lptv.org slash action. A surgeon from Deerwood can add an award to his trophy case this week after an award's luncheon last week in Houston, Texas. Dr. Paul Severson, a surgeon at Cayuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby, was awarded with the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons Award for Excellence in Humanistic Clinical Care. The award is presented to an individual who has exhibited the highest standard of humanistic patient care. Dr. Severson was nominated by his former fellows and he says he's extremely honored by the award as well as a little shocked. I was stunned. I don't think that a surgeon in rural Minnesota is normally going to be considered for such an honor. There's a lot of other people in the United States that might be more deserving and they're certainly in larger places than rural Minnesota. He mentions that he was surprised at this nomination. I don't think most of us that have known him or that have worked with him and the work that he's done in Haiti are surprised at all. I think it's a well-deserved honor and probably overdue. Dr. Severson has been a member of the medical staff at Cayuna Regional Medical Center and Acons Riverwood Healthcare Center since 1984. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.