Regional Medical Center (RMC) in Manchester, Iowa, welcomed community members, patients and valued partners to its Surgery Addition Open House on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. The event offered attendees a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the new state-of-the-art clinical space before it officially opens for patient care. 

The Iowa Clinic is pleased to announce the appointment of Sara Glaser, BSN, MBA, as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the physician-owned, multi-specialty medical group.

To help meet the needs of recovery for stroke patients, Sanford Bismarck offers its Stroke Comprehensive Treatment Clinic, a specialized program designed to support long-term recovery through a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach. The next Stroke Comprehensive Treatment Clinic is scheduled for Aug. 13, 2026.

Several hospitals across the Avera footprint have been recognized by Forbes as top hospitals in their state. 

Your everyday life deserves high-quality care, and Columbus Otolaryngology Clinic specializes in everything from the neck up.

Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons (NWIBJ) is welcoming podiatrist Dr. Ryan Bauermeister to its Spirit Lake office beginning August 3. For Dr. Bauermeister, the move is more than a new job; it's a homecoming.

Waverly Health Center is expanding its family practice clinics to Parkersburg, Iowa, later this year. The hospital is partnering with provider Brandy Reints, ARNP, to transition the clinic at 305 Third St. 

Nearly nine months after an unforgettable arrival, baby Allara is back at First Care Health Center  (FCHC). This time Allara is all smiles as she is held by her mother alongside Dr. Joel Johnson,  the doctor who delivered her.  

Avera Health announces appointments to its Board of Directors for its new fiscal year which began July 1, 2026.

Robert Fouberg will serve as board chair, serving a two-year term that runs through June 30, 2028. He has been a board member since 2020.

Fouberg, of Aberdeen, is Chairman and CEO of Dacotah Bank and its parent holding company, Dacotah Banks, Inc. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Augustana University, Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His career spans private law practice, policy work in Washington, D.C., and leadership within the banking industry. Fouberg also serves on the boards of South Dakota Community Foundation, Enterprise 605, Inc., and the American Bankers Association Foundation, and has served on the Avera St. Luke’s Hospital Board of Directors.

“I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve as board chair during an exciting season of growth and innovation for Avera. I look forward to working with fellow board members and Avera leaders to live out the Avera mission in the communities we serve,” Fouberg said.

Doneen Hollingsworth of Pierre, SD, remains vice chair. Hollingsworth is retired Secretary of Health for the state of South Dakota and held other roles in state government. She has served on the South Dakota Board of Nursing and the boards of Capital Area Counseling Services and Boys and Girls Clubs of the Capital Area. She joined the Avera board in 2019.

The Avera Health Board welcomes new board members, J. Pat Costello, Dr. Andrew Ellsworth and

Danna Schuster.

Costello, of Sioux Falls, has a broad range of experience that includes accounting, the food and beverage industry, government, small business and economic development. He was previously the market manager for Builders FirstSource, and earlier was President/CEO of Schoeneman’s Building Materials Center. He has served as Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Sioux Falls City Councilor. He is past chair of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation Board and holds a degree from Arizona State University. He’s also past board chair and member of the Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center Board of Trustees.

Dr. Ellsworth, of Brookings, SD, is a family medicine physician with Access Health and Avera Brookings Medical Clinic. He earned his bachelor's degree from Augustana University, medical degree from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine, and attended residency at the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho. Dr. Ellsworth is a past president of the South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians. He has served on the boards for the Brookings Health System, Avera Health Plans and the American Academy of Primary Care Endoscopy. He volunteers his time with On Call with the Prairie Doc, which includes a newspaper column, radio show and a live medical information television show on South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

Schuster, of Le Mars, Iowa, held positions in insurance sales, marketing and development, and in recent years has focused on community service. She is current board chair for Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars and Board President for Le Mars Community Theatre, past board member for Gehlen Catholic School, as well as many other service positions. She holds a bachelors of arts degree from Buena Vista University.

Outgoing board members are Dr. Jason Wickersham and Dr. Luis Rojas.

“We thank Robert Fouberg for his leadership as incoming board chair and appreciate the perspective he brings as a leader in banking, law and public policy. We also thank Doneen Hollingsworth for drawing upon her depth of knowledge and experience as she continues to serve as vice chair,” said Jim Dover, FACHE, President and CEO of Avera Health. “We welcome our new board members and thank Drs. Wickersham and Rojas for their service on the board. Avera truly benefits from experienced leaders such as these, and we appreciate their willingness to share their time and talents to benefit Avera staff, patients and their families.”

Felicia Beltman, AuD, an audiologist at Monument Health Spearfish Clinic on North Avenue, has earned Board Certification in Pediatric Audiology (BC-PA) from the American Board of Audiology, one of few certified specialists in the region to hold the distinction.

If you or your family members are facing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or another mental health issue, it may be time to reach out. Columbus Community Hospital’s Columbus Psychiatry Clinic provides comprehensive mental health services for Columbus and the surrounding area.

As rural health systems experience mounting challenges, Essentia Health-Fosston is embracing innovation to ensure patients can receive care from expert specialists close to home.

The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) is now accepting vendor and sponsor applications for its 100th Annual Convention, taking place September 16–18, 2026, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

CHI Health Clinic Family Medicine (Kearney) welcomes board certified family medicine physician Abby Richardson, MD back to its staff. 

Brad Reimer, chief technology and digital officer at Sanford Health, has been named the winner of a 2026 Minnesota ORBIE Award in the large enterprise category. He was among five other finalists considered in this category, including chief information officers from Land O’ Lakes, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and the state of Minnesota.

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s and UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s – Downtown have received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award. The award recognizes hospitals that consistently follow evidence-based guidelines to decrease disability and improve quality of life for patients following a stroke.

Columbus Community Hospital invites community members and local businesses to celebrate the opening of its new Mead Family Cancer Center, 4600 38th St., with a ribbon cutting and open house on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 9 a.m.

Essentia Health will offer walk-in sports physical blitzes in early August to area student-athletes in preparation for the 2026-27 school year.

Columbus Community Hospital's volunteer and guest services department has released its annual report, highlighting a year of service, compassion and support provided by volunteers throughout the organization.

Spencer Hospital has expanded its breast imaging services with the addition of Breast MRI and MRI guided breast biopsies, providing women throughout Northwest Iowa with access to advanced breast cancer diagnostic services close to home.

Great Plains Health is proud to be recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska with a Blue Distinction Center (BDC) designation under the Blue Distinction® Centers for Bariatric Surgery program.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that residents can now search for mental health and substance use disorder programs in one place through the newly broadened Behavioral Health Program Directory.

CHI Health Good Samaritan is proud to announce its Dr. Kenton L. Shaffer Emergency Care Center has been awarded the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award. The distinguished honor recognizes emergency departments for exceptional quality, safety, work environment and innovations in both nursing practice and emergency care.

Twelve students graduated from the Mary Lanning Healthcare School of Radiologic  Technology on July 11.

People who live in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than urban counterparts, have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality, according to an American Heart Association’s presidential advisory on rural health. Brookings Health System’s emergency team is committed to changing that.

CHI Health St. Francis recently honored Beth Deida, RN, as the 2026 Caring Kind Award recipient. Recipients of this prestigious award go above and beyond the call of duty displaying outstanding patient compassion, collaborative teamwork and an unwavering commitment to professional excellence. Deida, a clinical educator in the maternity center, has dedicated her service to St. Francis and the community for more than 22 years.

At a time when rural communities across the nation are facing increasing challenges in recruiting and retaining physicians, Unity Medical Center is proud to announce that Dr. Kenny Ryan has committed to joining its medical staff following the completion of his Family Medicine Residency at Altru Health System in 2027.

Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC) is pleased to announce that Reed Smith, DPM, will join the specialty clinic this summer, expanding access to comprehensive foot and ankle care for patients throughout the area. 

Sanford Health Fargo is offering a sports physical events for student-athletes to complete their sports physicals for the 2026-2027 school season. Student-athletes are required to get an annual sports physical when participating in school-sanctioned sports and must have their physicals completed before the first day of practice for their sport.

Sanford Health Pelican Rapids is offering sports physical events for student-athletes to complete their sports physicals for the 2026-2027 school season. Student-athletes are required to get an annual sports physical when participating in school-sanctioned sports and must have their physicals completed before the first day of practice for their sport.