The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) announced that 22 Good Samaritan locations received the 2026 Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award. This recognition signifies a location’s commitment to improving the lives of residents through quality care.

Mary Lanning Healthcare is pleased to announce the selection of Shanna Stofer, PharmD MHA, as President & CEO of the organization. She will begin her new position on July 13. 

MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center is offering free in-person breastfeeding classes to help expecting parents feel more prepared to reach their feeding goals.

Dakota Vascular, the Sioux Falls region’s trusted leader in vascular care, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Helpline Center’s Step Forward to Prevent Suicide walk on June 6 in Sioux Falls. The public event is one of the non-profit’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Sanford Sports Fargo is hosting “Sanford STARS”, an all-skills volleyball camp led by program alumni who now compete at the collegiate level.

Avera Health earned Partner of the Year in the health system segment of Wellvana’s CARE Awards at is 2026 Accountable Care Symposium recently in Denver, Colo. Wellvana is a national leader in value-based care enablement.

Unity Medical Center (UMC) has been selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Healthcare for a fifth year in a row. This annual award program identifies and recognizes 150 outstanding employers in the healthcare industry nationwide. Half of these organizations are a combination of healthcare providers and insurance companies while the other half are vendors. 

Columbus Community Hospital is proud to recognize Bethany Gifford, RN, MSN, as its second quarter Service Over Self Award recipient for 2026.

Great Plains Health and Unitek Learning have announced a new partnership focused on expanding access to nursing education and strengthening the long-term healthcare workforce across central and western Nebraska.

The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center will reach a major milestone Saturday as a state-of-the-art proton beam therapy system is scheduled to arrive on campus. It’s the first proton beam system in Nebraska, marking a significant step forward in bringing advanced cancer treatment to the state and region.

The Interventional Cardiology team at Nebraska Medicine performed the first Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) in Nebraska, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery. The new device (FDA approved in December 2025), allows for the minimally invasive procedure to be an alternative to a much higher risk surgery. All of this is done via a catheter inserted into a small incision in the groin. 

Each year, the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) has the privilege of recognizing individuals whose leadership, compassion, and dedication make a lasting impact on health care across our state through the Distinguished Service Awards (DSA).

CHI Health St. Francis introduced an extra layer of patient care today. The initiative further strengthens the hospital’s standing as a Magnet with Distinction organization, an international benchmark for providing the highest and most elite nursing excellence and safety.

The Essentia Health-Osgood Clinic is excited to welcome Anna Wiemken, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner in elder care.

For 24 years, Walking Forward has worked to close the gap in cancer outcomes for American Indian communities across western South Dakota. Now, the nationally recognized program is joining Monument Health once again, bringing more than two decades of community-based cancer navigation, research and education work under the health system and strengthening its ability to serve patients across western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. 

Prairie Lakes Laboratory is making it easier than ever for community members to take a proactive approach to their health with expanded walk-in, direct access lab testing services.

Diplomas and certificates were conferred on more than 1,000 University of Nebraska Medical Center students during ceremonies held May 7 in Lincoln, Norfolk and Kearney and May 9 in Omaha and Scottsbluff.

In its first full year of operation, the West River Health Science Center, a nursing pathway partnership between Black Hills State University and South Dakota State University, graduated 122 registered nurses across two classes. This milestone was made possible in part by Monument Health’s $2 million investment to expand the facility in 2022. Sixty-two of those graduates have committed to joining Monument Health.

Sanford Health Equip has expanded its footprint in western North Dakota with the addition of Great Plains Restorative Services, a trusted home medical equipment provider serving Bismarck, Dickinson and surrounding rural communities. This transition enhances access to essential home medical equipment and services, helping more patients receive the support they need to live safely and independently.

Pender Community Hospital is proud to announce a new name: Pender Community Health.

If you suffer from sleep apnea and have had difficulties with traditional treatments, there’s another option.

In recognition of Cataract Awareness Month this June, Vance Thompson Vision is encouraging patients to learn more about their vision and explore today’s advanced cataract treatment options. Cataracts are a natural part of aging, often causing vision changes that can make everyday tasks more difficult. The good news is that cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful procedures today. It offers patients the opportunity to restore their vision with advanced, personalized treatment. 

The Roger Maris Celebrity Golf Tournament, presented by Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops, tees off for the 42nd time on Thursday, June 19, at Rose Creek Golf Course. The event features both 9 and 18-hole golf tournaments.

The surgical team had performed hundreds of procedures in the operating room without issue.

The room was spotless. Sterilization procedures were followed with precision. Airflow systems were operating exactly as designed.

The Department of Social Work at the University of South Dakota will host its third annual conference for mental health professionals from May 13 to 14 at the USD – Sioux Falls campus.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching a new $40 million funding opportunity designed to help rural hospitals upgrade clinical equipment, strengthen emergency and specialty care services, and keep more healthcare close to home for North Dakotans.

Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) patients will soon have access to a new patient portal with the launch of Avera MyChart on May 30.

Avera St. Benedict Health Center has been chosen to host the June 9 regional meeting for the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. Federal, national, regional, state and local health care leaders will tour the health center and meet to discuss collaboration opportunities and challenges. 

Lexington Regional Health Center (LRHC) has been selected by Modern  Healthcare as one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Healthcare, a national recognition  honoring organizations that excel in creating outstanding workplace environments and  supporting their teams.