Avera Physicians Honored with USD Department of Pediatrics Awards

The 2022 USD Department of Pediatric Master Clinician Awardee and and Department Vice Chair, Dr. Lesta Whalen (right), with the 2025 USD Department of Pediatric Master Clinician Awardee, Dr. John Sanders (left)

University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine 2025 Department of Pediatrics Awards were announced April 17 at Research and Scholarship Day 2025. John Sanders, MD, Avera Pediatric Nephrologist, received the Master Clinician Award.

Arielle Deutsch, PhD, received academic promotion. Several Avera physicians received promotion to Clinical Professors, including Marty Allison, MD; Rochelle Boote, MD; Kingshuk Dasgupta, MD; Shannon Emry, MD; Ashutosh Gupta, MD; Elizabeth Peck, MD; Nicole Poppinga, MD; John Sanders, MD; Jennifer Tegethoff, MD; and Katherine Wang, MD; with Courtney Backer, MD being promoted to Clinical Associate Professor and Nicholas Torbert, DO, being promoted to Clinical Assistant Professor. 

 Maria Barber, DO contributed on both the Department Awards Committee and as an Abstract Grader for the research day. USD medical student Narysse Nicolet was recognized for best clinical or translational research on food security during pregnancy, co-authored by Avera researchers Amy Elliott, PhD; Christine Hockett, PhD; Lacey McCormack, PhD; and Katherine Ziegler, MPH.