USD Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Madison Lindsey
Madison Lindsey knew nothing about Applied Behavior Analysis when she started her career in education. She found her way to it by doing what already came naturally.
SDSMA Member Spotlight: Emily Eisenbraun
Name: Emily Eisenbraun
Class of 2027, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
SDSMA member since: 2023
What specialty(ies) are you currently considering and why? I will be applying for a dermatology residency this fall. I chose dermatology because of the meaningful, longitudinal relationships and ability to care for individuals in all stages of life. My passion for this specialty has also been shaped significantly by dermatology mentors in my hometown of Rapid City, South Dakota.
Your Home Base During Healthcare's Busiest Season
Every autumn brings a familiar rhythm to healthcare. Patient volumes begin to rise. Elective procedures increase before year-end. Medical conferences return to full schedules. Families travel to support loved ones. Specialists, vendors, educators, and healthcare leaders arrive from across the region to collaborate, teach, and provide care.
Powering the Pyramid: Pork's Role in the New Dietary Guidelines
Earlier this year, the 10th edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) was released, marking a significant turning point for nutrition policy in the U.S. These new guidelines emphasize the importance of whole, natural, real foods, including high-quality protein.
Designing Spaces That Support Healing
What defines exceptional mental and behavioral healthcare? Skilled, compassionate providers, adequate resources, and equitable access. While all of these factors are essential, one key consideration is often left out of the conversation: the space where care is delivered.
Nurturing New Nurses: How USD's DOL Grant Tackles the Shortage Behind South Dakota's Nursing Shortage
Regardless of our job titles, most of us can attribute a good part of our success to goodmentors. Nowhere is that more true than in nursing, where preceptors are key to training thenurses our rural region so desperately needs. In this month's cover feature, how the Universityof South Dakota School of Health Sciences is supporting both students and those who nurturethem.
USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Hunter Wookey, OTD
Hunter Wookey grew up in Watertown, South Dakota and earned his undergraduate degree at Minnesota State University Mankato. When it came time to choose a graduate program, he knew he wanted to stay close to home, but he was willing to go further afield to find the right fit.
A New Level of Specialized Eye Care Comes to Sioux Falls
Ophthalmology Limited is expanding their dynamic group of subspecialties with the addition of Dr. Adam Bleeker, a fellowship-trained neuro-ophthalmologist and adult strabismus surgeon.
Playing the Long Game: At 80, McFarland Clinic's Physician-Owned Model Is More Relevant Than Ever
Andrew Perry grew up in Colorado and spent a decade at the helm of a large multi-specialty group in Corvallis, Oregon. Iowa wasn't really on his radar until his longtime mentor, who had led McFarland Clinic in Ames for the previous 14 years, suggested he take a closer look.
Meet a Make-A-Wish Champion of Hope: James Wallace, MD, Pediatric Pulmonologist, Sanford Children's
I have been referring patients for more than 30 years. While the vast majority of them have cystic fibrosis, there are several other conditions that I have also been able to refer.
South Dakota State Medical Association (SDSMA) Member Spotlight: Ben Meyerink, MD
Why I chose my specialty: Primarily, I was inspired by my hometown doctor, Jerome Bentz, MD, growing up to pursue primary care. What drove me to stay on that path was seeing the longitudinal relationships with patients family physicians develop and the tremendous impact that primary care can have not only on individual preventative health but medicine and communities as a whole.
The Way Forward
The new Behavioral Health and Wellness Center at Children’s Nebraska is Omaha offers a "no wrong door" policy for self-referral and a seamless continuum of mental health services for children and teens, positioned right alongside primary care — a deliberate signal that mental health and physical health are inseparable.
Meet a Make-A-Wish Champion of Hope
Brock Doubledee, DO, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Sanford Children's is this month’s Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana ‘Champion of Hope’": “For the most part, I refer every patient who is eligible. I feel like, if you're eligible, you deserve to receive a wish.”
USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Ashley Rucker, DNP
Ashley Rucker was just 16 when she became a nurse assistant, her first step into a field that would define her professional life. After working on a medical/surgical ward, a cardiac ICU, and in home hospice (and earning as MSN), Rucker was ready to further her education
South Dakota State Medical Association (SDSMA) Member Spotlight
SDSMA has been a meaningful part of my journey as a resident, offering a platform to connect with peers and mentors. It has actively supported my professional and academic growth through opportunities in publishing, collaboration and advocacy. As I transition to fellowship, I see myself continuing this journey through the help of SDSMA to further contribute to the medical community and patients of South Dakota.
Keeping Healthcare Local: The Crucial Role of Architecture
Access to quality healthcare is a key factor in what makes communities vibrant, livable, and well-positioned for growth.
The Heart of Long-Term Care
Ashley Eastman, RN, a long-term care nurse at Good Samaritan Society - Pine River, shows what it means to have the heart of a caregiver. Her love of service started at a young age, and from there it has blossomed into a career focused on compassion.
USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Jill Baker, MSW, CSW
Jill Baker was born on an Air Force base and joined the Army straight out of high school. When she got out three and a half years later, civilian life felt like a foreign country..
South Dakota State Medical Association Member Spotlight
Megan Smith, MD, a Family Medicine Physician in Burke, SD, is this month’s SDSMA Member Spotlight: “I see daily what access to quality healthcare means to my community, and I will never turn away from advocating for fairer systems.”
Meet a Make-A-Wish Champion of Hope
Sami Awadallah, MD, Pediatric Cardiologist, with Avera Medical Group Pediatric Specialists is this month’s Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana ‘Champion of Hope’": “Children with congenital heart disease are not only suffering with physical limitations. Their view of life and the world can change…”