Sietstra to Lead Orange City Area Health System
Orange City Area Health System has appointed Chris Sietstra as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective July 6, according to an announcement from the health system.
Mary Lanning Healthcare Appoints New President and CEO
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.
Dakota Vascular Sponsors With The Helpline Center to Expand Community Support and Mental Health Access in the Sioux Falls Region
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.
Avera Health Receives Wellvana CARE Award
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.
University of South Dakota Names Betsy Becker, Ph.D., DPT, Dean of the School of Health Sciences
The University of South Dakota has announced the appointment of Betsy Becker, Ph.D., DPT, as the next dean of the School of Health Sciences. A distinguished clinician, educator and administrator, Becker returns to her alma mater to lead the school as its fourth dean since its establishment in 2008.
MercyOne Announces New President and CEO
After a nationwide search, Robert Baxter, FACHE, has been named the new president and CEO of MercyOne beginning on Monday, June 22. Bob will succeed Michael Taylor, who has served in an interim capacity since the beginning of January.
Waverly Health Center Nationally Recognized for Excellence in Rural Health Care
Waverly Health Center (WHC) has received two significant national recognitions, further reinforcing its commitment to delivering high quality, person-centered care to Northeast Iowa.
ORA Orthopedics Becomes First in the U.S. to Introduce Advanced Weight-Bearing CT Scanner
ORA Orthopedics is proud to announce the addition of the Planmed XFI Cone-beam CT Scanner, an advanced imaging system that delivers detailed, three-dimensional images while allowing patients to be scanned in a natural, weight-bearing position.
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.
JCH&L Named Among 100 Critical Access Hospitals to Know
Jefferson Community Health & Life has been named by Becker's Hospital Review as one of 100 noteworthy hospitals in its annual “Critical Access Hospitals to Know” list.
MercyOne Dubuque Earns Iowa’s First Renewal Recognition for Pediatric Readiness
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center is the first hospital in Iowa to renew its emergency department pediatric readiness recognition through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS), Iowa Pediatric Emergency Assessment and Care Recognition Program (IPEAC).
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Among Iowa Leaders in Advanced 4D Intracardiac Echocardiogram Procedure
Iowa Methodist Medical Center has become one of the first in Iowa to perform a procedure using 4D intracardiac echocardiogram (ICE) ultrasound technology, marking a significant advancement in cardiovascular care for patients in Iowa.
Deceased Donation in Transplantation Expands Access Through Emerging Pathways
For patients with organ failure, transplantation remains the most effective, and often lifesaving, treatment. Yet access to transplant continues to lag far behind need, particularly in kidney disease. Deceased donation plays a central role in closing that gap.
Becca Jordre Receives National Physical Therapy Award
A professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of South Dakota has been honored with an American Physical Therapy Association award.
BHECN Releases 2026 Behavioral Health Workforce Capacity Report
The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN), housed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has released its 2026 Behavioral Health Workforce Capacity Report, highlighting measurable growth in Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce and its impact on access to care.
Sanford Health Recognized Again for Highest Level of Commitment to Workplace Mental Health
Mental Health America (MHA) has awarded Sanford Health the 2026 Platinum Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health. This is the fourth year in a row Sanford Health has received recognition from Mental Health America and back-to-back years achieving platinum status.