Sanford Bismarck to Host Doc Talk on Proven Heart Health Strategies
An expert from the Sanford Bismarck region will host a Doc Talk next week on heart health.
Measles Case Confirmed in Pembina County; North Dakota Total Reaches Two in 2026
The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is reporting one confirmed case of measles in Pembina County. This is the second measles case reported in North Dakota in 2026 and the first from Pembina County.
Sanford Health Leaders Share Optimism for the Future of Rural Health Care at National Conference
Sanford Health leaders joined more than 1,000 rural health leaders this week in Texas to commit to advancing rural health and providing quality care for patients and communities.
Lives Saved Through Helmsley AED Grants Celebrated by North Dakota HHS and Community Partners
Today, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS), North Dakota State Health Officer Sherry Adams, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, and local community members and partners celebrated the lives saved in the state through a grant program to equip rural law enforcement officers with modern, “connected” automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Dr. Michael Osterholm Recognized Among TIME’s 2026 Most Influential Health Leaders
TIME named Dr. Michael Osterholm, Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, to the 2026 TIME100 Health List of the World’s Most Influential Leaders in Health.
CHI Health St. Francis Tobacco-Free Program Launches Feb. 24
For those interested in becoming tobacco-free, CHI Health St. Francis is offering “Freedom from Smoking"—a 7-week tobacco cessation program created by the American Lung Association. Led by certified St. Francis instructors, the first session is scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24 in Conference Room 1 at the hospital. This course is free and open to the community.
Nebraska Cancer Specialists Named GO2 Center of Excellence for Lung Cancer Screening and Care
Nebraska Cancer Specialists (NCS) has been named a Center of Excellence (COE) by GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) in both Lung Cancer Screening and Lung Cancer Care, recognizing the organization’s commitment to delivering patient-centered, evidence-based services across the full lung cancer continuum. An estimated 237,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, and the disease remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Early detection through low-dose CT (LDCT) screening and advances in treatment are transforming outcomes, helping more people live longer, higher-quality lives.
MercyOne Genesis Eldridge Family Medicine Expansion Welcomes Patients on Thursday
The newly completed expansion of the MercyOne Genesis Eldridge Family Medicine location at 301 N. 4th Ave., Eldridge, will officially open on Thursday, Feb 12.
Walk-In Physical Therapy Services Now Available at Sanford Southridge Clinic in Bismarck
Sanford Health in Bismarck is now offering walk-in physical therapy services at the Southridge Clinic, located at 565 S. Seventh St.
Women With History of Stroke Have Increased Risk During or Shortly After Pregnancy
Having had a stroke caused by blocked blood vessels (ischemic stroke) more than doubled an expectant mother’s odds of having another stroke during pregnancy and within six weeks of childbirth, according to a preliminary study presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting was in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health.
ND State Health Officer Joins HHS, Helmsley Charitable Trust and Community Partners to Celebrate Lives Saved by AED Equipment Grants
North Dakota public health officials, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and community partners are celebrating the lives saved during a multi-year Automated External Defibrillator (AED) equipment grant program that provided modern AEDs to law enforcement agencies across the state.
Essentia Health and Southern Valley Fire and Rescue Celebrate Partnership to Enhance Advanced Emergency Care
Essentia Health and Southern Valley Fire and Rescue today are celebrating a milestone that expands emergency medical care for the growing communities the fire department serves. Essentia Health recently contributed $40,000 to support the fire department’s purchase of two advanced defibrillator and cardiac monitor units.
Avera Promotes Heart Health Awareness Across Communities
February is American Heart Month, a time for everyone to think about their own heart health and prevention.
CHI Health Nebraska Heart Named One of the Nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals® by Premier, Presented by Modern Healthcare
CHI Health Nebraska Heart has been named as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals® according to an independent quality analysis based on a balanced scorecard provided by Premier, Inc. and published by Modern Healthcare.
South Dakota Names Dr. Sarah Reiffenberger Family Physician of the Year
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is proud to share that Dr. Sarah Reiffenberger, MD, FAAFP, family medicine physician at Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic – Northridge, has been named South Dakota Family Physician of the Year by the South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians (SDAFP).
Hospital Invites Community Members to 2026 Ag Safety Event
Community members of all ages can learn more about the health and safety of our agricultural community at Columbus Community Hospital’s Ag Safety Event.
Community Support and Matching Funds Raise Nearly $80,000 for Cancer Care
The Community Hospital Health Foundation is proud to announce the successful completion of a cancer care matching challenge launched during the October 11 Concert for Healthcare. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of community donors and the leadership of Dr. Benjamin George, Community Hospital’s Medical Oncologist and Hematologist, the initial $10,000 matching donation was quickly met.
Public Health Education Comes to Life for Teens Through Mobile Game “Zoodemic”
The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) have launched “Zoodemic,” a free mobile app that transforms public health education into a fast-paced, interactive game for middle and high school students.
SDAHO Presents Pain Uncovered: The Hidden Connections Shaping Relief and Dependence
Chronic pain exists along a continuum from acute injury to long-standing, centralized pain shaped by neuroplastic changes, trauma, and stress-related learning in the brain and body. Advances in neuroscience and epigenetics show how adverse experiences can alter pain processing and gene expression over time, helping explain why pain may persist even after tissue healing. Accurate identification of pain type is essential for selecting appropriate treatments, including pharmacologic options, while also recognizing the risks associated with long-term opioid therapy, complex persistent opioid dependence, and opioid use disorder. This program will look at current evidence to build integrated, patient-centered strategies that address pain, trauma, and opioid related risk together. Participation is free. Pre-registration is required.
McFarland Clinic Welcomes Urologist Steven Thoma, MD
McFarland Clinic announces that Steven Thoma, MD, will join the Clinic’s Urology Department in Ames on March 1.