The Science of Hope
Sanford Researcher Pilar de la Puente, PhD, is revolutionizing women's cancer research with groundbreaking work on chemoresistance and early detection. Her innovative approach has earned elite NIH recognition, accolades from her home town in Spain, and even the chance to featured in a comic book!
USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Lucas Seehafer, DPT, PhD
When you ask Lucas Seehafer, an assistant professor at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, what he thinks about his experience at the University of South Dakota School of Health Sciences, his answer is swift and definitive:
USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Alice Cruz Morales
For Alice Cruz Morales, clinical coordinator and director at a Wyoming substance use treatment center, the USD School of Health Sciences Addiction Counseling and Prevention program represented not just an educational opportunity but hope for a future she thought she might never have.
AI in Healthcare: Weighing the Benefits and Risks
The incredible speed at which artificial intelligence (AI) has been adopted in medicine has outpaced the regulatory environment that would typically provide guidance and rules regarding its use. As of the writing of this article, no federal regulation exists to clearly answer common questions.
Up for the Challenge: The June E. Nylen Cancer Center vs Cancer in Siouxland
Iowa continues to have one of the highest rates of new cancer diagnoses in the country, second only to Kentucky in per capita cases. More concerning still, Iowa remains the only state in the nation with increasing cancer rates. For residents of Northwest Iowa, this sobering reality makes the presence of the June E. Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City not just a convenience, but a necessity.
USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Karlee Burton, OTD, OTR/L
For Karlee Burton, the journey to becoming an occupational therapist began a long way from South Dakota. Born and raised in central Oregon, Burton studied exercise science and business at a small Oregon college and says she "took a leap of faith" during the pandemic in choosing the USD School of Health Sciences for her doctoral studies.
New Report Verifies What SD Nurses Know
A new report from the personal finance website WalletHub ranks South Dakota among the worst states for nurses.
Designing the Future of Healthcare
At CMBA Architects, people are at the heart of everything we do. Our genuine care for individuals – and our insight into how they experience the spaces we design – drives us to create healthcare environments that are not only functional but transformative for everyone who uses them.
The Hip Duo: Elevating Orthopedic Care in the Black Hills
Monument Health's rare pediatric hip specialists bring university-level surgical expertise to the region, performing complex procedures that keep young patients active and pain-free without traveling hundreds of miles for care.
History Meets Modern Charm at Preacher Smith’s Taproom
When you find yourself in the Black Hills, a visit to The Lodge at Deadwood’s newest social hub is a must. Preacher Smith’s Taproom & Commons, a new cocktail bar serving spirits, craft beers and perfectly crafted cocktails…
Area Rural Hospitals Hospitals Achieve National Distinction
Several rural hospitals across South Dakota and Iowa have earned prestigious national recognition on the 2025 Chartis Center for Rural Health's Top 100 lists, with some achieving the even more elite Top 20 status from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).
USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Lisa Varenhorst, DNP
After 23 years in critical care nursing at facilities from Kansas City to Sanford, this mother of three leveraged USD's flexible DNP program to transform her teaching approach and prepare for future leadership opportunities.
USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Jason Simon-Ressler
Although he could not have known it at the time, Jason Simon-Ressler's path to a career in public health began with a high school research paper on childhood obesity. Later, while playing football for USD and pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Sports Management, he remembered that experience and…
No News Is Not Good News: Overlooked Diagnostic Test Results
Diagnostic test results are a critical component of patient care and the tests we order are increasing in numbers and complexity. Missed or delayed follow-up can lead to adverse outcomes, including delayed diagnoses, unnecessary complications, and potential medical liability claims…
Where Expertise & Education Meet
For Dr. Jeffrey Murray, the opening of the new Sanford Center for Digestive Health represents the culmination of a decade-long vision—one that promises to transform digestive healthcare across the Dakotas and beyond.
Grace Hayworth, OTS: A Success Story from USD's School of Health Sciences
Grace Hayworth had her sights set on a career in Occupational Therapy since she was a young teen. So when she was exposed to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy during her undergraduate special education fieldwork, she "put it in the back of her mind".
Managing Challenging Patient Interactions
Difficult patient encounters are something all medical providers may face and patient factors such as strong emotions, somatization, unrealistic expectations, and mental health issues commonly contribute to these.
USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Marit Johnson, PT,MSPT, PhD
Marit Johnson of Florence, South Dakota, started her professional life as a civil engineer. She loved math and science and figured that civil engineering would allow her to apply both. But after three years in the field, she realized there was something else she loved just as much.
How an OB/GYN is Improving Clinician Experience at Sanford Health
If you’re a clinician, you know how easy it is for stress to pile on. Compassion fatigue, long hours and staff shortages can all negatively affect physical and mental health for medical professionals.
Pride & Promise: Eight Healthcare Leaders Share their Wins for '24 and their Hopes for '25
In our ongoing effort to keep our metaphorical finger on the pulse of what's happening in our wide and diverse medical community, we have once again invited eight regional healthcare leaders to share their insights about the year past and the year to come.