2025 Avera Quality Congress Recognizes Outstanding Projects and Leaders
Leaders of quality improvement projects and individuals who exemplify Avera’s values of hospitality, compassion and stewardship were honored at the Avera Quality Congress on Sept. 16 in Sioux Falls, SD. A total of 84 projects and individuals were nominated. Over 500 Avera employees and special guests attended the conference.
Kearney Regional Medical Center Welcomes Dr. Vinayak Nagaraja to Cardiovascular Services
Kearney Regional Medical Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Vinayak Nagaraja to our cardiovascular care team.
Sanford Health Introduces New Allergist in Bismarck
Kranthi Nomula, M.D., a fellowship-trained allergy and immunology specialist has joined Sanford Bismarck to expand services in allergy and immunology.
Freeman Regional Health Services Appoints Michelle Neuharth, BSN, RN, as System Director of Nursing
Freeman Regional Health Services (FRHS) is pleased to announce that Michelle Neuharth, BSN, RN, has accepted the position of System Director of Nursing. In this new role, Michelle will oversee nursing across the hospital, nursing home, assisted living, and independent living. She will provide leadership in aligning nursing practice, policies, and resources to ensure consistent, high-quality care throughout FRHS.
Monument Health Adds 31 New Physicians Over 12 Weeks
Monument Health continues its aggressive expansion to meet growing regional health care demands, adding 31 new physicians between July 1 and October 1, 2025. This surge brings the total physician recruitment to 107 new providers over the past 27 months.
UnityPoint Clinic Introduces New Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner
UnityPoint Clinic is excited to announce Holly Sachau, NP-C, joined the team of providers at UnityPoint Clinic General Surgery and Gastroenterology. Sachau will offer services alongside Ben Pottebaum, MD and Ashley Dyhrkopp, NP-C.
University of Iowa Physician–Scientist Awarded Nation’s Top Biomedical Research Honor
Michael J. Welsh, MD, a UI professor and proud Iowa native, has received America’s preeminent biomedical research prize—the 2025 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award—for his pioneering discoveries in cystic fibrosis (CF) research, which paved the way for life-saving therapies for people with CF.
Gothenburg Health Board of Directors Appoints Andrew Knust as Chief Executive Officer
Gothenburg Health Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Knust as its new Chief Executive Officer. Knust, who has served the organization since 2017, brings valuable experience in healthcare leadership and a strong commitment to advancing rural health services.
Sanford Health Welcomes New Internal Medicine Physician in Bismarck
Jonah Warwick, M.D., an internal medicine specialist has joined Sanford Bismarck and is accepting new patients.
Kimberly Hinkel Joins Essentia Health–32nd Avenue Clinic as Interventional Neurologist Provider
Kimberly Hinkel, a certified physician assistant, is excited to join the Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic to practice interventional neurology.
Stephanie Atiga Joins Essentia Health–32nd Avenue Clinic as Cardiology Provider
Advanced practice nurse and certified nurse practitioner Stephanie Atiga is excited to join the Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic to practice cardiology.
Brittany Almquist Joins Essentia Health–45th Street Clinic as Family Medicine Provider
The Essentia Health-45th Street Clinic is proud to welcome certified physician assistant Brittany Almquist, who will practice family medicine.
Mary Lanning Healthcare Announces 2025 Caring Kind Award Recipient
Laboratory employee Hailey Morrow recently was named the Mary Lanning Healthcare Caring Kind Award recipient for 2025.
Sanford Health Welcomes New Family Medicine Physician in Mandan
Jordan Barth, M.D., a family medicine specialist has joined the Sanford North Mandan Clinic and is accepting new patients.
Sanford Health CIO Brad Reimer to Share Expertise on Technology and Innovation Investments at Newsweek Digital Health Care Forum
Sanford Health senior vice president and chief information officer Brad Reimer will be a featured speaker at the Newsweek Digital Health Care Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 16 in New York City. The event will gather executives from the nation’s top health systems and explore the impacts and challenges of recent technological innovations.
Rehfeldt Honored with Avera Queen of Peace Hospital DAISY Award
Avera Queen of Peace Hospital is pleased to announce that Althea Rehfeldt, RN, is the most recent recipient of its quarterly nurse recognition program called the DAISY Award.
Phelps Medical Group Welcomes Dr. Kevin Amthor, D.O., to Holdrege
Phelps Medical Group is proud to welcome Dr. Kevin Amthor, D.O., to its medical team. Dr. Amthor is a board-certified family medicine physician dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care for individuals and families across all stages of life.
Monument Health Welcomes Internationally Trained Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon to Heart and Vascular Institute
Monument Health is proud to announce the addition of Tommaso Cambiaghi, M.D., to its nationally recognized Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI). Dr. Cambiaghi joins the award-winning team as a Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon, bringing a unique combination of international training and cutting-edge expertise in complex Cardiothoracic and Vascular procedures.
West River ENT Launches PRP Treatment for Loss of Smell in the Black Hills
Rapid City Medical Center is proud to announce that Dr. Dallin Christensen, ENT physician, is now offering Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections for patients suffering from loss of smell. Dr. Christensen is the first ENT specialist in the Black Hills region to offer this advanced therapy.
Essentia Health–South University Clinic Welcomes Dermatologist Dr. Thomas Matzke
The Essentia Health-South University Clinic is proud to welcome dermatologist Dr. Thomas Matzke.