HHS Celebrates Inaugural Award Recipients in Behavioral Health and Child Welfare
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) recognized the first-ever recipients of awards celebrating outstanding contributions to behavioral health and child welfare. The awards were presented during the fifth annual Behavioral Health and Children and Family Services Conference, held Oct. 20–23, at the Bismarck Event Center.
Essentia Health–South University Clinic Welcomes Pediatric Cardiologist Dr. Markus Erb
Essentia Health-South University Clinic is proud to welcome pediatric cardiologist Dr. Markus Erb.
Lisa Aguilar, RRT, Recognized with PHIL Award
Lisa Aguilar, RRT, RPFT, was awarded Monument Health’s 2024 PHIL award. The Phil Award, which is The FACES Foundation’s signature program, is the only nationally recognized hospital-based recognition program dedicated to honoring outstanding respiratory therapists who provide exemplary care and treatment for patients with respiratory illnesses. Winners are nominated by patients, family members and other caregivers.
Samantha Simley Joins Essentia Health–Fargo as a Palliative Care Practitioner
Essentia Health-Fargo is proud to welcome Samantha Simley, a certified physician assistant who will practice palliative care.
Essentia Health–45th Street Clinic Welcomes Family Medicine Practitioner Jenna Sandman
The Essentia Health-45th Street Clinic is proud to welcome Jenna Sandman, an advanced practice nurse and certified nurse practitioner who will practice family medicine.
Great Plains Health Board Chair Honored as Nebraska Hospital Association Trustee of the Year
Lindsay Pedersen, Board Chair at Great Plains Health, has been selected as the Nebraska Hospital Association's (NHA) Trustee of the Year. Pedersen received the award at the NHA annual banquet on Wednesday, October 22.
Nate Schema of Good Samaritan Appointed Vice Chair of AHCA Board of Governors
Good Samaritan president and CEO Nate Schema has been elected as Vice Chair of the American Health Care Association’s (ACHA) Board of Governors. AHCA is the nation’s largest association representing long-term and post-acute care communities.
Dr. Talalaev Joins Good Samaritan as Critical Care Pulmonologist
CHI Health Clinic Pulmonary Medicine/Critical Care (Good Samaritan) welcomes board-certified critical care pulmonologist Dr. Michael Talalaev, DO to its staff.
Dr. Sweasy to Head Nationwide Initiative Addressing Rural Cancer as New AACI President
Joann Sweasy, PhD, director of the National Cancer Institute-designated Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, will begin her two-year term as president of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) with a bold vision to confront one of the nation’s most pressing health disparities: rural cancer care. The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is Nebraska’s only NCI-designated center and one of only 73 in the nation.
Amy Childers Recognized with Caring Kind Award
Amy Childers, PharmD, pharmacy clinical coordinator at Great Plains Health, has been recognized with the Caring Kind award from the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA).
Gehring and Sprunk Recognized as 40 Under 40 Awardees
Columbus Community Hospital nurses Kayla Gehring, MSN, MBA, RN, and Natalie Sprunk, MSN, RN, were recently honored at the Nebraska Nurses Association (NNA) Annual Convention as members of the 2025 40 Under 40 class. The recognition ceremony took place Oct. 3 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska.
Miah Lee Joins Essentia Health-Wahpeton as Internal Medicine Practitioner
The Essentia Health-Wahpeton Clinic is excited to welcome certified physician assistant Miah Lee, who will practice internal medicine.
Best Practices in Documentation: Caring for Patients Unable to See Mental Health Specialists in a Timely Manner
At a time when so many people are in need of mental health services, what is the best way to protect yourself when your patient can't get a timely appointment? The experts at COPIC say proper documentation is key.
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:
CHI Health Good Samaritan Nurses Named Top 40 Under 40
Jennifer Tobias, RN-BSN, MSN, and Whitney Cole, BSN, RN, both from CHI Health Good Samaritan, were honored with the 40 Under 40 Award that recognizes emerging nurse leaders on Oct. 3.
Dr. Thao Nguyen Joins Regional West Physicians Clinic-Internal Medicine
New physician Thao Nguyen, DO, was recently welcomed to the team of physicians and providers at Regional West Physicians Clinic-Internal Medicine.
Essentia Health-Fargo Welcomes Hospitalist Dr. Dennis Mensah
Essentia Health-Fargo is proud to welcome hospitalist Dr. Dennis Mensah.
Derek Weninger Joins Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic as Orthopedic Surgery Practitioner
Derek Weninger, a certified physician assistant, is excited to join the Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic to practice orthopedic surgery.
Students in USD’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Program Benefit from $2.25 Million HRSA Grant
A $2.25 million grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration to grow and broaden the certified registered nurse anesthetist workforce in South Dakota has provided expanded opportunities for students who want to increase their career skills.