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Contact Information:

Nat'l Center of Excellence Demonstration Project
1400 West 22nd Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
phone: 605-357-1500
fax: 605-357-1546
crhi@usd.edu

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Last Modified: 01/22/08

center for rural health improvement earns USD designation as a national center of excellence in women's health region VIII demonstration project

Women's health in South Dakota is taking center stage in a new effort to create a culture of women's health research, education, leadership, outreach and clinical care. The University of South Dakota School of Medicine is playing a lead role in that effort and is proud to announce a new contract for the National Center of Excellence in Women's Health Demonstration Project in partnership with University Physicians, Sioux Valley Hospital and Sioux Valley Clinics.

The national Centers of Excellence in Women's Health program will focus on five key areas: the retention and promotion of women faculty, professional education, community outreach, clinical care, and research. Primary funding for the contract was awarded by the Office on Women's Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to total $500,000 over four years.

The goal of the project is to improve the health of South Dakota women by teaching students and working health professionals about evidence-based women's health topics while improving the health literacy of women through social marketing. The project also aims to coordinate with public health, rural primary care, Indian Health Service and tribal health programs to make an impact on all demographics across the state.

The clinical care provision is at the University Physicians Clinic and Sioux Valley Clinic - OB/GYN Ltd.  The project is being directed by Sarah L. Patrick, MPH, PHD, director of the Center for Rural Health Improvement, Department of Family Medicine in the University of South Dakota Health Science Center in Sioux Falls.  Other key personnel include Lisa Ellis, MD, Deputy Director (Sioux Valley Clinic); Turi McNamee, MD, Co-Curriculum Director (Transitional Year Residency, Program Director), Janet Lindemann, MD, Co-Curriculum Director (USDSM Dean of Medical Education), Lori Hansen, MD, Leadership Director (Dean, USDSM Yankton Campus), Susan Anderson, MD, Clinical Care Director (USDSM Department of Family Medicine), and Maria Bell, MD, Research Director (Sioux Valley Clinic and USDSM Department of Ob/Gyn).