The South Dakotan Health is the story hub of the USD School of Health Sciences. Here you’ll find stories and news highlighting the meaningful contributions of our students, faculty and staff, and alumni.
Medicine & Health
Students in USD’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Program Benefit from $2.25 Million HRSA Grant
The Latest
Sep 26, 2025
Coming Full Circle: Physical Therapy Grad Trains at Institute that Saved Her Limb
When Haley Grudzinski was just six weeks old, her family was faced with a difficult choice. Grudzinski had been born with congenital femoral deficiency, or CFD: a condition in which the femur is underdeveloped, leaving her right leg a few inches shorter than her left.
Sep 26, 2025
USD Professor Receives Lucy Blair Physical Therapy Award
University of South Dakota’s Kory Zimney, DPT, Ph.D., has received a Lucy Blair Service Award from the American Physical Therapy Association, the country’s professional membership entity for physical therapists.
Aug 22, 2025
CPCM to Co-Host Child Abuse Prevention Training Conference
The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment, in partnership with South Dakota’s Unified Judicial System Court Improvement Program and Child’s Voice at Sanford Health, will co-host a child abuse prevention training conference on Oct. 2-3 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
Aug 22, 2025
USD Dental Hygiene Alumna Named ADHA President
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association has elected a 1995 graduate of the University of South Dakota Department of Dental Hygiene as the organization’s 99th president.
Alumni
Brock Rops Receives South Dakota Office of Rural Health Award
The South Dakota Office of Rural Health has announced that Brock Rops has been named recipient of the South Dakota Office of Rural Health Community Star award.
The Magic of Starting Over: Alumnus Dave Hobler Creates Scholarship Reflective of His Experiences
"When you’re handed lemons, you need to figure out how to make lemonade."
Students Advance Education in State’s Largest City at USD – Sioux Falls
University of South Dakota – Sioux Falls students are taking advantage of the high-quality, affordable education and small class sizes offered at the university’s Sioux Falls campus.
More Headlines
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Interdisciplinary Clinical Outreach Trip Changes Lives for USD Students
Summary: When five University of South Dakota students packed their bags for Guatemala, they weren’t just gearing up for a change of scenery – they were embarking on a life-changing experience.
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Senator Reed Elected as Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment Advisory Board Chair
Summary: South Dakota Sen. Tim Reed, District 7, was elected as advisory board chair for the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM) during the April 2025 board meeting. Reed has served on the Advisory Board since 2020 and previously served as board chair in 2021-22.
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CPCM Improves Nutrition Security and Child Health Through WIC-CIAO Grant
Summary: The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM), a center of the University of South Dakota, has spent the past year implementing initiatives to improve nutrition security and child health in South Dakota, thanks to a $1 million subaward from the Food Research & Action Center.
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USD Student Anna Harlan Receives Airman of the Year
Summary: Anna Harlan, a senior health sciences major at the University of South Dakota, has been selected as one of the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) Airmen of the Year for 2024.
Guest Column
I chose family medicine because I love the idea of being 'everyone's doctor.' I also love making sure my patients are up to date with their immunizations and health care screenings. It's so important.
Guest Column | Lizz & Robbie Nicholas
Elizabeth (Hoffman) Nicholas, a Eureka, South Dakota native, and Robert Nicholas, a Huron, South Dakota native, met at the University of South Dakota when they were both in the Alumni Student Scholars Program, each with the dream of becoming a doctor.
