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.
The Latest
Oct 23, 2025
Nursing Alumna Selected for 2025 Dole Caregiver Fellow Leadership Program
At just 23 years old, Kylie Briest has spent nearly her entire life as a caregiver. In 2005, her father, U.S. Army Sgt. Corey Briest, was severely injured by an IED explosion in Iraq. The blast left him with a traumatic brain injury, resulting in limited mobility, vision and speech. Kylie Briest was only three years old at the time.
Sep 16, 2025
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.
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.
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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CPCM Trains Hundreds on Child Maltreatment Prevention
Summary: The University of South Dakota’s Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM) has implemented a training module that has guided hundreds of health care students and professionals in recognizing the first signs of child abuse.
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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.
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.
