The South Dakotan M.D. is the story hub of the USD Sanford School of Medicine. Here you’ll find stories and news highlighting the meaningful contributions of our students, faculty and staff, and alumni.
Medicine & Health
Addressing Critical Needs: Sanford School of Medicine Establishes New Emergency Medicine Department
The Latest
Jul 02, 2025
Dr. Keith Hansen Elected South Dakota State Medical Association President
Keith Hansen, M.D., chair of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (SSOM) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was named the 144th president of the South Dakota State Medical Association (SDSMA) during the organization’s annual meeting in May.
Jun 26, 2025
The Journey of a Medical Student: Part 4
In the final chapter of our series chronicling the journeys of medical students from Pillar 1 to Match Day, some of our newest graduates reflect on the challenges they’ve overcome and the triumphs that have shaped their paths to becoming physicians.
Jun 26, 2025
Opening the Envelope: An Inside Look at the Class of 2025 Match Day
On Match Day 2025, the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine’s graduating class opened their envelopes to learn where they matched for residency, marking the culmination of years of hard work and anticipation.
Jun 25, 2025
Capturing Lee Medicine
The Lee Medicine Photography Interest Group, founded in 2013 at the Andrew E. Lee Memorial Medicine & Science Building, brings together students, faculty, and staff at USD’s Sanford School of Medicine to share their passion for photography.
Alumni
Dr. Tom Hermann Takes Nontraditional Route Into Medicine
Here are two pictures to spark your imagination: the first is a college-aged man dressed in stereotypical 1970s garb, passionately debating his classmates on the moral validity of the Vietnam War. The only thing longer than his hair and his discourse is his beard. After a successful debate, he stands and tells his intellectual opponents that he must go; there is a yoga class at 4 p.m. and he has a date with the ski slope to follow.
First Native American USD Medical School Graduate Sophie Two Hawk Deeply Rooted in Healing
Family matriarch Dr. Sophie Two Hawk ’87 was always certain her life’s path would lead her to be a healer, coming from several generations of holistic healers with a firm footing in whole-person health care.
The View of a Lifetime Inspires
Dr. Jacob Weasel, general surgeon at Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota, shares what he believes is the common thread between adventurer and healer.
More Headlines
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Dr. William Fuller: A Half Century Career
Summary: Dr. William Fuller has dedicated more than 50 years to advancing psychiatry in South Dakota, founding key residency and fellowship programs at the University of South Dakota’s Sanford School of Medicine, which have expanded the state’s psychiatric workforce and improved access to mental health care.
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Surgical Knots and Family Ties
Summary: Dr. Brandt Becker, a 2008 alumnus of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, gives back to his hometown of Pierre, South Dakota, by providing essential care through a variety of procedures and strong patient relationships.
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Graphic Medicine: A Powerful Tool for Teaching Empathy
Summary: The University of South Dakota’s Sanford School of Medicine is using graphic medicine—a blend of comics and health care—to help medical students better understand patient experiences and connect visually and emotionally with complex topics like illness and trauma.
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Schuneman Family Scholarship Benefits Milbank Community and FARM Students
Summary: Bill and Jill Schuneman, longtime residents of Milbank, South Dakota, have established the Bill & Jill Schuneman Family Excellence in Rural Medicine Scholarship at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. This endowed fund supports a third-year medical student who completes part of their clinical training through the FARM rural medicine program at Milbank Area Hospital.
Guest Column
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.
