Sanford Health

"I know the exact spot where I was when she called me. Because everything changed after that, you know? I actually ended up seeding that field this year, and they actually came and rode with me," said Alex Nielsen, dad of micropreemie twins Hazel and Briggs. "It was a full circle moment to go from so scary to having them being there with me. I don't know how else to describe it." From coworkers to caregivers, scared to safe and from their farm to Fargo and back again, "full circle" sums up the Nielsen family's journey. Watch their story: https://san.fo/4aei6ZP

Did you know that most of the Sanford AirMed pilots are military veterans? Many of them connect with the sense of service and mission. "We're taking some of the best clinicians in the world to those patients and bringing them back, and our job is to do that safely. So it's an extraordinary fulfilling mission," said Kerry Berg, Sanford rotor wing manager. Read about one AirMed pilot's extraordinary 50-year-career: https://san.fo/3KaiJZM

As part of National Rural Health Day, multiple Sanford Health locations have been recognized with 2025 Performance Leadership Awards for excellence in quality, outcomes and patient perspective. Compiled by the Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards honor top quartile performance (75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals in quality, outcomes, and/or patient perspective. The awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®, the industry's most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Read the full list of Sanford Health medical centers awarded below:

As the largest rural health system in the United States, Sanford Health serves over 2 million patients and over 400,000 health plan members across 320,000 square miles. With dozens of rural hospitals and clinics spanning multiple states, our teams ensure patients can receive high quality care, no matter where they live. This National Rural Health Day, we're celebrating the Power of Rural and our incredible people delivering care close to home. Thank you for going above and beyond for our patients!

Becker's Healthcare published a story on the measurable results of Sanford Health's Clinician Experience and Well-Being program, including insights Dr. Heather Spies shared with the American Medical Association. The article notes that Sanford saw an 8% increase in physician job satisfaction and a 13.8% drop in burnout – a $27 million annual saving that shows how investing in well-being strengthens both the workforce and patient care. Read more: https://san.fo/4o8pjxU

Nate Schema, president and CEO of Good Samaritan, joined the AHCA/NCAL Perspectives in Long Term Care podcast to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the financial sustainability of long-term care. He shared lessons learned about leveraging integration, investing in the workforce, and embracing technology to enhance quality and stability. The discussion also highlighted the power of servant leadership and partnerships in delivering lasting value for residents, staff and communities. Listen: https://san.fo/4oQvJD6

Sanford Research and the Mount Marty University biotechnology program have strengthened their partnership in training the next leaders in the biotechnology industry with a $100,000 donation from Sanford Research to the biotechnology program. "The real-world training provided by Sanford Research aligns perfectly with the program's focus on passing firsthand experience and professional networks from current industry professionals to its next generation of leaders," said Mark Brown, Ph.D., program executive director at Mount Marty University. Learn more: https://san.fo/483Cr1s

Our extraordinary nurses consistently demonstrate unwavering commitment, surpassing the call of duty not only in delivering exceptional clinical care to patients and their families but also going above and beyond with their comforting touch and compassion. At the heart of acknowledging and honoring these exceptional nurses is the prestigious DAISY Award, a beacon of recognition. Each month, nurses throughout Sanford Health are nominated by patients, families and coworkers who have been touched by their exceptional care, and each nomination is a testament to the dedication and compassion they exhibit. Congratulations to our recent DAISY Honorees!

Scientific American published a story, Diagnosing Type 1 Diabetes Before Symptoms Strike, spotlighting Sanford Health's leadership in advancing early detection and prevention through genetic screening. The article, which will appear in the November print issue, features insights from Dr. Kurt Griffin, principal investigator of PLEDGE and pediatric endocrinologist at Sanford Health. Dr. Griffin shared how Sanford has implemented one of the largest Type 1 diabetes population screening efforts in the country – and how findings from PLEDGE show it's feasible to integrate genetic screening into routine pediatric care. Read more: https://san.fo/3X69ixt

When Ryan VanMoer did a clinical rotation at Sanford Rock Rapids Clinic nearly two years ago, he didn't know he would return. But in February 2025, the Marshall, Minnesota native began as a physician assistant in family medicine at the clinic. "It really was that I had a rotation here. I got to know the staff that works here, the other providers. I know how the flow of the clinic worked, and I had a good experience," he said. "It was my first rotation out of school, so I was a little bit nervous jumping in and they did a great job of easing me in and making sure I was comfortable with everything." Read more from the Lyon County Reporter: https://san.fo/3XFANhq