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
Dr. April Willman Selected for Prestigious Harvard Medical School Program
The Latest
Aug 19, 2025
Sanford School of Medicine Welcomes Class of 2029 with White Coat Ceremony
The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine welcomed its newest students with a White Coat Ceremony held on Friday, July 25, in Aalfs Auditorium on the USD campus.
Aug 14, 2025
USD Sanford School of Medicine Announces It Will Move First 18 Months of M.D. to Sioux Falls
The University of South Dakota has announced that the USD Sanford School of Medicine will move the first 18 months of the Doctor of Medicine program from Vermillion to Sioux Falls starting in summer of 2027.
Jun 25, 2025
Addressing Critical Needs: Sanford School of Medicine Establishes New Emergency Medicine Department
As a first point of contact for patients in critical health situations, emergency medicine provides rapid assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
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.
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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The Journey of a Medical Student: Part 4
Summary: 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.
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Opening the Envelope: An Inside Look at the Class of 2025 Match Day
Summary: 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.
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Capturing Lee Medicine
Summary: 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.
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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.
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.
