Center for Health Education
FacilityA state-of-the-art, 45,000 square foot building attached via a link to Lee Medical that provides the person-centered training you need to thrive.
Contact Us
Vermillion, SD 57069
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
As the health care industry experiences unparalleled growth, it is more important than ever that you graduate with the best training and real-world experience. At the Center for Health Education and the School of Health Sciences, you are in the right place to launch your professional career. Our students:
- Gain real-world experience by working in health care teams with peers
- Exceed national average passage rates in all of their board exams
- Put their skills to practical use in countries like Guatemala
You already know you want to help others. We help you discover and excel in the health care program that fits you best.
Learn More about the Center for Health Education
Known for Excellence
USD is leading health and medicine as the state's home to the only comprehensive health sciences school and medical school.
Learn in New, State-of-the-Art Facilities
The world of health care is expanding and changing each day. At USD, we believe your learning environment should be as innovative and dynamic as this rapidly-growing field.
USD'S IHEC: Where Healthcare Teamwork Begins
From the moment undergraduate students arrive at the University of South Dakota campus, they start adjusting to a new level of independence and responsibility; they learn how to manage their time, make decisions on their own and prepare for the careers they want to pursue.
For students entering healthcare majors in the USD School of Health Sciences, some of the first practical skills they develop include learning their roles in how to work effectively with others in clinical and team-based settings.
Building Highlights
- Supports the academic, research and service missions of eight of USD’s fastest growing majors in health professional disciplines
- Contemporary facility that strengthens the opportunities for interprofessional, collaborative, hands-on experiences in simulation, classroom and lab settings
- Technology-enhanced active learning classrooms, shared faculty and staff workplace, health science labs, simulation rooms, student collaboration and study spaces and an active community dental hygiene clinic
State of the Art Systems
- First floor houses the Delta Dental Oral Health Center as well as labs and therapy rooms for various programs
- Second and third floors include study spaces, labs, classrooms and offices
- Natural light within the building; efficient systems save on overall energy costs
- Built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver rating specifications, with high performance mechanical and electrical systems
Departments & Facilities
Addiction Counseling & Prevention
A national leader in addiction counseling and prevention education for nearly 50 years, we emphasize state-of-the-art, evidence-based approaches through community partnerships and hands-on experiences.
Dental Hygiene
The Department of Dental Hygiene provides students with enriching experiences in and beyond the classroom as they prepare for careers in oral health and oral disease prevention.
Medical Lab Science
Our department prepares students to act as medical detectives on health care teams. With state-of-the-art facilities, NAACLS-accredited clinical partners, hands-on learning opportunities and expert instruction, we provide students with the robust education they need to become certified medical laboratory scientists.
Nursing
Our department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, supporting today's health care workforce and delivery of quality patient care.
Physician Assistant Program
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies offers the only physician assistant studies program in South Dakota. Graduates of the program have experienced a 100% job placement rate, with many going on to practice in the state's rural areas. Our faculty provide expert training, preparing our students to become compassionate, competent physician assistants who are leaders and collaborators on the health care team.
Public Health & Health Sciences
The Department of Public Health and Health Sciences emphasizes collaborative learning, equipping students with a rich understanding of the health care field and preparing them to excel in careers such as advocating for health policy, promoting health through education, managing health data analytics and leading collaborative health care teams. The department offers degrees at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctorate levels.
Social Work
Our department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work, preparing students to be empathetic, trustworthy and capable social workers. Our faculty bring years of social work experience to the classroom and to their research, and they work to build and improve the field as they develop our future leaders here at USD.
