The Career of Dr. Matthew Simmons, Rapid City Dean
A practicing neurologist for 35 years, Dr. Simmons has been actively involved in medical education at the USD SSOM since he joined the Rapid City medical community in 1992. During his tenure at the medical school, Dr. Simmons implemented innovative approaches enabling students to reach their full potential as well-rounded physicians with medical knowledge, skill, and humanistic qualities to serve future generations. Through his efforts to build partnerships with institutions and individuals, he created opportunities for students to complete basic and advanced clinical training in the Rapid City area.
As one of six children, Dr. Simmons and his siblings were highly encouraged by their parents to participate fully in school and extracurricular activities. While a high school student in Olivia, Minnesota, a small farming community in the southwestern part of the state, his initial interest in a career in medicine sprouted.
It blossomed after he enrolled at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and entered a premedical curriculum. It was also during that time he had his first meaningful experiences in patient care, working as a nursing assistant. He continued into medical school at Creighton and married one of his classmates, Lynn Harvey, who was from Lead, South Dakota.
The couple’s medical school graduation was truly a family moment: “Our son was born while we were beginning our fourth year of medical school and the three of us walked together across the stage at graduation,” Dr. Simmons said.
The new family moved on to the University of Minnesota for residencies, and the two physicians finished out their training, Matthew in neurology and Lynn in pediatrics. His military assignment then took them to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, where their second child, a daughter, was born. In 1992, their last relocation was to Rapid City, and the family welcomed another daughter there.
Dr. Simmons began practicing at what is now Monument Health Neurology and Rehabilitation, and shortly thereafter began teaching at the University of South Dakota SSOM. As a clinical faculty member, he rose in rank from associate professor to professor and was leader of the neurology clerkship from 2007- 2011. While engaging in medical education for the USD SSOM, he advanced to higher levels of academic responsibility and was named Rapid City campus dean in 2011.
“I have been fortunate to work with Dr. Simmons for several years, and his experience and leadership qualities will serve our Rapid City campus very well,” Dr. Rodney R. Parry, former dean of the Sanford School of Medicine, said in 2011. “As a colleague, he is greatly respected, and he is very deserving of this opportunity to lead our program and continue serving as an invaluable mentor to students on the Rapid City campus.”
Dr. Simmons’ prolific career was worthy of many recognitions. In 2021, he was named the John C. Sall, M.D., Professor in Medicine. In 2016, he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society; in 2010, he was recipient of a teacher recognition award by the American Academy of Neurology Section of Neurologic Educators; and in 2009, he was awarded the Anton Hyden Distinguished Professor Award by the Sanford School of Medicine Class of 2009 for being the “professor who helped and inspired most” during the class’s clinical years.
“To be recognized for my work by students and colleagues has filled my ‘happy file’ with warm memories,” said Dr. Simmons. “The students and colleagues at the medical school have collectively lifted me up through kindness, mentoring, and demonstrating the virtues they bring to the USD SSOM.” He counts being elected as a Fellow in the American Academy of Neurology in 2018 and the professorship in Dr. John Sall’s memory as two career highlights.
Most recently, Dr. Simmons’ academic work included service to the SSOM Pillar 2 workgroup, Longitudinal Clerkship Coordinating Committee, Administrative Council, and Medical Education Committee.
“I have enjoyed each of the different leadership roles I have been in and especially the role of campus dean,” he stated. “I have appreciated all the academic activities including teaching, delivering educational programs, scholarly work and creating new ways of educating future physicians. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to develop extracurricular programs in the medical humanities focusing on theater, literature, history and art.”
Dr. Jerome Freeman, chair of the SSOM Department of Neurology, and Dr. Simmons have been colleagues for more than 30 years.
“Dr. Simmons is resourceful, inquisitive and kind,” described Dr. Freeman. “Not only that, but he is also a champion for the humanities and has mentored and inspired many medical students. As West River dean, he very effectively integrated kindness and humanities into his approach to students and colleagues alike.”
Jamie Parker, who has worked as an LPN alongside Dr. Simmons for most of a decade, described him as a warm-hearted person, both as a physician and a person.
“Dr. Simmons truly cares about patients and staff alike,” she said. “He loves teaching the newer generation of students and watching them excel. It has been a privilege and an honor to get to work with him.”
Although he has stepped down as campus dean, Dr. Simmons will continue his clinical neurology practice on a part-time basis, allowing him to do some additional clinical teaching and explore more dimensions in medical humanities and ethics.
“I will miss the day-to-day connections with so many wonderful people I have known as patients, students and colleagues,” he said. “I have learned so much from these relationships and have met many people who are interesting and inspirational. I will also miss being an integral part of our statewide medical educational community.
“However, I will cherish having free time to be with family and friends,” he continued. “I look forward to spending more time reading, writing, traveling, hiking in the Black Hills and working in my shop. I want to keep learning! If I need more to do, I will do some volunteer work.”
Dr. Simmons hopes he is remembered as a physician who was passionate about providing the best care for his patients and the best teaching for his students.
“I hope I demonstrated for others that providing service with kindness brings joy and that being compassionate is its own reward.”
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