USD Dental Hygiene Expands Partnership with City of Sioux Falls, Falls Community Health
The Sioux Falls City Council unanimously approved the partnership at its meeting on Aug. 18. The agreement builds on collaboration among USD, the City of Sioux Falls and Falls Community Health and supports shared efforts to address community health needs.
Joe Kippley, J.D. ’10, public health director for the City of Sioux Falls, said, “Healthcare workforce will continue to be a challenge in both rural and urban areas throughout our state, so it is great to have a leader like USD valuing partnerships with the City of Sioux Falls, the health systems and the broader business community to meet these future workforce needs.”
Expanding access to dental care has been identified as a priority for Sioux Falls, according to the city’s 2025 Community Health Assessment. The partnership will help connect community members with dental services while providing meaningful clinical learning opportunities for USD dental hygiene students.
“This not only streamlines the patient experience but also maintains meaningful student learning opportunities and clinical support for families served by Falls Community Health,” said Betsy Becker, DPT, Ph.D., dean of the USD School of Health Sciences. “Perhaps most importantly, the transition reflects our shared responsibility to build sustainable solutions that expand access to care, prepare future health professionals and respond to community needs.”
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