Southeast South Dakota AHEC

09/04/2026

08/24/2026

And just like that… REHPS 2026 is officially a wrap! 💙

We’re so proud of this year’s class and all they accomplished throughout their REHPS experience. From learning alongside other health professionals to connecting with rural communities and gaining real-world experience, it’s been an incredible summer.

Thank you to our 2026 students, community partners, healthcare professionals, South Dakota Department of Health, and everyone who helped make this program possible!

📸 Here they are — the REHPS Class of 2026!

Next week, we are jumping right back in and start recruiting for REHPS 2027!

08/20/2026

🎉 Our 31st and final REHPS student for Summer 2026!

Karlie is wrapping up her summer at Avera Dells Area Hospital and Avera Medical Group Dell Rapids before heading back to SDSU soon. Karlie was excited to spend the last few weeks of her summer gaining experience in rural healthcare.

We’re proud to wrap up another successful REHPS summer with 31 students gaining valuable rural healthcare experience across South Dakota! 👏

REHPS is funded by the South Dakota Department of Health.

08/19/2026

Southeast SD AHEC is hiring! 🎉

Do you know someone who loves planning things, enjoys working with students, is super organized, wants to make an impact, and is looking for meaningful work with a flexible schedule? We’d love to connect with them!

We’re looking to add a Program Coordinator to our team to help support our expanding program needs.

📍 Remote position with regular travel, primarily throughout Southeast South Dakota, with occasional statewide travel.

📌View the full job details here: https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=8c18d1600a4ded6c&from=shareddesktop_copy

Questions or want to apply? Send your resume to [email protected]

Know someone that might be a good fit? Share this post!

08/19/2026

08/11/2026

📣We are excited to be a part of SDAHO's 2026 Annual Convention!

Southeast SD AHEC is excited to present at the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations' 2026 Annual Convention, September 16–18 in Sioux Falls!

Join Carrie Peschl, SESD AHEC's Executive Director, for her session:
Building the Rural Healthcare Workforce: The AHEC Approach
Thursday, September 17 | 1:45 p.m. CT

SDAHO is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, and this year's convention features
outstanding educational sessions, inspiring keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and much more.

We’d love to see you there! Come learn more about how AHEC is helping build and strengthen South Dakota’s rural healthcare workforce. 💙

Learn more and register: www.sdaho.org

08/10/2026

🌟 REHPS in Hot Springs! 🌟

Brooke and Tori wrapped up their REHPS experience in Hot Springs last week, and what a month it was!

As a SDSU Pharmacy student and a USD Master of Social Work student, they each brought a unique perspective to their experience while getting an inside look at what makes rural healthcare so special. During their month at River Health Services, Brooke and Tori spent time learning in the hospital, shadowing with interdisciplinary healthcare professionals, and experiencing the many sides of rural healthcare. But REHPS isn’t just about what happens inside the hospital—they also got to experience the community, culture, and rural lifestyle that make these communities such special places to live and work. ❤️

We’re so excited to see where these two go next!

A huge THANK YOU to Hot Springs and Fall River Health Services for welcoming Brooke and Tori, sharing your expertise, and showing them the excellence of rural healthcare! 🙌

08/07/2026

Casey and Jenna wrapped up their REHPS experience at Sanford Webster Medical Center this week! 🎉

During their time in Webster, they had the opportunity to observe their own fields in pharmacy and physical therapy, but they also shadowed lots of other interprofessional areas including: nursing care conferences, radiology, speech therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, laboratory services, cardiac stress testing, clinic providers, and front office staff.

But REHPS is also about experiencing rural life, too, and the Webster community welcomed them with open arms, whether they were attending swim meets and baseball games, spending time at The Fit Zone, or grabbing Brewhouse coffee.

These experiences help students see what makes rural healthcare so special: strong teams, close-knit communities, and meaningful connections. We're proud to help train the next generation of the rural healthcare workforce, one community at a time.

REHPS is funded by the South Dakota Department of Health.

08/06/2026

🏥 Another successful REHPS experience in the books!

Carson recently completed his REHPS placement at Monument Health Custer Hospital. As a physical therapy student, he gained valuable clinical experience while also shadowing various health professionals.

Experiences like these highlight the collaborative nature of rural healthcare and help prepare the next generation of providers for practice in rural communities.

A huge thank you to Monument Health Custer Hospital for hosting Carson and for showcasing the excellence of rural healthcare. 👏

08/05/2026

We're grateful for the strong partnerships that help make our work possible. Thank you to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital for providing a space and lunch for our Board of Directors meeting today. As a small nonprofit, having community partners who are willing to share their resources allows us to focus even more on our mission of strengthening the rural healthcare workforce. We truly appreciate your support!