Spring 2015

SPRING 2015 | SANFORDHEALTH.ORG

A new era in discovery David Pearce, PhD, takes on new role as president of Sanford Research

discoveries Spring 2015

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Message from Rich Adcock A New Era in Discovery Updates from Development & Research Events Calendar

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message from Rich Adcock

Our newest executive leader featured in this issue, David Pearce, PhD, is one of several remarkable leaders in Sanford Development and Research.

Their dedication to Sanford’s organizational values and focus on ingenuity continues to propel the entire Sanford Health organization toward new frontiers.

Sanford Health Development & Research 1305 W. 18th St. PO Box 5039 Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5039 For questions or additional information email us at discoveries@sanfordhealth.org or visit us on the web at sanfordhealth.org/publications.

In the coming months, you will hear us announce new strategic partners, you will see us expand Sanford’s international presence, and you will learn more about novel investigational treatment options for patients. In fact, Sanford Health is one of just a handful of health care organizations across the globe selected to offer the latest in immunotherapy treatments for head and neck cancer and lung cancer. This progress and exciting momentum is the result of our growing physician-scientist culture at Sanford. Everyone is laser focused on improving the lives of patients and their families through innovation and discoveries that make it all the way to direct patient care.

This is what Sanford Research will be known for.

In this issue you will also learn more about key milestones reached by Sanford Health Plan and Sanford Academic Affairs. Thanks for taking the time to check in with us and explore what’s new in Development and Research at Sanford.

Rich Adcock Executive Vice President Sanford Health

A new era in discovery David Pearce, PhD, takes on new role as president of Sanford Research He is a self-proclaimed geeky scientist, but Dr. David Pearce is much more than that. Before being tapped as the new president, Dr. Pearce served as the vice president and chief operating officer for Sanford Research. He oversees research activities across Sanford’s nine-state footprint, including more than 200 researchers, five research centers and more than 350 ongoing clinical trials. But it’s

his background as a geeky scientist that has helped him make great strides in the world of medicine.

“As a kid, I was always interested in the life sciences,” says Dr. Pearce.

“I got my degree in bioscience and my PhD in biochemistry. During this time molecular genetics was really starting to emerge. The scientific community was truly beginning to understand what DNA

was all about, and I was able to do a fellowship in molecular genetics.”

Beginning with Batten disease It is with this broad background that Dr. Pearce entered into the world of research, starting with a group of pediatric neurodegenerative disorders known as Batten disease.

“I had read about Batten disease and was just shocked that this could happen to a child,” says Dr. Pearce.

“I was a new father and couldn’t help thinking, ‘What if this was my child?’ I knew I could apply what I was studying and potentially make an impact in the lives of these kids.”

Dr. Pearce’s lab is internationally recognized for its work on Batten disease and the only clinical trial available came from his research.

Future of research Sanford Research has seen tremendous progress since Dr. Pearce became vice president more than five years ago. This dynamic growth has put Sanford in an excellent place for the next five years and beyond.

“We’ve really built up our infrastructure for lab tests,” says Dr. Pearce. “We’ve done a lot of the behind-the-scenes work on a pre-clinical basis and now we are poised to apply more of what we’ve learned to patient care.”

Pearce is a father of three and can often be found on the sidelines coaching anything from soccer to softball.

In 2013, Pearce was honored as a RARE Champion of Hope by Global Genes and the RARE Project. The Champion of Hope Award recognizes an individual who is moving the bar in rare disease research and science at the national level. He is pictured with fellow honoree Dr. John C. Carey, professor and vice chair, University of Utah Health Sciences Center and School of Medicine.

This will include more clinical trials, effectively increasing treatment options for patients across the Sanford footprint. Some of those treatment options will revolve around genetic medicine.

“You’ll hear a lot more about personalized medicine,” says Dr. Pearce. “Ideally we would have DNA samples of every patient, which would go into the electronic medical record. Then, for example, when a doctor wants to try a new drug, they merely need to call up that patient’s DNA and see how the drug would affect them.”

All working together Researchers can continue to make amazing discoveries, but it takes those working with patients to move research from the lab to the clinic.

“We really need all Sanford employees to get the word out to our patients about what is happening at the Research Center,” says Dr. Pearce.

“Telling patients about clinical trials or encouraging them to give samples to the BioBank is so helpful to what we are trying to accomplish.”

Dr. Pearce will also be making his presence known a little more as he settles into his presidency. He will

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make more frequent trips to Sanford locations in Bismarck, Bemidji and Fargo and be available to talk and answer questions about the impact research has on our enterprise.

Making time for more And although Dr. Pearce is thoroughly invested in the Research Center, he doesn’t spend all his time there. Dr. Pearce is a father of three and can often be found on the sidelines coaching anything from soccer to softball.

“I really protect my time with my family,” says Dr. Pearce. “And coaching is a great way for me to do that. Things get so serious so fast for kids who play sports, but if you really want your child to stick with it, you’ve got to make it fun. Then they’ll want to come back year after year.”

And it’s this time away from the lab that gives Dr. Pearce a fresh perspective and reinvigorates his passion for research.

“We have such an active research department here at Sanford,” says Dr. Pearce. “It is truly a blessing for me to do this work and that a geeky scientist can make an impact in someone’s health and life.”

updates

Sanford vascular surgeon, Pat Kelly, MD, is enrolling patients into a clinical trial using a device he invented and developed to treat thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

Sanford Research Sanford Enrolling Patients for Aneurysm Clinical Trial Sanford Health is enrolling patients for a clinical trial using a less-invasive method to treat thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. Patrick Kelly, MD, developed the investigational device and associated surgical procedure.

An aneurysm is an enlargement in the wall of a blood vessel that can lead to tearing and life-threatening bleeding. Kelly’s stent graft system, described in a recently published article in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, seals thoracoabdominal aneurysms, which involve the thoracic aorta and extend into the abdominal aorta. Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms often include the branch arteries that supply blood to the liver, spleen, intestine, kidneys and other organs in the abdomen.

The safety profile of the stent graft system will be studied. The study will be performed under a physician-sponsored investigational device exemption, which is a medical device clinical trial approved by the FDA. Patients must meet requirements related to the location, size, history of growth and risk of rupture of their aneurysm. Enrollees must also be older than 18 and have a life expectancy greater than one year.

“This less-invasive method is important for patients who, for various reasons, are not candidates for more invasive methods of treatment and are limited in care options,” says Dr. Kelly. “Patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms who enroll in this trial may be able to help advance the science behind treating aortic disorders.”

The clinical trial, based out of Sioux Falls, is part of Sanford’s Advanced Aortic Program, which provides diagnosis, second opinions and noninvasive treatments for diseases and disorders of the arteries, veins and lymphatic system outside of the heart.

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“Dr. Kelly’s device, procedure and clinical trial represent the commitment Sanford Health has to innovative and patient-centered care,” said David Pearce, PhD, president of Sanford Research. “Our investments in such projects support discovery and advancements for both physicians and investigators.”

Dr. Kelly is medical director of Sanford Vascular Services, Sanford Wound Clinic and the Sanford Advanced Aortic Program in the Sioux Falls region and a boardcertified and fellowship-trained vascular and general surgeon. He holds dozens of patents and patent applications for medical devices and has served as a principal investigator for several clinical trials.

For information on clinical trial participation, call (605) 312-7300.

Texas Instruments, Sanford Create STEM Behind Health Texas Instruments and Sanford Health have partnered to create a classroom activities series called STEM Behind Health. Developed with top medical experts and researchers from Sanford, STEM Behind Health provides teachers and students with an interactive, hands-on way to explore the math and science concepts behind diseases still in need of a cure.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“By focusing on the math and science behind the causes, treatments and research of certain diseases, Texas Instruments, along with researchers and scientists at Sanford Health, are bringing STEM to life in the classroom,” said Peter Balyta, president of Texas Instruments Education Technology division. “We are very excited to work with Sanford Health to capture students’ curiosity and cultivate a lifelong interest in STEM subjects and careers.”

Teachers and students can download STEM Behind Health to the TINspireTM CX graphing calculator, 6 | discoveries

Texas Instruments and Sanford Health have partnered to create a classroom activities series called “STEM Behind Health.”

Student Software or TI-Nspire™ Apps for iPad®. The first activity in the series, Managing a Critical Ratio, engages students in the math and science behind insulin replacement therapy by sharing the daily struggle of Sanford nursing student and diabetic, Chelcie Weber.

“By exploring STEM careers on the front lines, students will understand how insulin ratios are critical to keep blood sugar in a safe range for individuals with diabetes.”

“For me, life is a never-ending math problem,” says Weber. “By bringing awareness of type 1 diabetes to students and teachers around the country, I hope to inspire a student to go on to one day develop a cure.”

Weber is studying to become a pediatric nurse so she can help other kids diagnosed with the disease.

Teachers’ Organization Honors Sanford Research

Type 1 diabetes is the focus of The Sanford Project, a cornerstone research initiative at Sanford Research. The Sanford Project team provided Texas Instruments with expertise on the condition as the activities were created.

“Texas Instruments and Sanford Health are committed to engaging more students in STEM subjects and getting them interested in future careers in medicine and research,” says Kurt Griffin, MD, PhD, director of clinical trials and scientist for The Sanford Project.

For more information, visit stembehindhealth.com.

The South Dakota Science Teachers’ Association has named Sanford Research a recipient of its Friend of Science Award.

The award is given annually to organizations that help facilitate the implementation of science in all grades, provide staff development for science educators and enhance cooperative relationships and partnerships between science education and industry. Sanford Research was presented the award at the 2015 South Dakota Math and Science Conference in Huron.

Through the Sanford Program for the Midwest Initiative in Science Exploration (PROMISE), K-12 students have the opportunity to participate in research at Sanford in a variety of ways, including

Elementary Science Days, Biomedical Research Investigations workshops, Science Discovery Days, research shadowing program, PROMISE Scholars internships and visits to the PROMISE Community Lab located at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls.

Undergraduates can participate in the Research Shadowing Program, the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) site in cell and molecular biology organized in conjunction with Augustana College, the Sanford Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) or the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) for Native American students.

Regional educators attend the free PROMISE Educator Enrichment workshops and participate in the National Institutes of Health supported Science Educator Research Fellowship, a paid summer experience. As an affiliate of the Project Lead the Way network, Sanford Research is creating opportunities for South Dakota schools to train educators in high-tech biomedical content without leaving

the state. A partnership with the Mid Central Education Cooperative and the PAST Foundation has allowed for the development of the South Dakota Innovation Lab, a collaborative of schools and STEM-invested organizations dedicated to improving education by promoting transdisciplinary, problem-based learning with an integrated STEM approach.

“With the goal of growing, nurturing and engaging the Midwest’s science community, PROMISE provides excellent education and outreach programs for students, educators and science-minded people within the communities Sanford Health serves,” says David Pearce, PhD, president of Sanford Research.

The South Dakota Science Teachers’ Association is the state’s only comprehensive educational organization dedicated to excellence in science education and communication among members of the science-teaching profession. Membership includes professional scientists, teachers, student teachers, representatives of business and industry, and others interested in science education.

The SD Science Teachers’ Association named Sanford Research a recipient of its Friend of Science Award.

Pictured with the award are Sanford Research STEM program delivery team members, (from left) Sanford Children’s Research Center Associate Director and Scientist Jill Weimer, PhD; Sanford PROMISE Education Program Coordinator Tamara Ledeboer; Sanford PROMISE Curriculum Education Coordinator Liz Mcmilllan; research assistant Jessica Boerner; and Sanford Children’s Research Center Associate Scientist Pete Vitiello, PhD.

Weimer Lab Fellow and Student Published in Journal of Neuroscience A recent article published in the Journal of Neuroscience underscores the comprehensive learning opportunities at Sanford Research and the launch pad it offers for students and apprentices. Weimer Lab scientists, Jacob Cain, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow, and University of South Dakota basic biomedical sciences PhD student, Jon Brudvig, had a recent “Journal Club” article – “KIS: Synaptic Plasticity’s Missing Molecular Link” – published in the Journal of Neuroscience in February.

The purpose of Journal Club articles are to provide scholarly reviews of papers recently published in The Journal of Neuroscience. Journal Club articles appear in the Features section at the front of each issue and are citable as a publication similar to a short review. All authors must be graduate students, postdoctoral fellows or the equivalent.

STEM of Sports Event Held with Sioux Falls Skyforce From the physics of a perfect kick flip at the skate park, to the statistics of baseball box scores, to the chemistry of fuels used in race car driving, STEM helps power many sports. Middle school students were invited to learn more about these subjects through their favorite sports at a STEM in Sports event, led by Sanford PROMISE’s Liz McMillan, in March during a Sioux Falls Skyforce game at the Sanford Pentagon.

A pregame STEM in Sports exhibition featured interactive exhibits by Sanford Research, Sanford PROMISE, the Washington Pavilion, USD Women in Medical Science and Sanford Sports Science Institute.

Participants received an ingame activity booklet to translate their love for basketball, soccer, football, volleyball (and many sanfordhealth.org | 7

visits with a range of physiology and developmental assessments collected.

4TH ANNUAL

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS IT! 9 a.m.-5 p.m., June 13 Sanford Research Center, Sioux Falls EVENT IS FREE OF CHARGE itsallaboutscience.org other sports) into an appreciation and understanding of the science and math behind the sport.

Safe Passage Study Enrolls Final Participant Amy Elliott, PhD

The Safe Passage Study enrolled its final participant in January, marking a significant milestone in Sanford Research’s pursuit to improve the health of women and infants. The Safe Passage Study is run by the PASS Network (Prenatal Alcohol in SIDS and Stillbirth) with the purpose of better understanding causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), stillbirth, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), especially those related to exposure to alcohol during pregnancy.

The PASS Network has two comprehensive clinical sites. These sites are located in the Northern 8 | discoveries

Plains of the United States and the Western Cape of South Africa.

Sanford Center for Health Prevention and Outcomes Research Director Amy Elliott, PhD, is the principal investigator, and the University of North Dakota’s Larry Burd, PhD, serves as the co-principal investigator for the Northern Plains.

Drs. Elliott and Burd worked with local clinics and hospitals to recruit women into the study.

In total, 5,024 participants were enrolled across four sites in the Dakotas, including Sioux Falls, Pine Ridge, and Rapid City, SD, and Spirit Lake, ND. Each participant will complete or has already completed a number of study visits: 1) Three or four visits during pregnancy, including fetal monitoring, doppler ultrasounds and various exocrine pancreatic insufficiency measures; 2) A visit at delivery, including infant physiology, EEG, hearing tests, placenta and umbilical cord blood collections, and; 3) Onemonth and 12-month post-natal

“Sanford Women’s and the Sanford Birth Place in Sioux Falls were instrumental partners in the success of this study, enrolling almost half of our Dakota participants,” says Dr. Elliott. Follow-up studies are being planned across all of the study sites for long-term follow-up.

In total, the Safe Passage Study will have enrolled over 12,000 pregnant women from the United States and South Africa and follow the development of their babies through pregnancy and the infants’ first year of life.

Sanford Research Collaborates with SDSU on Biochemistry PhD Program A new biochemistry PhD program at South Dakota State University will come with the opportunity to learn and train at Sanford Research.

Sanford scientists will have SDSU faculty appointments and will provide training to program participants in the Sanford Research labs.

After admission to candidacy, the primary activity throughout the remainder of the graduate student’s program is completion of proposed research objectives. For a student entering with a bachelor’s degree, it will typically take four to five years to complete all requirements for the PhD program. To learn more about SDSU’s new biochemistry PhD program, go to sdstate.edu/chem/ grad/biochemistry.

Tourette Syndrome Symposium Held at Sanford Research Health care providers, therapists, social workers and educators gathered for a Tourette syndrome presymposium and symposium at Sanford Research. As many as one in five children will have tics at some point in childhood; however, recognizing Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders can be difficult.

The goal of the event was to demystify

the diagnosis of Tourette syndrome and provide information on the latest advances in clinical treatment.

can lead to destruction of pancreatic beta cells, which is the underlying process in type 1 diabetes.

An evening presymposium on April 9 included presentations

by Tourette syndrome youth ambassador Noah Thompson on the challenges and triumphs of living with Tourette syndrome; and University of Utah Clinical Psychology Assistant Professor Michael Himle, PhD presented, “Tourette Syndrome and Related Disorders at Home and at School.”

Tocilizumab has already been approved by the FDA for use in treating adults with rheumatoid arthritis and young children with juvenile idoiopathic arthritis (JIA).

However, tocilizumab has never been tested in patients with type 1 diabetes and, therefore, is considered an experimental treatment in this study.

The next day’s event included information on etiology, diagnosis and behavioral intervention presented

by University of Rochester’s Erika Augustine, MD, and Dr. Himle.

The symposium was presented

by Michael Kruer, MD, Sanford Pediatric Movement Disorders program director, and the Tourette Syndrome Association of America.

Sanford Project Participates in EXTEND Clinical Trial for Type 1 Diabetes Kurt Griffin, MD, PhD

Led by Sanford Project Director of Clinical Trials, Kurt Griffin, MD, PhD, the Sioux Falls region is one of the first sites to enroll patients in the EXTEND clinical trial in partnership with the Immune Tolerance Network. The EXTEND trial will test whether a therapy called tocilizumab (Actemra®) can stop the immune system from attacking the remaining beta cells and possibly extend the ability to naturally produce insulin in individuals recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Currently there are no approved treatments able to do this.

Tocilizumab is a medication that subdues the immune system by targeting the receptor for a molecule called IL-6. IL-6 is thought to be involved in type 1 diabetes and may be contributing to inflammation that

EXTEND is a randomized doubleblind clinical trial in which twothirds of the participants will receive tocilizumab and one-third will receive placebo. During the six-month treatment period, participants will receive tocilizumab or placebo by IV once every four weeks. After the treatment period, there will be four follow-up visits during the 18-month follow-up period. Participants will be involved with this study for two years. Patients may qualify for the EXTEND study if they have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes within the last three months and are between the ages of 18 and 45.

Sanford Project Offers Type 1 Diabetes Screening at JDRF Walk The Sanford Project is recruiting participants for a study examining the role of family history in type 1 diabetes. As a site for TrialNet, an international network exploring ways to fight type 1 diabetes, the Sanford Project offered screening opportunities during the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes at the Sanford Research Center April 25.

Type 1 diabetes is the focus of the Sanford Project, a cornerstone research initiative at Sanford Research.

“Screening was available for relatives of people with type 1 diabetes,” says Kurt Griffin, MD, PhD, director of clinical trials for the Sanford Project.

“They have about 15 times greater risk for developing the disease than people with no family history.”

To be screened, which involved a blood draw from the arm, individuals had to be 45 and younger with a parent, sibling or child with type 1 diabetes or age 20 and younger with a niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, grandparent, half-brother, halfsister or cousin with type 1 diabetes.

Those who tested positive and are at risk for developing type 1 diabetes may be able to join research studies testing ways to delay and potentially prevent the disease. Those who tested negative are eligible for annual screenings until age 18.

For more information about the type 1 diabetes TrialNet study, call (605) 312-6450.

Profile by Sanford Three Profile by Sanford Sites Open in February Profile by Sanford opened locations in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma in February, bringing the weight management system’s store total to 22 across nine states. New sites included Frisco, Texas; Wichita, Kan.; and Edmond, Okla.

Profile, which opened its first store in Sioux Falls in 2012, was designed using a large body of clinical research to ensure a sustainable means to healthy weight loss. A clinical and scientific advisory board comprised of Sanford Health physicians and researchers oversaw the development of the Profile system.

The rapidly growing Profile system utilizes meal replacement products, nutritionally complete food and qualified health coaches. In addition to members consuming both Profile produced and grocery store food, coaches develop customized plans for their clients and offer advice on nutrition, exercise and behavior.

Profile continues to focus on program advancements through the launch of new food products, including three new pizza varieties. Profile is also on the cutting edge of technology to better assist members with measuring daily activity. Jawbone UP24 activity sanfordhealth.org | 9

trackers are integrated with the Profile app to track members’ movement and sleep patterns, allowing for additional measurable data to be gathered.

In addition to face-to-face meetings, coaches are able to efficiently track members’ progress through the use of other smart wireless technology. Each member is outfitted with wireless devices to measure improvement, including tools to track body weight, measurement and blood pressure. These devices automatically upload to a secure server, where members and coaches can monitor improvement on the web or mobile applications. Printed options are also available to members.

For more information, go to profileplan.net.

Sanford Health Plan Sanford Health Plan Selected as Insurance Provider for ND Public Employees Retirement System Health Plan Members Sanford Health Plan will become the insurance provider for the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS) health plan members beginning July 1. The NDPERS board announced its decision in February.

“This is tremendous recognition of our work in North Dakota and the trust the North Dakota PERS board has in Sanford Health Plan,” says Rich Adcock, Sanford Health executive vice president.

The decision will add 29,000 contracts covering 65,000 covered lives to Sanford Health Plan.

The plan design and coverage of NDPERS is not changing as a part of their decision to change insurance carriers. Sanford Health Plan has contracts with 97 percent of the current NDPERS provider network and is offering contracts to all remaining providers.

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Sanford Health Plan opened a new Fargo location in April at the former Echelon Building at the corner of I-29 and I-94 (1749 38th Street South), and is in the process of opening a location in Bismarck.

well-equipped to support these additional members and we will immediately expand our presence in North Dakota,” says Adcock.

continuing medical education program Accreditation with Commendation for its professional learning opportunities for physicians.

Sanford Health Plan has since opened a new Fargo location at the former Echelon Building at the corner of I-29 and I-94 (1749 38th St. S.), and is in the process of opening a location in Bismarck. It is filling over 80 new positions in the state.

As part of the accreditation process, Sanford was required to demonstrate how its continuing medical education program for physicians addressed organizational quality initiatives that resulted in improved patient outcomes and care. Sanford’s submission earned the maximum length of accreditation, six years.

“I want to assure all NDPERS health plan members utilizing our health plan that they can all expect outstanding service from their partners at Sanford Health Plan,” says Adcock.

NDPERS health plan members have been invited to attend information meetings at worksites and community locations to learn more about the NDPERS insurance carrier transition.

Academic Affairs Sanford Receives National Recognition for CME Efforts The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) has awarded Sanford Health’s

“Through the care we provide each day, Sanford Health continues to identify the needs of patients from across the Midwest and develop educational opportunities for physicians that align with those needs,” says Gene Hoyme, MD, chief academic officer for Sanford.

“Accreditation with Commendation is not easily achieved, making this a milestone in reaching our goal of leading the way in clinical education.”

The ACCME employs a rigorous, multilevel process for evaluating institutions’ continuing medical education programs according to the high accreditation standards adopted by all seven ACCME member organizations. These organizations are the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the

Association for Hospital Medical Education, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Council of Medical Specialty Societies and the Federation of State Medical Boards of the US, Inc. Sanford Health provided more than 1,500 continuing medical education credits for clinicians in 2014. During this same time period, more than 27,000 health care professionals attended Sanford-accredited CME events, including 8,800 physicians.

Sanford International Clinics Kunming Clinic Collaborates with Sanford USD School of Medicine Pediatric Residency Program A new partnership between Sanford International Clinic – Kunming and the Sanford School of Medicine Pediatric Residency Program at the University of South Dakota

has created a strong platform for cross-cultural, shared learning.

Sanford Health opened a pediatric clinic in Kunming, China, as part of its International Clinics initiative in October of last year. This quickly growing area of China has a significant need for health care, particularly with children. For this clinic, Sanford collaborated with YMCI Calmette Medical Investment & Management Company, Ltd., a state-owned company of the Yunnan Provincial government.

“Shortly after the clinic opened, YMCI Calmette expressed an interest in having Sanford pediatric residents teach and see patients at the new clinic,” says Sanford School of Medicine Pediatric Residency Director Joe Zenel, MD. Second and third-year pediatric residents at the Sanford School of Medicine now have the ability to participate in a month-long elective with travel costs and housing paid for by YMCI Calmette. The first

resident, Mary Guillot, MD, traveled to Kunming in January and a second resident participated in March.

“Working in Kunming was a fantastic opportunity to experience many different aspects of a very different culture. The language barrier was definitely a challenge, however it pushed me to find other ways to communicate with my patients,” says Dr. Guillot. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with the clinic nurses and staff to help them become an excellent clinical team for their patients.”

Sanford International Clinic – Kunming is currently hosting its second Sanford School of Medicine resident, Alexandra Schaller, DO. “This partnership has created a new and exciting framework for shared learning. While there are differences in culture and aspects of care, some things are universal – parents love their kids and want them to have the best care possible,” says Zenel.

Sanford USD School of Medicine pediatric residents now have the ability to participate in a month-long elective at the Sanford International Clinic in Kunming, China. The first resident, Mary Guillot, MD (pictured) participated earlier this year.

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events May 11: 6th Annual Sanford Health – USD Biomedical Research Symposium May 14: Cancer Survivors’ Depression and Coping among American Indian Women: Directions Toward Culturally Competent Interventions Dr. Soonhee Roh, University of South Dakota Presented as part of the Collaborative Research Center for American Indian Health Pilot Grant Program Seminar Series

May 18-19: Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine Scientific Symposium

Presented by University of California, San Diego Stem Cell Program and Sanford Children’s Health Research Center UC San Diego, La Jolla

June 13: It’s All About Science Festival 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

June 18-19: Alex Rabinovitch 5th Annual Type 1 Diabetes Symposium Nov. 13: Sanford Immunotherapy Symposium – Save the Date * Unless otherwise noted, all events will be located at the Sanford Center, 2301 East 60th St. N., Sioux Falls, SD 57104

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give If you are interested in providing philanthropic support for any of the research or major initiatives featured in this publication, please contact the Sanford Health Foundation. Thank you.

Sioux Falls Region: (605) 312-6700 Fargo Region: (701) 234-6246 Bismarck Region: (701) 323-8450 Bemidji Region: (218) 333-5515 foundation.sanfordhealth.org Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Foundation: (855) 463-3484 edithsanford.org