USD Healthcare Careers Summer Camp was recently awarded $9,000 from Dakota Hospital Foundation (DHF). Funds will be used to meet the expenses of the USD SSOM Healthcare Careers Summer Camp (HCSC). The HCSC is a 5-day camp held on the campus of the University of South Dakota that explores a variety of healthcare careers available within the state. Each year up to 40 high school students from across South Dakota and bordering communities in IA, MN, ND, NE & CO are selected to attend the camp. During the week students are given the opportunity to meet with healthcare professionals, tour Sanford Vermillion Medical Center, Southeast Technical College, Parry Center for Clinical Skills & Simulation, SSOM Gross Anatomy Lab and become certified in CPR and Stop the Bleed course.
"The 17th Annual USD Healthcare Careers Summer Camp was held in June 2023. It is such a great opportunity to have a camp that offers information on healthcare professions to high school students with that interest. We could not have had the success that we have without the generosity of the Dakota Hospital Foundation and its board members. We are very thankful for the funds to continue and for our partnership into the future," Donis D. Drappeau, MSPAS - Sanford School of Medicine Diversity Pipeline Coordinator.
“The Dakota Hospital Foundation strongly supports the Healthcare Careers Summer Camp because it can do so much to help interested students find their path into the healthcare field. Although we hope to encourage our local students to help fill needed healthcare positions here in our area, just knowing we have helped build enthusiasm in students for this occupation, in general, provides us satisfaction in knowing that we are achieving our foundation’s objectives, supporting community health and wellness,” said Andy Howe, president, Dakota Hospital Foundation.
Pictured (L-R back row): Jill Christopherson, DHF/Sanford Vermillion (SV) executive assistant, Lana Svien, DHF board member, Veronica Schmidt, SV senior director, Andy Howe, DHF president, Joni Freidel, DHF board member, Lisa Ketcham, DHF board member, Tom Overby, DHF board member, Cindy Benzel, DHF director/SV ancillary director; (L-R front row): Donis D. Drappeau, MSPAS - Sanford School of Medicine Diversity Pipeline Coordinator, DenYelle B Kenyon, PhD - Sanford School of Medicine Associate Dean Diversity & Inclusion/ Director, MPH Dean of Health Sciences, Damon P. Leader Charge, BS - USD Academic Affairs Director of Tribal Outreach/SSOM Diversity & Inclusion