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Deirdre Cross is a Human Biology major at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ, also pursuing minors in Chemistry and Health Education. She is on a Pre-Physician’s Assistant track, with plans to become a PA after graduation. In addition to pursuing her major, two minors, and being an Honors student, Cross has also earned a Phlebotomy Certificate.

Brandon Varilek, assistant professor in ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ’s College of Nursing, has received a grant to study palliative care use, kidney transplant rates, and explore survival statistics among American Indians with end-stage renal disease caused by diabetes.

Several faculty from the Department of Allied and Population Health have published manuscripts in the Fall 2022 semester. Dr. Chris Robbins co-authored a manuscript related to postoperative pancreatic fistula following traumatic splenectomy, and a team from the Community Practice Innovation Center (CPIC) have published a manuscript on harm reduction strategies implemented through the START-SD project.

ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ’s College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions’ 3D Center now has a new namesake—the Haarberg Center for Drug, Disease and Delivery Research, thanks to a transformational $1.1 million gift from Kevin and Lorie Haarberg.

Each fall—prior to the start of preseason training camp—members of the ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ football team make the trek to Wagner Hall to gather key information about the current makeup of their bodies. Led by Seth Daughters, an instructor in the exercise science program, student-athletes will get parameters on their body fat percentage, lean muscle and fat free mass. This information will help guide the student-athletes in their individualized strength and conditioning plans throughout the season. 

ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ is partnering with hospitals in Brookings, Huron and Madison to expand the public health and respiratory therapy workforce. The Community Practice Innovation Center within the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ has received a three-year, $1.545 million federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

A safe, localized treatment for chronic inflammation in the intestinal tract will move one step closer to helping patients reduce their risk of developing colon cancer, thanks to a three-year, $433,000 National Institutes of Health grant awarded to professor Hemachand Tummala of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Assistant professors Sarah Mollman and Brandon Varilek received a two-year, $100,000 Hillman Serious Illness and End-of-Life Emergent Innovation grant to adapt a supportive palliative care intervention to meet the needs of cancer patients in west central South Dakota.

Putting people addicted to meth on the road to recovery is the goal of the Stigma, Treatment, Avoidance and Recovery in Time Program for Psychostimulant Support in Rural South Dakota.

The South Dakota COVID-19 Impact Survey was conducted from April 12th to 25th, 2021 by The South Dakota Polling Project, a research group housed in the School of American and Global Studies at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. A total of 3,057 registered voters in South Dakota completed our survey about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their daily lives, alongside questions on political beliefs given the partisan polarization of the policy response to the pandemic.