Sioux Falls, SD – The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) is welcoming Kelly Young as one of its two MCHC Rise-Up interns for the summer of 2025. Young is a recent public health graduate from the University of South Dakota (USD).
The MCHC/RISE-UP Program, which stands for Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement, is a national program led by the Kennedy Krieger Institute in partnership with universities like USD. It aims to cultivate future public health leaders in the maternal and child health field. The program focuses on providing undergraduate students with clinical experience, research opportunities, and engagement in community and advocacy efforts.
Earlier this year, Young attended an orientation in Baltimore, Maryland, where she had the opportunity to learn from leading public health experts. “So far, Rise-UP has been a truly enriching and transformative experience that has broadened my understanding of the many facets of public health,” Young stated.
During her internship at the SDAHO office in Sioux Falls, Young’s work will center on several key public policy areas, including Personal Needs Allowance, video surveillance laws in long-term care facilities, and hospital price transparency. She may also contribute to projects related to emergency preparedness, rural health care funding, and Medicaid reimbursement for palliative care.
Young expressed her enthusiasm for delving into public policy; a field she hopes to learn more about. “My primary goal this summer at SDAHO is to gain a deeper understanding of how public policy shapes the health outcomes of individuals and communities across the state,” she said. “Beyond simply learning about the policies themselves, I want to understand how to apply this knowledge to effectively advocate for both the health of individuals and the health care systems that serve them.”
Originally from Plainview, Minnesota, Young has resided in South Dakota for the past four years while attending college and has developed a deep appreciation for the state.
Looking toward her future, Young plans to pursue a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in Public Policy and Epidemiology, with the University of Michigan being a potential choice. Her long-term goal is to research the impact of diseases on community health and use that knowledge to advocate for legislative changes that promote community well-being.
In her personal time, Young enjoys outdoor activities, walking her dogs, and going on ATV rides with her father and brothers, as well as spending time shopping and baking with her mother and sister.
SDAHO is excited to welcome Kelly Young, one of two MCHC Rise-Up interns and anticipates her valuable contributions throughout the summer.
