It has been one year since SDAHO’s Quality Department was rebranded as Rural Health Initiatives, a strategic shift that reflects the growing and diverse portfolio of grants and contracts secured to support rural healthcare across South Dakota.
As part of this transition, the former Council of Clinical Quality Integration was renamed and redesigned as the Council on Rural Health Initiatives. The Council is comprised of up to 16 healthcare professionals who meet twice annually to provide leadership and strategic direction for SDAHO’s efforts to strengthen healthcare in rural communities. Serving as an advisory body to the SDAHO Board of Trustees, Council members are selected based on their expertise, leadership, and commitment to rural healthcare and serve one-year renewable terms.
In just one year, the Council has embraced its expanded role and broadened its impact beyond quality improvement alone. New areas of focus now include federal and state updates, elevating emerging challenges and questions for SDAHO and the Board of Trustees, member-led presentations highlighting innovative work happening in facilities across the state, and reviewing current contract and grant work to provide feedback and guidance. The Council also plays an important role in helping identify priority areas where SDAHO should pursue future external funding opportunities. These additions have energized the Council’s work and strengthened its value to SDAHO and our members.
A special thank you to Dr. Mike Wilde, MD, Chairperson of the Council on Rural Health Initiatives, and to all Council members listed below for their leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to advancing rural healthcare in South Dakota.
Council of Rural Health Initiatives
Membership List
2025-2026
| Name | Title | Facility |
| Dr. Mike Wilde, MD (Chair) | CMO | Sanford Sioux Falls |
| Kelli Aarstad | Performance Engineer Quality and Risk Management | Monument Health Rapid City |
| Angela Dahlke | Nursing Director | Monument Health Sturgis |
| Stacey Erickson | VP Quality & Data Integration | Avera Health |
| Melissa Gale | Administrator | Landmann-Jungman |
| Julie Girard | Quality Improvement Advisor | Sanford Vermillion |
| Sara Zoelle, MD | VP and Medical Officer | Sanford Health |
| Kelly Baloun | VP, Quality & Support Services | Faulkton Area Medical Center |
| Katie Biggins | Quality Improvement Coordinator | Avera Gregory Hospital |
| Jill Tice | VP, Quality, Safety & Risk | Monument Health |
| Sarah Wulff | Quality Improvement Advisor & Infection Preventionist | Sanford Aberdeen |
| Brittany Barron | VP of Patient Care Services | Wagner Community Memorial Hospital Avera |
| Jenn Dietterle | Director of Quality and Compliance | Mobridge Regional Hospital |
| Amber Oines | Quality Nurse Specialist | Madison Regional Health System |
| Julie Hennebold | Utilization Review/Discharge Coordinator | Winner Regional Health |
| Becky Heisinger | Director of Rural Health Initiatives | SDAHO |
