The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) is excited to introduce one of two summer 2026 interns through the RISE-UP program. Eliza Wilgers is a Medical Biology student at the University of South Dakota, where she is also pursuing a minor in Interdisciplinary Sciences. She will be entering her senior year this fall, with one year remaining to complete her bachelor’s degree.
RISE-UP, which stands for Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement – Undergraduate Program, is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded initiative designed to support students pursuing careers in public health and related fields. The University of South Dakota is one of four program sites nationwide, alongside Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, the University of California Davis, and Aaniih Nakoda College at Fort Belknap. The program provides hands-on experience, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities for emerging health care professionals.
Eliza first learned about RISE-UP through presentations in her college courses and was encouraged to apply by her mentors at USD. “I was honored to be chosen as one of the students allowed to participate in the program,” she shared.
A lifelong South Dakotan, Eliza was especially excited to remain in-state for her internship. “Even though I love to travel to see the mountains and oceans, the wide-open spaces of South Dakota will always be my home,” she said. “By completing an internship here, I have the opportunity to give back to the communities that have meant so much to me.”
During her time with SDAHO, Eliza is contributing to several impactful projects, including updates to the Health Career Guide—a valuable resource for high school and college students exploring health care career paths. She is also assisting with updates to health care informational guides for legislators, among other initiatives that support health care awareness and policy.
Eliza is particularly interested in rural health care and is eager to deepen her understanding of the unique challenges facing these communities. “I was especially excited to learn more about the work SDAHO is doing to improve rural health care access and the quality of EMS services across the state,” she noted. She also has a growing interest in hospice and palliative care, areas she hopes to explore further during her internship.
Following graduation, Eliza plans to attend medical school to pursue a combined MD/MPH degree. Her long-term goal is to become a rural family medicine physician and serve as an EMS agency medical director—roles that would allow her to make a meaningful impact in underserved communities.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Eliza enjoys spending time with her four dogs, as well as cooking, baking, painting, and crocheting. “I really enjoy anything creative,” she said.
SDAHO is proud to welcome Eliza this summer and looks forward to the contributions she will make as part of the RISE-UP program.
