Celebrating Leadership and Service
The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) celebrated leadership, service and achievement across South Dakota’s health care community during the Awards Luncheon at the 100th Annual Convention.
In addition to SDAHO’s Distinguished Service Awards, the luncheon provided an opportunity to recognize award recipients from SDAHO’s affiliate societies and partner organizations, along with several individuals whose leadership and service have made a lasting impact on health care and the association. From emerging leaders to longtime health care professionals, this year’s honorees represent the many people and organizations working to strengthen health care across South Dakota.
ACHE of South Dakota
Senior Careerist Award – John J. Ayoub, FACHE
John Ayoub, CEO of Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics, was recognized for his leadership and commitment to rural health care. Under his leadership, MRH&C has earned national recognition as a top critical access hospital.
John has dedicated his career to building strong teams, sustainable organizations and strategic partnerships that help ensure high-quality care remains close to home.
A published author and former EMT, Ayoub has been named by Becker’s hospital review as a critical access hospital “CEO to Know” four times.
Ayoub also serves on the SDAHO Board of Trustees and AHA Rural Health Services Committee and chairs SDAHO’s Council on Education.
Early Careerist Award – Trae Bergh
Trae Bergh, Assistant Vice President of Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Avera McKennan, was honored for his growing impact as a health care leader. A former physician assistant, Bergh has held leadership roles across Avera and has focused his career on service line development, physician engagement, operational excellence and improving access to care.
South Dakota Healthcare Financial Management Association
Gold Founders Award – Aaron Clayton, CPA, CHFP, CGMA
Aaron Clayton, Partner and Sioux Falls Office Market Leader with Eide Bailly LLP, received the Gold Founders Award. Clayton has been with Eide Bailly since 2006 and today helps to lead the firm’s strategy, growth and culture within the Sioux Falls market.
Silver Founders Award – Brittany Roth
Brittany Roth, Executive Director of Revenue Integrity at Avera Health, was recognized for her leadership in revenue cycle performance and collaboration. A past president of the South Dakota HFMA Chapter, Roth currently serves as Regional Executive III for HFMA Region 8 and is passionate about developing others and building meaningful professional relationships.
Bronze Founders Award – Sarah Ridley, CPA, CHFP
Sarah Ridley, Director of Treasury at Sanford Health, received the Bronze Founders Award. In addition to leading treasury operations and accounting, Ridley is an active HFMA leader, serving several chapter roles, and gives back as a NICU baby rocker at Sanford Health.
Medal of Honor Award – Brian Bertsch
Brian Bertsch of Eide Bailly was recognized for nearly three decades of work supporting critical access hospitals, PPS hospitals, nursing facilities and other rural providers. A past president of the South Dakota HFMA Chapter, Bertsch is also a frequent presenter on rural health care, Medicare reimbursement and regulatory issues.
Medal of Honor Award – Julie Lautt
Julie Lautt, Chief Financial Officer for Avera Health, was honored for her decades of health care financial leadership. As CFO, Lautt helps guide financial planning, operations, treasury, supply chain, revenue cycle, information technology and organizational excellence across the Avera system.
Medal of Honor Award – B.J. Dvorak
B.J. Dvorak was recognized for an entrepreneurial health care career that included founding Medical Data Insurance Processing in 1990 and later eProvider Solutions. Her companies grew from serving local health care organizations to supporting health care facilities across the country and beyond.
South Dakota Association for Healthcare Quality
Quality Professional of the Year – Sarah Wulff, BSN, RN, CIC
Sarah Wulff, Quality Improvement Advisor at Sanford Medical Center, was recognized for her commitment to patient safety, performance improvement and evidence-based care. With 17 years of nursing and health care quality experience, Wulff works alongside multidisciplinary teams to improve quality, safety and regulatory performance.
South Dakota Healthcare Human Resource Association
Human Resource Leadership Award – Marcia Podzimek
Marcia Podzimek, Director of Human Resources at Wagner Community Memorial Hospital-Avera, was honored for a remarkable career spanning more than 45 years. Beginning in laboratory and radiology, her career grew to include quality, compliance and numerous operational responsibilities before she helped develop the hospital’s Human Resources Department.
South Dakota Organization of Nurse Leaders
Nurse Leadership Award – Katelyn DeLange, BSN, RN
Katelyn DeLange, Director of Nursing at Douglas County Memorial Hospital in Armour, was recognized for her leadership and dedication to rural health care. DeLange oversees nursing services for the critical access hospital, emergency department and outpatient clinic while championing quality improvement, patient safety and access to care close to home.
HIMSS Dakotas Chapter
Chapter Leadership Award – Dr. Dorine Bennett
Dr. Dorine Bennett, retired Dean of the College of Business and Information Systems at Dakota State University, was honored for decades of leadership in health information management, informatics and health care technology. Bennett was instrumental in establishing the HIMSS South Dakota Chapter in 2011 and played an important role in advancing health IT education and adoption across the state.
LifeSource Partnership Awards
Excellence in Partnership Individual Award – Dr. Hassan Turaihi
Dr. Hassan Turaihi was recognized for his dedication to the lifesaving mission of organ donation. His clinical expertise, reliability and commitment to donors and their families have strengthened LifeSource’s work and helped provide hope to transplant recipients. Dana Heidebrink, VP of Operations Sanford at Sanford USD Medical Center accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Turaihi.
Excellence in Hospital Partnership Award – Sanford USD Medical Center
Sanford USD Medical Center was honored for its ongoing commitment to organ donation and collaboration with LifeSource. Among its recent efforts, Sanford USD Medical Center was one of the first health systems nationally to integrate organ donor registration directly into Epic’s MyChart portal.
Excellence in Partnership Organization Award – SDAHO
LifeSource also recognized SDAHO for its partnership in advancing organ, tissue and eye donation throughout South Dakota. The award highlighted SDAHO’s work to educate member hospitals, advocate for donor registration and support streamlined donation processes.
Additional Honors
SDAHO also recognized two American Hospital Association award recipients during the luncheon.
- James “Jim” Dover, President and CEO of Avera Health, received the AHA Political Action Committee Most Valuable Player Award.
Alan Salano & Tim Rave - Alan Solano, Vice President of Governmental Affairs at Monument Health, received the AHA Grassroots Champion Award for his leadership in grassroots and community engagement.
Honoring Leadership and Service to SDAHO
The Awards Luncheon also provided an opportunity to recognize individuals whose longstanding service has helped shape SDAHO and its work on behalf of South Dakota’s health care community.
Legacy and Leadership Award – Eric Hilmoe
A special recognition was presented to Eric Hilmoe, Chief Operating Officer of Sanford USD Medical Center, for his extraordinary commitment to SDAHO. Hilmoe began serving on the SDAHO Board of Trustees in 2004 and has provided a total of 15 years of board service, more than any other living board member in SDAHO’s history. He continues to serve on the board today. In recognition of that longstanding commitment, leadership and dedication, Hilmoe was presented with SDAHO’s Leadership Award.
Recognizing 10+ Years of Board Service
As SDAHO celebrated its 100th Annual Convention, the association also recognized current and former trustees who have each dedicated 10 or more years of service to the SDAHO Board of Trustees. Collectively, these six leaders represent 70 years of board service, helping guide the association and support South Dakota’s health care community through periods of tremendous change.
The 2026 Board of Trustees Recognition Honorees were:
- Eric Hilmoe – 15 years
- Mark Schmidt – 14 years
- Paul Hanson – 11 years
- Erica Peterson – 10 years
- Mark Burket – 10 years
- Curt Hohman – 10 years
- Tammy Miller – 10 years
During a year centered on honoring the association’s first century, recognizing these leaders also provided an opportunity to celebrate the people who have helped guide SDAHO throughout its history.
Celebrating the People Behind South Dakota Health Care
Together, this year’s recipients reflect the depth of talent, service and commitment found throughout South Dakota’s health care community.
SDAHO created an article on this year’s Distinguished Service Award Recipients, from this year’s conference, which posted September 24, 2026 – CLICK HERE, to view the article.
SDAHO congratulates all of the 2026 award recipients and thanks them for the leadership, expertise and dedication they bring to their organizations, professions and communities.
