Author: Kory Lanphear

As a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit of Rapid City Hospital, Adam Drake is used to a certain amount of physical work. However, when he hurt his back on October 18, 2024, during a day of repeated patient transfers, he didn’t know that what seemed like a minor injury would linger on and on.

“I couldn’t sit on the couch, couldn’t be with my family, couldn’t exercise,” he says. “It progressed into 37 chiropractic sessions, a bunch of physical therapy, a pain shot, MRIs, until eventually, on June 11, I had back surgery to ease the pain.”

When a Caregiver experiences an injury at work, they have the option to be assigned Light Duty Work. In Adam’s case, he was assigned to work with Monument Health Foundation under Director Hans Nelson. 

Here’s how it works: if you are hurt on the job, such that you cannot work your normal position, Jodi Bruckner, Human Resources Analyst, receives a notification. Jodi reaches out and asks if you’re open to Light Duty work. If you agree, she then follows up with an open Light Duty position in your location — possibly in the Foundation, like Adam, or perhaps in Quality, Marketing or Guest Services, etc. 

During his Light Duty assignment, every day has been different for Adam, both in terms of what he does and how it’s in no way similar to the ICU, where he usually works. This can be a good thing, as Adam has gotten to know people and situations he may otherwise never have been aware of, no less experienced for himself.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Adam can be found manning the cash register with Darlyce Bollwerk, Executive Assistant, at Gear Store in Rapid City Hospital. In August he helped Kelsie Ficken, Development Officer, with the Paint the Rock Pink golf tournament. “At Paint the Rock Pink I was at the course, putting stuff in the cart and driving around with Mark (Papousek, Development Officer) and giving out lunches.”

This month, he is focused on working with Karlee Baumann, Development Officer on the Home+ Hospice House’s Giving Tree Memorial and with Shawn Powers, Development Officer – Children’s Miracle Network, on the upcoming Play Yellow Golf tournament.

“At first, I had no idea what the Foundation was. Now, I think it’s a super cool gig. I mean, they’re helping everybody out,” Adam says. “The other day, I was looking at the Children’s Miracle Network stuff and I’m getting teary-eyed reading these stories. That’s Shawn doing all that and helping out those kids.”

It’s been 11 months since Adam first injured his back. Since then, his wife gave birth to their first child, a baby girl. Thanks to the Light Duty program, Adam has been able to maintain some sense of stability and to continue taking care of his family during what under any circumstances can be a tumultuous time, even without a debilitating injury to worry about. In total he’s spent about 8 months of the last year in the program.

He is currently on a 40 pound weight restriction and has at least 60 more days of recovery ahead of him, during which time he’ll continue assisting the Foundation with whatever they need. 

“Most injured Caregivers would probably be considering, ‘How the hell am I gonna make money or provide for my family?’ They will find a position for you in the organization that fits your restrictions. And from my experience your new coworkers are going to be super friendly, and amazing,” Adam says. “I’m glad the hospital offers the program—for pay, for sure—also just to keep you working and moving, versus rotting at home.”

Story and Photo by Kory Lanphear

As retirement from his Internal Medicine and Travel Medicine practice neared in 2024, it was suggested to Steven Stocks M.D., that there was still a need for him and his institutional knowledge at Flormann Clinic. At the time, Dr. Stocks, now 78, hadn’t exactly pictured spending his retirement at the clinic from which he’d just retired. The more he thought about it, though, the more it made sense, since he had been there for 25 years—the very beginning of the building itself — and had been practicing medicine for 44 years total.

So, Dr. Stocks retired…then returned to Flormann Clinic to volunteer as a greeter at the main entrance. “When you’re a doctor and you’re back in your exam rooms, you don’t know what’s going on at that front door. You don’t realize how busy it is. Many people are referred to that clinic and when they come they don’t know where to go. I’m right at the front door for them.”

Because of his long history at the clinic, he is a familiar face to the many patients, Physicians and Caregivers who come through the doors. In fact, his wife, Cindy Stocks, CNP, still works on the first floor in Primary Care.

Dressed in his daily uniform of a sport coat, collared shirt, slacks and polished shoes, Dr. Stocks aims to set a caring, gentle tone right when visitors walk in. He is even known to accompany people onto the elevator and press the button to the proper floor, just to make their journey easier. 

“We do have a giant screen that acts as a directory in the waiting room. It can take quite a bit of time to go through it, though,” says Dr. Stocks. “Even in this past year, we’ve gotten a lot of new providers. I study the screen myself so I know who these new providers are and where they’re at.”

Dr. Stocks will have yet more studying to do soon, as a total of five additional physicians will be added at Flormann Clinic over the next six months.

When he’s not at the clinic, Dr. Stocks often takes his sweet-natured Springer Spaniel, Duchess, to three different nursing homes to visit some former patients and even old doctor friends, something he’d looked forward to doing even before he retired.

Dr. Stocks is happy to continue volunteering at the clinic as long as his health and mobility hold up, which they have so far. Ever the physician, he always has patients as his priority. “I want to do what I can do for them, and I want to help the clinic too. That’s one of the chief things in my mind and my life, helping people,” he says. “The patients help me in many ways, too. They really raise me up when they come in. It’s a very good feeling, especially when they want to give you a hug. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to volunteer.”

Story and Photo by Kory Lanphear

Kaylan Harrington, RN, Spearfish Hospital, recently became the first—and, so far, only—person from South Dakota to be named a Tillman Scholar by the Pat Tillman Foundation. 

Tillman was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. He famously walked away from his promising and lucrative professional football career to join the United States Army after the 9/11 attacks. He was killed in action in 2004 while serving in Afghanistan. The foundation in his name was started by his family and friends to honor his legacy and principles as an athlete, scholar, soldier and leader.

“I actually grew up down the street from Pat Tillman in California. My mom was his high school teacher, and we went to rival high schools,” says Kaylan. “He was a little bit older, but I also joined the military right after 9/11. When he was killed, it was a really big deal back in our hometown. He became a personal hero of mine for the last 20 or so years in the military. I really idolize his values and his leadership attributes and how humble he was.” 

In addition to being a nurse, Kaylan serves in the South Dakota Army National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer Four in the Training Unit at the base in Sturgis. The financial award will cover her final year of a Master’s in Nursing Education at South Dakota State University. She intends to use her degree to become a nursing instructor upon graduation next spring.

In July, Kaylan was flown to Chicago for the Pat Tillman Leadership Conference. “We got to meet his widow, and all these amazing individuals that are former Tillman Scholars, including Jonny Kim, an astronaut who Skyped in from space to talk to us. It was very inspiring.”  

From pattillmanfoundation.org:

“The Pat Tillman Foundation identifies remarkable military service members, veterans and spouses, empowering them with academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development opportunities and a diverse, global community of high-performing mentors and peers. Our scholars are making an impact as they lead through action in the fields of healthcare, business, public service, STEM, education and the humanities.”

The scholarship is highly competitive; a mere 42 out of 1,700 applicants were chosen this year. Though the application process may be intense, Kaylan encourages other veteran and active duty or military spouse Caregiver-scholars to apply. 

“I encourage everybody to go check it out and see if this is something that could help them in their path to furthering their education or that of their spouse or their children that might be serving,” she says. “Or, just go read Pat’s story and remember ‘the why’ behind the things we do.”

Story by Kory Lanphear

Photo submitted

In late July, we celebrated alongside Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) as they announced their House in the Hills project. The 12-bedroom house will be located on land owned by Monument Health, at the corner of East Fairmont Boulevard and Elm Avenue; mere blocks from Rapid City Hospital. Once built, the house will also feature private bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, shared lounging spaces, dedicated children’s play and gaming areas, laundry facilities and offices for on-site staff.

According to RMHC:

• Last year 1,078 local families stayed in the houses the organization provides.
• Within 15 counties in western South Dakota alone, in its history Ronald McDonald houses have served approximately 5,161 families for a total 25,714 nights.
• In the state of South Dakota, families whose children are battling life-threatening illnesses stay for an average of 8 nights. 

“At Monument Health, one of our top priorities is to provide safe, high quality care close to home,” said Dave Ellenbecker, VP Facilities Management and Plant Operations, to the gathered crowd. “This house represents far more than a building. It’s a symbol of our community’s unwavering commitment to supporting families during their most challenging moments. Seeing this vision become a reality is truly amazing.” 

Monument Health serves a geographic area greater than 250 miles around Rapid City, which includes five states: South and North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska. Families in need of care sometimes travel long distances, which causes even more stress than that which already comes along with having a child who needs critical medical care. These families can count on Ronald McDonald House to provide a wonderful, comfortable and supportive retreat that is minutes away from Children’s at Rapid City Hospital. 

This project has been nearly almost two decades in the making, with plans originating as far back as 2006. “With the collaboration of Monument Health, under the leadership of Chief Brand Officer Robin Zebroski and Dave Ellenbecker, Ronald McDonald House in the Hills is not a hope, but a reality,” said Kevin Miles, CEO of Ronald McDonald House South Dakota. 

Construction on House in the Hills begins in September with the goal of opening in late 2026.

Story by Kory Lanphear

Photo by Colette Gannon

On August 23, the Central States Fair will once again host the summer edition of Monument Health’s Special Rodeo. Have you ever thought about volunteering? Maybe you’re hesitant because you don’t know what to expect. Well, let an experienced volunteer tell you what it’s like.

Cass Jones, Supervisor Medical Imaging Services, Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street, has helped at Special Rodeo multiple times. 

“I started volunteering with the Special Olympics in college. I helped coach basketball. It’s always just been something I enjoy doing. I strive to be the best role model I can, not just for the athletes, but for the community around me. It brings me genuine joy to serve others,” Cass says.

Cass highlights the relaxed atmosphere at Special Rodeo. “As a Rodeo Buddy, your main job is simply to get to know the participant you’re paired with and guide them from one activity station to the next,” she says. “Whether it’s a stick horse race or a ‘bull ride,’ there’s always someone at each station ready to demonstrate how it’s done. You’re there to help the participant stay engaged and ensure they have the chance to experience everything.”

Each participant brings their own unique abilities, which, Cass says, adds variety of the experience. “It’s so much fun watching people with different skill levels work together and cheer each other on. Everyone has such a great time. You also get to gently encourage participants to step outside their comfort zones. If they’re hesitant about trying something, you support them, build trust and celebrate their successes. It’s a great feeling. I love it so much.”

Previously, Cass has volunteered as a Rodeo Buddy and at the photo booth. This time around she registered to help with lunch, which is a new element to Special Rodeo. She’ll coordinate with the caterer to make sure the food gets set up. She’ll also greet attendees, help guide them to the lunch area, assist in serving food and then clean up after lunch is over.

“I oversee Medical Imaging at three clinics. I’m a working supervisor, and I want to be able to fill in wherever I can and be the most helpful, just like at Special Rodeo. I just like to try it all,” she says.

“I encourage everybody to volunteer at Special Rodeo at least once. It’s just one of those everlasting things that you don’t understand how meaningful it is until you actually do it. The athletes are always so appreciative and full of happiness—it’s contagious. Seeing their smiles, sharing in their accomplishments, and being part of that positive energy fills me with a deep sense of purpose.” 
If you’d like to volunteer for Special Rodeo at Central States Fair, go to monument.health/specialrodeo.

Story by Kory Lanphear

Photos courtesy of Cass Jones