Elevate Magazine’s recently released Black Hills Region 40 Under 40 list included five Monument Health Caregivers this year. It is the third annual list, which Elevate Rapid City compiles to recognize the next generation of leaders shaping Rapid City and the Black Hills.
According to the magazine, “The 2026 class represents a diverse group of individuals making a meaningful impact in their careers and throughout the region…highlighting the depth of talent and leadership across our community.”
For those unfamiliar, Elevate Magazine is an enterprise of Elevate Rapid City, which functions as a combined chamber of commerce and economic development department in Rapid City. The magazine highlights local businesses and tells the story of the people behind them.
Medical Caregivers from Monument Health among this year’s honorees include Ashlea Semmens, M.D., FACS, board-certified General Surgeon, fellowship-trained Breast Surgical Oncologist and Medical Director of the Breast Surgery program at Rapid City Hospital, who played a major role in acquiring accredited status for our Breast Care Program from The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, and Kelsey Johnson, CNP, in Pain Management at Orthopedic & Specialty Hospital.
Organizational leadership on the list is represented by Jimmy Seward, Director of Ambulatory Operations, Sturgis, a rare Northern Hills honoree.
Jennifer Cortes, Community Engagement Manager Behavioral Health and Kelsie Ficken, Development Officer in the Foundation represent Caregivers in outreach-based roles.
Listed side by side with leaders from such companies as Black Hills Energy, South Dakota Mines and many other businesses and independent individuals, our five colleagues are the most named from any one organization. They also cut across several departments within Monument Health, underscoring our far-reaching influence within the Black Hills and western South Dakota.
Congratulations to these five Caregivers and thank you for your exceptional work impacting our communities. We look forward to seeing what your futures will bring as we hope you will be here for generations to come.
To learn more about the Monument Health honorees — including some of their hobbies and favorite Rapid City places to visit and eat — and the rest of the 2026 class, check out Elevate Magazine via the Rapid City Business Journal.