Tag: South Dakota

Celebrating Movement, Joy and Community Through Remembrance

Posted on by Marez Paraz

After a weather postponement, Monument Health’s inaugural Betina Basso Memorial Track & Field Day was a success. 

Previously known as the Betina K. Basso Fun Run/Walk and held in the fall, the one mile community run/walk was reimagined as a spring event for school-aged kids. The students participated in a variety of adaptive track and field activities designed to support all abilities and celebrate effort, participation and personal achievement. 

Initially planned for Wednesday April 29 and rescheduled for May 6, the new version of the event was attended by around fifty K-12 students from Custer and Hermosa schools, who were bused to the track at Custer High School to participate. The events included an accuracy throw, 100-meter dash, special relay, long jump, 50-meter hurdles and a distance throw.    

“Thank you to Custer and Hermosa school staff and students. Our original mission was to give back to students in Betina’s name,” says Kevin Sobolik, PT, CSCS at Custer Hospital. “I was not prepared for the joy and love I would receive in return. It was a memorable day. Next year will be even better!” 

An event is held annually in celebration of the life of Betina Basso, a beloved physical therapist who worked at Custer Physical Therapy and within the Custer, Hermosa and Hill City school systems.  She was a loving advocate for children. She passed away in 2019. 

Although the celebration was originally conceived as a run/walk, thoughtful contemplation was given to how the event would best honor Betina’s relationship to and treatment of her pediatric patients. As a result, a track and field day gave the event a new life as a more meaningful way to directly reflect Betina’s work and impact. 

Betina was loved by everyone who knew her. She had a passion for fun, a heart for helping kids move, and a deep belief that every child deserved the chance to participate, grow and succeed. This event reflects the joy, encouragement and energy she brought to her work every day. 

“It was so uplifting to be there and see all of the kiddos running, jumping and just generally having a good time in the spirit of friendly competition,” says Sierra Gerlach, Monument Health Community Relations Event Coordinator. “What a great way to be both inclusive and to celebrate a departed Caregiver and admired member of our communities.”

Story by Kory Lanphear

Photos by Erika Cianca

Monument Health Receives Prestigious Rapid City Award: Granite Award

Posted on by Marez Paraz

We are proud to announce that Elevate Rapid City has awarded the 2026 Granite Award to Monument Health. Per Elevate: “The Granite Award is given to a business that is an asset to the area and is a pillar of our community; a business that is stable and solid as ‘granite.’”

Monument Health began as two Rapid City-based community hospitals nearly five decades ago and has grown into Western South Dakota’s largest health care system and employer. Today, we employ more than 6,200 people and operate facilities throughout the region, including our recent acquisition of Rapid City Medical Center (RCMC), which expands our ability to serve patients across multiple locations while maintaining the personalized care our community deserves.

After more than 50 years of partnership with Elevate, this recognition acknowledges our clinical excellence, financial performance and our role as an economic anchor and community partner throughout the Black Hills region.

Elevate recognized us across every dimension of our community partnership. Our 10-year, $750 million master facilities investment plan signals long-term commitment to the region. Our growth to 524 physicians and advanced practice providers and our recent acquisition of Rapid City Medical Center mean families can access specialty care close to home rather than traveling to Denver or Minneapolis. Our $233 million annual community benefit — including $91 million in care provided regardless of ability to pay — demonstrates our values in action.

New service lines and personnel additions continue to expand our capabilities, including a fellowship-trained Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon, Tommaso Cambiaghi, M.D,. who performs complex aortic surgery and minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures, Steven Donahue, M.D., the region’s first and only fellowship-trained Colorectal Surgeon who offers specialized treatment for complex colorectal conditions and Keely Ulmer, M.D., fellowship-trained Gynecologic Oncologist, who specializes in treatment of reproductive organ cancers. This growth means families can access sophisticated medical care without leaving the region. 

“Receiving the Granite Award reflects our unwavering commitment to growing with this community, investing in this community, and showing up consistently, year after year, for the people we serve,” said Paulette Davidson, Monument Health President and CEO. “We’re proud to call the Black Hills home and honored to be recognized as a pillar of this region.

The award ceremony takes place June 9 at The Monument, where we’ll be celebrated alongside other regional business leaders. More importantly, this recognition reinforces what you already know, Monument Health doesn’t just serve this community, we help build it.

Five Caregivers Named to Elevate’s 40 Under 40 List

Posted on by Marez Paraz

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.

Story by Kory Lanphear

Blue Day for Colon Cancer Awareness

For the third year in a row, Monument Health Gastroenterology is hosting Blue Day to promote colon cancer prevention and awareness.

Wear something blue and join us at the 14-foot inflatable colon in the Main Entrance Lobby at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital (353 Fairmont Boulevard). Physicians, physician assistants, and nurses will be present with educational materials and their expert knowledge to discuss prevention and early detection.

Blue Day raises awareness about colorectal cancer, its prevention, and the importance of early detection. By wearing blue, you help bring attention to this critical cause and honor those impacted by colorectal cancer.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that people at average risk begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45. Nearly 1 in 5 new colorectal cancer cases in the U.S. are now diagnosed in adults under 50.

If you have a higher risk due to your family history, lifestyle, or ethnicity, you may need to start screening even earlier. Talk with your doctor to determine the best time for you to get checked.

Click here to take the colon cancer screening quiz.