Sanford Health launches first emergency medicine residency program in region
Sanford USD Medical Center
Sioux Falls, S.D.
Sanford Medical Education, in partnership with the USD Sanford School of Medicine, has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to launch a new emergency medicine residency program in Sioux Falls, S.D. This marks the first such program not only in South Dakota, but also across a broader region including North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. The initiative is a collaborative effort between Sanford USD Medical Center, Sanford Medical Education and USD Sanford School of Medicine.
“As the only Level 1 trauma center in the region, Sanford is uniquely positioned to train the next generation of emergency medicine physicians,” said Abigail Polzin, M.D., emergency medicine physician and director of the residency program. “By training these physicians right here in South Dakota, we hope it inspires them to deliver emergency medicine care to some of our rural communities and stay in the region after residency. However, the expertise they learn will also be extremely valuable in high-volume hospitals in metro areas as well.”
The three-year program will welcome its first class of six residents in July 2026, eventually growing to a full cohort of 18. Residents will undergo 25 months of core emergency medicine training, including rotations in ICU, obstetrics, surgery and rural experiences in Aberdeen. The curriculum also features hands-on learning through Sanford’s high-fidelity simulation, telemedicine and AirMed transport, with additional opportunities for international electives.