SDSMA Awards
2026 SDSMA Awards
Nominations Are Open!
Nominations open February 3 through March 2, 2026
The SDSMA Awards honor physicians for their contributions to health care, service to patients, dedication to improving medicine in South Dakota, or service to the SDSMA.
The SDSMA is accepting nominations for the following awards:
- Distinguished Service Award - submit nomination - presented to a physician or
layperson who has contributed outstanding service to medicine in South
Dakota.
- Community Service Award - submit nomination - presented to an SDSMA physician member who has demonstrated exemplary involvement in community affairs in South Dakota.
- COPIC Humanitarian Award - the recipient of this award
designates a $10,000 donation from COPIC to be provided to a healthcare
related 501(c)(3) organization in South Dakota! - submit nomination - presented each year to honor a physician for volunteer medical services
and contributions to their community, specifically physicians who unassumingly volunteer outside the spectrum of their
day-to-day lives.
- Outstanding Young Physician Award - submit nomination - presented
to an SDSMA physician member under 40 years of age or within their
first 8 years of professional practice after residency or fellowship
training. The recipient will have shown outstanding achievements in the
area of dedication and service to community as well as contributions to
the medical society, such as through local, state or national
organizations.
- Young at Heart Award - submit nomination - presented annually by the SDSMA to honor a physician member who has helped young physicians as a mentor, role model, and leader as they have started their career. This award recognizes a physician who has encouraged young physicians to assume leadership roles, get involved in organized medicine or community projects, or guide them in starting a new practice and survive the day-to-day experiences of practicing medicine. Physicians eligible for this award must be over the age of 40. Physicians must be in practice for at least five years.
Are there people that come to mind who deserve to be recognized? Nominate them today! Award recipients are honored at the awards banquet during the SDSMA Annual Leadership Conference May 29, 2026 at the Catiln Hotel (formerly the Hilton Garden Inn) in downtown Sioux Falls.
Nominations must be submitted by 5 pm CT March 2.
An individual may work right alongside of you, or serve on a committee
with you, or volunteer in your organization or community, or have made a
significant impact in the medical profession.
Nominate someone today and help your colleagues and supporters get the recognition they deserve!
Past Recipients
(recipients back to 2013 are listed below. For recipient lists prior to 2013, please contact Elizabeth Reiss at ereiss@sdsma.org)
Distinguished Service Award
- 2025 - William Fuller, MD
- 2024 - Dean Krogman
- 2023 - Robert L. Allison, MD
- 2022 - Tom Huber, MD
- 2021 - Tim Ridgway, MD
- 2020 - Dan Heinemann, MD
- 2019 - Timothy Soundy, MD and Robert E. Van Demark, Jr, MD
- 2018 - Laura Davis-Keppen, MD
- 2017 - Rick Holm, MD
- 2016 - John Oliphant, MD
- 2015 - Keith Hansen, MD
- 2014 - Donald Humphreys, MD
- 2013 - Rodney Parry, MD
Community Service Award
- 2025 - Jacob Quail, MD
- 2024 - The Prairie Docs - Andrew Ellsworth, MD; Kelly Evans-Hullinger, MD; Debra Johnston, MD; Jill Kruse, DO
- 2023 - Dan Petereit, MD
- 2022 - David Basel, MD
- 2021 - Earl Kemp, MD
- 2020 - Rob Allison, MD
- 2019 - Rick Kooima, MD
- 2018 - David Shields, MD
- 2017 - Julie Raymond, MD
- 2016 - Mark L. Harlow, MD and Patricia Peters, MD
- 2015 - Gene Burrish, MD
- 2014 - Martin Christensen, MD
- 2013 - Alan Lawrence, MD
COPIC Humanitarian Award (began in 2020)
- 2025 - Margaret Becker, MD
- 2024 - Shannon Emry, MD
- 2023 - Matt Owens, MD
- 2022 - Tim Irwin, MD
- 2021 - Mark L. Harlow, MD
- 2020 - Jennifer Tinguely, MD, MPH
Outstanding Young Physician Award
- 2025 - Matthew Schaffer, DO
- 2024 - Ashlea Semmens, MD
- 2023 - Randall Waldner, MD
- 2022 - Mandi Greenway Bietz, MD
- 2021 - Kara Dahl, MD
- 2020 - Michelle Schimelpfenig, DO
- 2019 - Laura Hoefert, MD
- 2018 - Michael Huot, MD
- 2017 - Nathan Miller, MD
- 2016 - Jennifer Tinguely, MD
- 2015 - Benjamin Aaker, MD
- 2014 - Shawn Van Gerpen, MD
- 2013 - John Berdahl, MD
Young at Heart Award
- 2025 - Roy Mortinsen, MD
- 2024 - Dan Heinemann, MD
- 2023 - Kenric Malmberg, MD
- 2022 - Laurie Landeen, MD
- 2021 - Susan Anderson, MD
- 2020 - Jerome Bentz, MD
- 2019 - Tad Jacobs, DO
- 2018 - Debra Johnston, MD
- 2017 - David Munson, MD
- 2016 - David Bean Sr., MD
- 2015 - Tom Huber, MD
- 2014 - Gary Timmerman, MD
- 2013 - Wendell Hoffman, MD