South Dakota State Medical Association members have many opportunities to shape policy and select leaders.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is the governing body of the association, which acts as the legislative and business body. It is comprised of 11 members: the president, president-elect, vice president, immediate past president, secretary-treasurer, senior American Medical Association (AMA) delegate, Policy Council chairperson, three at-large directors elected by the Policy Council from the membership of the association, and the alternate AMA delegate elected as such by the Policy Council. The alternate AMA delegate serves in a non-voting capacity.

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Benjamin C. Aaker, MD - President
Medical school: University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha
Residency: University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
Specialty: Emergency Medicine
Current practice: Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton
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Kara L. Dahl, MD - President-Elect
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine, Portsmouth, Dominica
Residency: University of South Florida - Tampa
Specialty: Emergency Medicine
Current practice: Sanford Clinic, Aberdeen
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Lucio N. Margallo II, MD - Vice President
Medical school: University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
Residency: University of South Dakota School of Medicine
Specialty: Internal Medicine
Current practice: Avera Medical Group Internal Medicine; Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, Mitchell
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Jennifer J. Tinguely, MD, MPH - Secretary-Treasurer
Medical school: University of South Dakota School of Medicine
Residency: Center for Family Medicine, Sioux Falls
Specialty: Family Medicine
Current practice: Falls Community Health, Sioux Falls
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Robert J. Summerer, DO - Immediate Past President
Medical school: Des Moines University
Residency: Des Moines General Hospital
Specialty: General Surgery
Current practice: Madison Regional Health System
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Denise S. Hanisch, MD - Policy Council Chair
Medical school: University of South Dakota School of Medicine
Residency: Sioux Falls Family Medicine Residency Program, Sioux Falls
Specialty: Family Medicine
Current practice: Pioneer Memorial Hospital, Viborg
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Susan M. Anderson, MD - At-Large Director
Medical school: University of South Dakota School of Medicine
Residency: Sioux Falls Family Medicine Residency Program
Specialty: Family Medicine
Current Practice: Sanford Clinic - USD Family Medicine, Sioux Falls
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Jesse J. Barondeau, MD - At-Large Director
Medical school: University of South Dakota School of Medicine
Residency: Madigan Pediatrics Residency Program, Tacoma, Washington
Specialty: Pediatrics
Current practice: Avera Medical Group Pediatrics, Mitchell
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Heather Preuss, MD - At-Large Director
Medical school: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
Residency: Clarkson Family Medicine, Omaha
Specialty: Family Medicine
Current practice: Monument Health Hot Springs Clinic
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Mary S. Carpenter, MD - Delegate to the AMA
Medical school: USD School of Medicine
Residency: University of Oklahoma, Tulsa Medical College
Specialty: Family Medicine
Current practice: State Health Department and Social Services Department
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Robert L. Allison, MD - Alternate Delegate to the AMA
Medical school: University of Nebraska School of Medicine, Omaha
Residency: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
Specialty: Internal Medicine
Current practice: Avera Medical Group Pierre
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Policy Council
The Policy Council is made up of 51 members including the Board officers, elected representatives from each district medical society, one representative from each specialty society, one representative appointed by the dean of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, and one representative each from the medical student and resident physician sections. The Policy Council adopts position statements and establishes the general policy of the association and has the sole power and authority to amend the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of the SDSMA. The Council meets twice annually, including during the SDSMA annual meeting.
If you are interested in serving on the Policy Council, please contact your district or specialty society, or Terry Marks, Administrative Services Coordinator, at tmarks@sdsma.org or 605.336.1965.
Policy Council Chair - Denise S. Hanisch, MD
SDSMA committees