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Department of Allied and Population Health

Welcome to the Allied and Population Health Department! We are excited that you are interested in learning more about our department and the programs we offer.

Our academic programs are well ranked in their respective fields. We consistently record 100% job placement and 100% board pass rates for graduates in many of our academic programs. We offer a very dynamic working environment for faculty who share office space at health systems working alongside practitioners. To help alleviate the financial burden for students, scholarships, sponsorships and paid internship opportunities are offered to students in our department. All you have to do is ask!

Our online programs in all three divisions, offer flexible opportunities for working professionals to earn degrees at their own pace. We also offer two certificate programs, a phlebotomy certificate, and a public health certificate. Several of our programs are designed to offer students or working professionals the opportunity to cross-train or layer their education through multiple degrees.

In addition to teaching, the department houses the multi-million-dollar Community Practice Innovations Center (CPIC) which focuses on community-based research with an emphasis on access to care, population health, and improving health outcomes. Many CPIC projects are funded by federal or state agencies. CPIC provides students an excellent opportunity to learn cutting-edge research and be a part of innovations in health care. Practice-based research is encouraged, and students work collaboratively with faculty and students from various disciplines on research projects.

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Department of Allied and Population Health News

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Medical laboratory science faculty pose by one the program’s new microscopes, which has the distinguishing feature of 15.6-inch computer screen. The equipment was part of a $750,000 workforce development award that originated with Centers for Disease Control funds. Pictured, from left, are Stacie Lansink, Kassi Erickson, April Nelsen and Heather Moser.

New equipment sets ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ medical lab program apart from peers

Looking at slides of blood cells, fecal matter and urine has taken on an entirely different perspective this school year thanks to new state-of-the-art equipment in the medical laboratory science lab at South Dakota State University. In July, the program received 28 microscopes and an innovative slide scanner as part of a $750,000 award from the South Dakota Department of Health, which was handling workforce development funds from the Centers for Disease Control, according to April Nelsen, the medical lab science clinical coordinator who put a proposal together for the health department.

START-SD team at ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ begins work to address substance use disorder, support prisoner reentry

A team from the Community Practice Innovation Center at South Dakota State University has been awarded a $3 million grant to expand and facilitate services for individuals transitioning out of South Dakota prison systems. The grant, which comes from the Health Resources and Services Administration, will continue the START-SD (Stigma, Treatment, Avoidance and Recovery in Time) work on prevention, treatment and recovery for substance use disorder in South Dakota.

Incentives available for new respiratory therapists in South Dakota

There is currently a shortage of respiratory therapists in the nation, including in South Dakota. The profession is projected to grow 14% from 2021, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. To combat this shortage, each year, South Dakota State University and the health systems in South Dakota offer a variety of incentives for new and in-training respiratory therapists.