30 professionals under 30 transforming public health in South Dakota

Three researchers at the Community Practice Innovation Center at South Dakota State University recently compiled a “30 under 30” list for public health in South Dakota. 

The list was presented via poster presentation at the American Public Health Association annual meeting in October. 

The poster was developed by Keri Pappas, Sarah Schweitzer and Diana Leal, who are each actively engaged in grant-funded projects at SDSU, including a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded project to develop a pharmacy-driven mobile health program and the Health Resources and Services Administration-funded BIRTH-SD programs to improve perinatal health in South Dakota. 

The poster was selected for the Early Career Professionals category at the American Public Health Association annual meeting. Posters in this category highlighted jobs and career opportunities which aligned with the overall conference theme of "rebuilding trust in public health." 

According to Pappas, the list is a non-comprehensive compilation of individuals who are “doing impactful work in South Dakota which will advance the health of our population. Having a Master of Public Health was not a requirement, and having a job description with ‘public health’ in it was certainly not a requirement either.” 

Schweitzer explained that when compiling the list, “we wanted individuals in a range of public health roles across the state, no matter their education background. So, that could include working with the Department of Health, academia, nonprofit organizations or other philanthropic work.” 

“Public health work occurs in so many forms, especially in South Dakota where we often have limited resources for specific public health professionals, so I loved being able to highlight individuals who are making a difference without having more formal restrictions," Pappas said. 

Public Health in South Dakota 30 under 30 

Mikayla Pierret, B.S.

Volunteer and family engagement coordinator at Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program 

"I coordinate 1:1 community-based and small group mentoring opportunities for K-12 youth in Brookings County. I love my role because I have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of young people as I help create a supportive environment that can foster personal growth and development for the youth involved."
 

Stephanie Hanson, MPH, perinatal mental health certification, Ph.D. candidate 

Assistant professor/principal investigator at South Dakota State University, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Department of Allied and Population Health 

"I'm passionate about public health in South Dakota because I grew up in the Midwest and know how important it is for individuals living in rural settings to have access to preventative health care. In particular, access to effective prenatal care in resource-limited settings can literally save lives, and there's nothing more important to me than that."
 

Beth Bruggeman, MPH 

Program coordinator at the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment 

"Public health represents the perfect convergence of my passion for science, my commitment to social justice, and my desire to make a meaningful difference in the world. The idea of stopping child maltreatment before it happens, through education, policy and community interventions, resonates with me deeply."
 

Jordan Juhnke, B.S. 

Program specialist at South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Behavioral Health 

"As a program specialist, I am very fortunate to be able to help individuals improve their mental health by helping develop and implement programs within mental health and substance use disorder agencies. I am grateful to work on increasing accessibility to mental health and substance use treatment."
 

Tiffany Bender, MPH, M.D. class of 2025 

Fourth-year medical student at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine 

"Our state faces significant barriers to accessing medical care, particularly due to its rurality. With my background in public health, I can identify gaps that hinder patients from seeking care or achieving the best possible outcomes. I love having the opportunity to integrate population-based public health initiatives into my daily interactions with patients."
 

Jacob Ford, M.A. 

Research communications coordinator for the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, SDSU 

“Public health is important to me because public health workers are the people who solve the problems we see around us in our communities. In South Dakota, the need is so great in so many ways, so it’s an absolute privilege to be able to assist our leading public health researchers in their work.”
 

Alexandra Feiner, B.S. 

Program specialist at the Office of Medical Cannabis, South Dakota Department of Health 

"My focus is on ensuring patient safety and promoting education. I shepherd medical cannabis establishments through the application process. This program spiked my interest as it is an emerging industry and provides an opportunity to ensure safe access to cannabis for South Dakotans who need relief."
 

Courtney Valencia, B.S. 

Evaluation coordinator at the Population Health Evaluation Center, SDSU 

"I am passionate about contributing to public health efforts in South Dakota because collected data shows what future programs and opportunities would be beneficial. I enjoy working on different projects to see the diverse perspectives of people in South Dakota and what would help their quality of life and well-being."
 

Cedric Cogdill, MPH 

Student researcher at SDSU, Stigma Treatment, Avoidance and Recovery in Time-South Dakota (START-SD) 

"I work to reduce public stigma toward substance use disorder. Through survey methods, I characterized experienced and perceived stigma of persons with substance use disorder in South Dakota, as well as the implications of stigma. From this we can create a tailored anti-stigma campaign and deliver community-specific support services."
 

Samara Contreras 

Community health worker at Horizon Health 

"I chose to be a community health worker because I can develop trusting relationships with the patients and their families. Acting as a bilingual community health worker between patients and the health care system, I help my patients understand the resources and educate them step by step by going out of the office to the location. When they graduate from the program, they can have confidence and know how to navigate challenges on their own. Seeing the expression of happiness when I give them good news and seeing that weight lifted from their shoulders is a blessing."
 

Stacy Palm, M.S.; registered dietician nutritionist; registered nutrition and dietetics technician

State breastfeeding coordinator at the South Dakota Department of Health Women, Infants and Children program 

"I'm passionate about improving the health of South Dakota by equipping staff with the resources and training to support moms from day one in how they feed their babies. It's incredibly rewarding to see the statewide impact and the broader changes that follow."
 

Angelica Mercado, B.A., M.Ed. 

Educator at Sioux Falls School District

"As an educator, I am committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions that promote healthier communities. By fostering awareness and advocating for preventative measures, I strive to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable public health landscape for future generations."
 

Irene Arango Gomez, MPH 

Community care coordinator at SDSU, Stigma Treatment, Avoidance, Recovery in Time-South Dakota (START-SD) 

"I work with communities and organizations to meet grant goals and community needs. My current focus is on providing support around prevention, treatment and recovery of substance use among adults across rural South Dakota. This is done by providing education, awareness and resources. We strongly believe that the key to recovery is a supportive community and access to services."
 

Lexi Zosel, registered nurse, BSN 

Disease intervention specialist at the South Dakota Department of Health 

"I act as a liaison to assist in preventing spread of infectious diseases. I work with all reportable illnesses to identify infectious periods, conduct contact investigations and provide isolation recommendations. I chose this field to provide care on both a large-scale and individual level."
 

Ally Gross, MPH 

Injury prevention coordinator at the South Dakota Department of Health 

"I focus on facilitating statewide injury prevention efforts around suicides, homicides, death of undetermined intent, unintentional firearms, falls and other related topics. I manage a federal grant with the CDC called the National Violent Death Reporting System. I chose this area of public health because injuries are some of the leading causes of death in South Dakota. Through my work, I can positively impact the health and safety of South Dakotans."
 

Viviana Deleon, MPH 

Post MPH fellow at the University of South Dakota 

"My passion for health care has always been focused on the bigger picture — addressing population health and systemic challenges — rather than direction patient care, which led me to pursue a career in public health. Being involved in projects with the South Dakota Department of Health allowed me to actively contribute to initiatives that support community health efforts in South Dakota."  

Mikaela Neubauer, B.A., Master of Library and Information Science, class of 2025

Community services coordinator at the Brookings Public Library

"As a child, I attended countless free events at libraries, and they were extremely enriching for me, so now I work to provide my own community education, entertainment, support and access to information through my programming. My greatest goal is that my patrons leave my programs with new information that can help them live their lives to the fullest." 

Sam Fitzgerald, M.D.

Family medicine resident physician at Sioux Falls Family Medicine Residency 

"At the Sioux Falls Family Medicine Residency, we partner with both the Center for Family Medicine and Falls Community Health to provide primary care to a large community in Sioux Falls. Our residency is also sponsored by both hospital systems in town, which helps us round out our inpatient and pediatrics education."
 

Jason Simon-Ressler, B.S.

Child and adolescent health coordinator and student assistant at South Dakota Department of Health and the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment 

"Inspired to contribute to the fight against childhood obesity, my work now spans various public health challenges within maternal and child health, where I aim to reduce health disparities, prevent injury and disease and promote equitable access to health care resources among youth and families."
 

Chloe Bender

Student researcher/student technician at SDSU

"I have contributed to several research projects, including efforts to reduce crime at public-facing ATMs. In my research into high-crime communities, I identified a significant gap in support from surrounding areas, which, if addressed, could improve public health outcomes."
 

Grace Biermann, B.A.

Research specialist at Sanford Research

"The Strahm lab studies perinatal health and birth outcomes among rural and medically underserved populations in the upper Midwest, so in my position, I am involved in two active human subject studies focused on the relationship between maternal stress and gestational diabetes, as well as an upcoming study related to the environmental factors of stillbirth."
 

Laurel Rick, MPH

Women and infant health coordinator at the South Dakota Department of Health

"I am immensely grateful to have the opportunity to aid in improving health outcomes for South Dakota's women and infants. Analyzing data through a public health lens allows me to effectively identify and implement evidence-based initiatives that specifically target factors and conditions negatively impacting health in the state."
 

Jonathan Miller, B.S.

Alumni adviser at Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation, South Dakota

"I am passionate about the Social Change Model of Leadership and how through this model we can inspire South Dakota's young leaders to go out into their communities and make a better, safer and healthier South Dakota. By encouraging our students to discover their passions, we empower them to make change, shape policy and promote justice."
 

KaSandra Pappas 

Former intern/vice president at Brookings Area United Way, Jack's Cupboard at SDSU

"My passion for public health comes from not only my own experiences but my observations of what is happening in my community. Coming from a small community in South Dakota, I know what can be overlooked, which is why I strive for resources that address social determinants of health to be accessible for all."
 

Mandy Cadotte

Student researcher at SDSU, Wokini Initiative

"As a registered member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, I am passionate about bringing needed mental health and public health services and information to my tribal community. Mental health and public health services are limited on reservations, and I want to make these critical resources more accessible and prevalent."
 

Lex Wurth, B.A.

Intern at Lost & Found

"I create curriculum materials on different topics about mental health to further the conversation around mental health and suicide prevention. I’ve also spent time evaluating college campuses across South Dakota on their suicide prevention policies and efforts to help prevent suicide for college students."
 

Shelby Kommes, MPH 

Public health prevention coordinator at Sioux Falls Health Department

"My father's unhealthy lifestyle led to his early passing, which deeply influenced my career. I became determined to help others avoid similar choices and live long, healthy lives. What drove me to public health was ensuring that individuals in my community had the access and opportunity to do just that."
 

Sarah Schweitzer, MPH 

Community care coordinator at SDSU, Community Practice Innovation Center

"By engaging and collaborating with community partners, I am working to develop a mobile clinic to serve rural communities to screen and monitor diabetes, heart disease and stroke. I love my role because I am contributing to the efforts to increase access to health services and helping to improve communities to live healthier lives."
 

Diana Elizabeth Leal, B.S.

Graduate student researcher at BIRTH-SD-AIM, SDSU

“BIRTH-SD-AIM is a federally funded four-year perinatal quality collaborative project working on identifying and improving the most relevant perinatal problems South Dakota mothers experience through safety bundle implementation at birthing hospitals across the state. Additionally, we’re studying the relationship between empowerment during the perinatal period and how it correlates with perinatal mental health disorders.”
 

Keri Pappas, MPH 

Research associate at SDSU (BIRTH-SD-AIM, BIRTH-SD-UNITE and Jack's Cupboard) 

"I have the opportunity to work on two grants focused on improving maternal child health outcomes throughout South Dakota. Additionally, I have the privilege of helping to run the on-campus food pantry at SDSU, Jack's Cupboard. Through both of these roles, I love that I get to help ensure South Dakotans have their basic needs met."