(Sioux Falls, SD) — The University of South Dakota has announced it will move its Sanford Medical School and biomedical research from Vermillion to Sioux Falls in 2027. The decision that’s been years in the making aims to better connect students with clinical instructors and health care partners like Sanford and Avera, both based in Sioux Falls.
The move ends the commute for students currently traveling for clinical work and addresses facility issues at Vermillion’s Akeley-Lawrence Science Center. However, Vermillion Mayor Jon Cole expressed concern about losing students and staff from their community. The medical school will temporarily operate out of Sanford Health buildings, with plans for a new facility in seven to ten years, pending legislative approval and fundraising efforts.
USD shared the news at a joint press conference alongside the State of South Dakota, the City of Sioux Falls, the South Dakota Board of Regents and representatives from South Dakota’s major health care systems on Thursday. This decision comes after the school celebrated 50 years of offering the M.D. in 2024.
“As South Dakota’s only medical school, we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to shape the future of medicine in the state,” said USD President Sheila K. Gestring. “USD has a legacy of supporting the state’s health care systems, building a skilled workforce, and promoting the health and well-being of South Dakotans — and by consolidating this portion of our medical education in Sioux Falls, we can make an even greater impact while also improving the experience for our faculty, staff and students.”
Read more from USD here: https://www.usd.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/sanford-school-of-medicine/south-dakotan-medicine/usd-sanford-school-of-medicine-announces-it-will-move-first-18-months-of-md-to-sioux-falls
