Rapid City, SD – Kyle Wiese, the CEO/President of the Sanford Black Hills answered questions about Sanford Health coming to Rapid City.
Would you be overseeing this new medical facility?
My role as CEO/President of the Sanford Black Hills Market includes overall strategic and operational responsibility for all the operations and medical facilities in the Black Hills / WY market including the future Sanford Black Hills Medical Campus. We will continue to have an operating board with representatives from the community.
How is Sanford Health going to invest $10 million over the next decade in education in the Black Hills?
Sanford Health intends to invest $10 million over the next decade to partner with K–12 schools, technical colleges, and universities across the Black Hills, starting in 2026. This investment will empower local students to pursue careers in health care, ensuring the next generation of caregivers is rooted in the communities they serve.
How many estimated jobs will be created by the new facility?
The new medical campus will not only expand access to care for the community but will also attract even more exceptional physicians to the region. We have already launched plans to recruit new physicians in a variety of specialties to serve in the Sanford Black Hills region. We estimate that the new facility will provide employment opportunities for 700-900 community members, future health care works and others that want to be part of making a difference as part of this new medical campus.
Beyond the $300 million gift, what is the anticipated total investment Sanford Health will make in the Black Hills region, and what specific role will the new medical center play in Sanford Health’s overall regional strategy?
Mr. Sanford’s gift of $300 million is expected to fund a material portion of the total project, and we anticipate remaining costs to be covered by other sources, including additional philanthropy. The new hospital and medical center will be the core medical campus for Sanford Black Hills and will offer expanded services to the Black Hills community, including an emergency department, ICU, oncology, children’s, comprehensive women’s health including a labor and delivery unit and so much more.
How do you see Sanford differentiating itself from Monument Health and other providers in the region?Adding more health care options strengthens the quality of care and improves accessibility for all members of the community. We share the same goal as all health care providers in the region today: to improve patient outcomes and support the health and wellbeing of the community. The Sanford Black Hills Medical Center campus will be designed to serve the full spectrum of patient needs, from primary and specialty care to advanced emergency and inpatient services. The new campus provides an opportunity to recruit and retain even more exceptional physicians and caregivers, ensuring the long-term vitality of the region.
Can you elaborate on the long-term vision for scaling services?
Initially, we will focus on investing in local workforce and education including $2.5 million to the Aspire program, promoting student interest in health care and providing hands-on learning opportunities for more than 13,000 students, $3 million to Build Dakota to support in-demand technical education, and $4.5 million to expand sponsorships at regional post-secondary educational institutions. Construction on the new Sanford Black Hills Medical Center campus in southwest Rapid City is scheduled to begin in 2027, with a target completion date of 2030.
Will you be providing any technology or services that no other provider in our area can offer?
Mr. Sanford donated $650 million in 2021 to create the world’s leading virtual care center at Sanford Health and expand graduate medical education program. In addition to expanding services for cardiology, oncology, women’s health, and children’ in this new medical campus, we are looking forward to leveraging Sanford’s virtual care center to further expand services for those in the remote areas of our country including those in the 4-state region. Mr. Sanford has always invested philanthropically in the areas where there is the most need, and where he can do the most good, and we look forward to carrying that mission forward.
