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Author: cloakendagger

Scholarship

Written by cloakendagger on . Posted in News.

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Rapid City Medical Center’s Physician Owners are proud to once again offer the Future Healthcare Heroes Scholarship to 2024 high school seniors in the Black Hills region.

Two $1000 awards will be given to a graduating senior or seniors, with proof of transcript, who attends a higher education program in Fall 2024. The student must be accepted and enrolled in the program to receive their winnings. Students will apply by submitting a 1500-2500 word essay that answers the question: “What goal(s) do I have and how will they propel positive change, unity and innovation in future local healthcare?”

Students interested in pursuing healthcare careers in the fields of Nursing (LPN, RN, CNP), Pre-Med (MD, PA-C, DO), Lab Tech, Med Aide, or Research are invited to apply. Students must currently be enrolled in a Black Hills area high school program (including public, private, or home education) and meet the graduation requirements in South Dakota.

“We are honored to offer the Future Healthcare Heroes Scholarship to outstanding, compassionate, and future-focused students in the Black Hills,” said CEO, Jennifer Trucano. “Our vision is to be your “first choice physicians providing superior healthcare and personalized service.” Consider all of these items in your submission. Good luck!”

A panel of retired RCMC physician partners will select qualified winner(s), and all entries will be made anonymous before consideration.  Students may submit applications between now and April 30th at this link: APPLY HERE

Rapid City Medical Center, LLP is the largest physician owned, private group practice in the Great Plains region. Proud to be independent and run as a small business, rather than part of any hospital system, RCMC proudly supports future physician and healthcare leaders who want to continue the legacy of providing excellent medical services to our families, neighbors and communities in this region.

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Denise Baragar, C-NP

Written by cloakendagger on . Posted in Providers, WRENT.

Denise Baragar, C-NP

Denise grew up in the Black Hills area. She earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree from South Dakota State University. For 5 years she worked as a Registered Nurse prior to earning her Master of Nursing degree from Walden University. She looks forward to forming long-term relationships with ear, nose, throat, and allergy patients. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her dog Emery. She enjoys reading, hiking, volleyball, traveling, and summer nights.

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Kelly Steele, C-NP

Written by cloakendagger on . Posted in Providers, South Clinic.

Kelly Steele, C-NP

Kelly grew up in the Black Hills area and earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree from South Dakota State University. For ten years, she worked as an RN in cardiology and vascular cardiology prior to earning her master’s degree in nursing from Clarkson College in Omaha to become a CNP. She joined RCMC South in 2023 after discovering her passion for Family Medicine and looks forward to forming long-term relationships with patients across their lifespan.

Kelly has a husband, Jay, 2 sons; Cole and Mason, 4 daughters; Caysee, Kimber, Cassi, and Taylor, a Pug, Oliver, a French bulldog, Charlie, and 2 labs; Bronco and Luna. Outside work, she enjoys watching college sports, especially Husker volleyball, reading, and home organization and decor.

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Rocío Díaz, MD

Written by cloakendagger on . Posted in Mt. Rushmore RD, Physicians.

*Hablo Español*

Rocío Díaz, MD

Rocio Diaz, M.D.

Dr. Rocio Diaz is a fellowship-trained retina specialist, specializing in medical and surgical retina, as well as a board-certified ophthalmologist. Dr. Diaz is fluent in English and Spanish. She was born and raised in Panama City, Panama, where she obtained her medical degree, becoming the first physician in her family.

Following her work as a research fellow, Dr. Diaz completed her Ophthalmology residency at the Hamilton Eye Institute, in Memphis, TN. She then moved to Omaha, NE to train as a retina fellow at the Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center. After completing her fellowship, she moved to Medford, OR and worked for three years at the prestigious Retina Care Center, a well-known referral center for southern Oregon and northern California.
While Dr. Diaz practices a full spectrum of retinal conditions, her interests include diagnosis and treatment of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, vitreous floaters, epiretinal membranes, macular holes, retinal tears and retinal detachments.

Dr. Diaz moved to Rapid City during the summer of 2023 to join her family. Her husband, Dr. Colin Brown, is a LASIK, cataract and cornea specialist at Wright Vision Center. They are blessed with a beautiful baby girl, and they enjoy their free time exploring the Black Hills, and spending time with their family and friends. Dr. Diaz loves stand-up comedy, cooking, and she is an amateur gardener and bird watcher.

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Lannese Purtell, D-NP

Written by cloakendagger on . Posted in MedArts, Providers.

Lannese Purtell, D-NP

Lannese is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She graduated from South Dakota State University with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Prior to obtaining her DNP degree, Lannese worked as registered nurse (RN) for almost 10 years. She has a passion for caring for individuals across their lifespan.

Lannese is a Rapid City native and enjoys the beautiful Black Hills. When not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and three children.

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Megan Bach, Au.D., CCC-A

Written by cloakendagger on . Posted in Providers, WRENT.

Megan Bach, Au.D., CCC-A

Dr. Megan Bach was born and raised in Watertown, South Dakota. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Dakota and went on to receive her Clinical Doctorate in Audiology from A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. She completed her 4th year externship at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Mankato, Minnesota. She is certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) in Audiology (CCC-A) and is a member of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA).

Dr. Bach has experience in the evaluation and rehabilitation of hearing in both children and adults and is excited to be a part of the WRENT team. She is passionate about patient-centered care and takes the time to explain their hearing loss, how it impacts their daily lives, and how amplification can help. Her goal is to help her patients enjoy activities and sounds that they have been missing. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, tending to her plants, and spoiling her Dachshund Marvin.

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Dallin Christensen, MD

Written by cloakendagger on . Posted in Physicians, WRENT. 93 Comments on Dallin Christensen, MD

Dallin Christensen, MD

Dr. Christensen obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Arizona and completed his surgical training in Otolaryngology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He enjoys all areas of ear, nose, and throat surgery, and has particular interests in pediatric otolaryngology, head and neck cancer, sinus problems, ear disease, and hearing loss. He is passionate about working with patients to find the best solution to their specific situation and is thrilled to be practicing in Rapid City.

Dr. Christensen is married and has four kids. Outside of the office, he enjoys fly fishing, college football, board games, and exploring the Black Hills with his wife and kids.

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Kate Dyer, C-NP

Written by cloakendagger on . Posted in Mt. Rushmore RD, Providers.

Kate Dyer, C-NP

Kate Dyer is a Certified Nurse Practitioner with the Urgent Care Department. She was born and raised in South Dakota and attended nursing school through the University of South Dakota. She completed her Masters in Science through Walden University in 2020 and received her ANCC accreditation in Family Practice. She has been in Urgent Care since 2021 and loves the variety and fast paced environment. Kate enjoys spending her free time in the outdoors. She loves to hike, backpack, cycle, kayak, and ski.

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