Local health professionals express a growing need for the next generation of professionals

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Since 2000, North Dakota has gained more than 100,000 residents and continues to grow. With the demand for health care services rising rapidly.

“We’re really expanding opportunities in multiple specialities to develop our own physician pipeline and keep people close to home so that people in the community can get the care they need and deserve close to home,” said David Theige, Medical Director of Sanford Medical Education.

To address this ongoing need, Sanford Health has been working to build the next generation of healthcare professionals through partnerships and programs. One of the many programs Sanford offers is the Aspire program. This program is offered from elementary through college, providing hands-on learning, career fairs, classroom visits, and more.

“Students don’t know what they don’t know until they start to explore. And it’s so fun to watch them find where their fit is and what helps them come alive and just say, you know what, that’s for me,” said Linda Kirchhevel, Sanford Health senior director of talent and leadership development.

In 2025, the Aspire program had more than 15,000 interactions with K-12 students across the region. And to continue with these interactions, Sanford will begin offering internship classes and job opportunities this fall for area high school students.

“We’re all about growing education at Sanford. We have huge healthcare workforce needs now and into the future. And we want to develop pipelines so that we have people to take care of all of us as we move through life,” said Theige.

Sanford Health has been teaching medical students since 1967, with its first school being in Radiology.