SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Becker’s Hospital Review has named six leaders from Sanford Health and Good Samaritan to its most recent list of hospital and health system chief nursing officers to know.
Erica DeBoer (Sanford Health), Kelly Hefti (Sioux Falls), Wendy Kopp (Bismarck), Theresa Larson (Fargo), DeeAndra Sandgren (Good Samaritan) and Amy Thiesse (Sioux Falls) are among the 274 CNOs included on the 2025 list.
As the leaders of nursing strategy, CNOs take on critical challenges such as addressing staffing shortages, managing nursing budgets and creating meaningful professional development pathways for the next generation of nurses. Beyond overseeing nursing departments, these executives lead innovative initiatives that elevate care quality and strengthen clinical excellence across their organizations. Blending hands-on clinical expertise and executive leadership, CNOs play an essential role in advancing health care and supporting the nurses who deliver care every day.
DeBoer is CNO for Sanford Health, which serves more than one million patients and is the largest rural health system in the country. In her role, she has oversight of more than 11,000 nurses across the post-acute, ambulatory and inpatient settings. She has been instrumental in leading systemwide initiatives aimed at leveraging technology, AI and automation to solve for unprecedented nursing workforce shortages. She has also helped to lead an expansion of workforce development programs to build a stronger pipeline of the next generation of caregivers. DeBoer brings approximately 30 years of experience as a front-line registered nurse, including positions in critical care, clinical leadership and education. Most recently, she was Sanford Health’s senior executive director of nursing and clinical services and clinical informatics.
Hefti is responsible for the nursing practice for the ambulatory and inpatient care units at Sanford USD Medical Center and Clinics, the largest hospital in South Dakota. For more than 30 years, she has served Sanford Health in a variety of roles, including as a practicing registered nurse, clinical leader, senior director, certified nurse practitioner and CNO, and has helped foster a culture of quality nursing care and elevated standards for nursing practice. She is also a champion for nurse wellbeing and safety in the workplace. Working closely with local institutions of higher education, Hefti has been instrumental in fostering and maintaining educational partnerships, internships and experiential learning opportunities for future nurses. Under Ms. Hefti’s leadership, the medical center and clinics earned a fifth Magnet designation for nursing excellence in 2022.
As CNO at Sanford Bismarck, Kopp leads nurses across Western and Central North Dakota. She was instrumental in guiding the organization through the Covid-19 pandemic, implementing innovative care strategies and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of both staff and patients. Under her leadership, Sanford Bismarck achieved its fourth Magnet designation. Kopp also spearheaded the creation of the “Zen Den,” a wellness room designed to support the mental health of frontline workers. Beyond her organization, she contributes to the nursing profession by participating in professional boards, publishing research, and advocating for policies that prioritize patient care and nurse wellness.
In her CNO role at Sanford Fargo, Larson is focused on setting the standard for clinical and nursing excellence, impacting more than 3,200 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Her efforts helped lead Sanford Fargo to its first-ever Magnet designation, a milestone achieved after 20 years working to align with the American Nurses Credentialing Center standards. Under Larson’s leadership, the organization earned the Vizient “Rising Star Award” in 2023 and a 5-star rating from CMS in 2024. Alongside high-quality care, Larson is passionate about building a supportive culture that empowers nurses and promotes professional development opportunities. To further strengthen the nursing workforce, Larson has established strategic partnerships with colleges and universities, including tuition-support programs tied to work commitments at Sanford Health.
Sandgren oversees nursing and clinical services at Good Samaritan, one of the nation’s largest senior care and services providers. She is responsible for care management, clinical reimbursement, nursing shared governance, admissions, social services, life enrichment and dietary. Under her leadership, Good Samaritan improved clinical outcomes, workforce stability and innovation, transforming care delivery for 10,000 seniors in rural America. In 2024, she drove a 20% increase in applications for national quality awards with strong results. Also in 2024, the long-term care provider achieved resident vaccination rates exceeding industry benchmarks by 15% for Covid-19 and 7% for influenza. As a result of retention and recruitment strategies, the director of nursing vacancy rate dropped from over 20% to under 10% in two years.
With more than 30 years of nursing experience in tertiary and frontier hospitals, ambulatory and nursing home settings, Thiesse oversees nursing practice and the provision of nursing services in more than 25 rural medical centers and dozens of clinics. An advocate for equitably meeting the needs of rural communities, she is committed to upholding high standards for safe nursing practices, as well as skill and professional development opportunities tailored to rural frontline nurses. Understanding the unique needs and challenges associated with recruiting qualified nurses to smaller communities, Thiesse works closely with higher education institutions in the area to create opportunities for investigative learning and internships for nursing students.
Becker’s Healthcare developed this list based on nominations and editorial research.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 55,000 employees and serves more than 2 million patients and nearly 415,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 58 hospitals, 289 clinic locations, 145 senior care communities, 4,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,100 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to nearly 80 specialties. More than 400 residents and fellows are trained each year through graduate medical education with Sanford Health fully funding and supporting 29 of the 40 available programs. Sanford Health also includes Lewis Drug, a pharmacy and retail chain with 60 locations in three states and nearly 190 pharmacists. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
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