Becker’s names Campbell a top chief human resources officer
March 27, 2026
Contact:
Chelsey Kralicek
Sanford Health Media Relations
701-516-4903 / Chelsey.Kralicek@SanfordHealth.org
BISMARCK, N.D. — Becker’s Healthcare has named DJ Campbell, Sanford Bismarck’s vice president and chief human resources officer, to its 2026 list of hospital and health system CHRO and chief people officers to know. The annual recognition highlights exceptional HR executives who are transforming workplace culture, championing employee engagement and shaping the future of healthcare talent strategy.
As the chief human resources leader for Sanford Health’s Bismarck Region, Campbell supports nearly 4,000 team members and plays a critical role in aligning workforce strategy with operational performance, quality outcomes and the overall employee experience. In addition to his market leadership, Campbell contributes to enterprise-wide initiatives that impact more than 55,000 employees across the Sanford Health system.
Under Campbell’s leadership, Sanford Health Bismarck has seen consistent improvements in employee engagement and a stronger organizational focus on the employee experience. He helped establish a board-level committee dedicated to elevating engagement as a strategic priority and advanced leadership development through initiatives such as Sanford’s annual talent summit, a senior leadership rotation program and a grassroots health equity and experience effort to promote inclusion and belonging.
Campbell has also strengthened long-term workforce sustainability by expanding early‑career exploration and workforce readiness partnerships with K‑12 and higher education institutions, reducing reliance on contract staffing. He has led international recruitment strategies to address critical staffing needs and is an influential statewide workforce leader, serving as vice chair of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, chair of the North Dakota Workforce Development Council and contributing as a board member for organizations such as Make‑A‑Wish North Dakota and the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences advisory board.
“DJ’s leadership, innovation and commitment to the employee experience have had a tremendous impact on our organization and our community,” said Todd Schaffer, M.D., president and CEO, Sanford Bismarck. “We are proud to see his work recognized on a national level.”
The Sanford Health Bismarck Region provides health care to central and western North Dakota, eastern Montana and northern South Dakota. It includes 26 clinics in Bismarck, Mandan, Minot, Dickinson, Williston and Watford City, as well as a Level II trauma center located in Bismarck.
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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