Herauf chosen for Becky Nelson Leadership Fellowship
Feb. 2, 2026
Contact:
Chelsey Kralicek
Sanford Health Media Relations
701-516-4903 / Chelsey.Kralicek@SanfordHealth.org
BISMARCK, N.D. — Ashley Herauf, clinic director at Sanford Health in Bismarck has been chosen for the Becky Nelson Leadership Fellowship, which was created to honor Becky Nelson’s many years of dedicated service to Sanford Health.
Becky Nelson held a variety of roles throughout her career, beginning as a staff nurse and ultimately serving as senior vice president and chief operating officer for the entire Sanford Health system. One individual is selected across the entire Sanford Health organization each year for the leadership fellowship.
Herauf is a native of Dickinson and has been a nurse for 13 years. She earned her nursing degree from Dickinson State University and later completed a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in Leadership and Management from Western Governors University. Over the course of her career, Herauf has held a variety of nursing leadership roles, developing a strong foundation in clinical operations, team development and quality improvement. During her four years with Sanford Health, she has led multiple nursing and clinic operations in the Bismarck region, supporting frontline teams and advancing patient-centered care through operational excellence and collaborative leadership. “Ashley’s work as clinic director at Sanford Health in Bismarck reflects not only impressive operational results but also the kind of character and leadership presence that inspires teams, strengthens culture and advances our mission,” says Tania Brost, RN nurse manager, Sanford Bismarck. “Her willingness to embrace difficult work demonstrates her forward-thinking approach and her commitment to advancing the care we deliver.”
“Ashley exemplifies the values Becky Nelson championed throughout her career — integrity, service and a deep commitment to developing others,” said Wendy Kopp, chief nursing officer, Sanford Bismarck. “Her selection for this fellowship reflects the impact she has already made as a leader and the confidence we have in her continued growth. Ashley leads with purpose, compassion and operational excellence, and we are excited to see how this experience further strengthens her leadership.”
The Becky Nelson Leadership Fellowship offers assigned mentors who guide and support the fellow throughout the year, a personalized learning plan aligned with the fellow’s individual leadership objectives, rotations across key areas of Sanford Health to provide a unique, system-wide perspective and opportunities to participate in leadership events, retreats and other development experiences.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to be selected as the Becky Nelson Leadership Fellow,” said Herauf. “This opportunity is deeply meaningful to me, and I am excited to continue growing as a leader while gaining broader system-level perspective and mentorship. I look forward to using this experience to better support my teams and continue serving Sanford Health wherever I am needed most.”
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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