Sanford expands gastroenterology services with new providers
April 21, 2026
Contact:
Chelsey Kralicek
Sanford Health Media Relations
701-516-4903 / Chelsey.Kralicek@SanfordHealth.org
BISMARCK, N.D. — Sanford Health in Bismarck continues to expand its endoscopy services. A 15,000-square-foot addition opened last fall, and this spring new providers have been added to the team to enhance access to comprehensive digestive health services for patients across central and western North Dakota.
The expanded GI team will join Yeshitila Mengesha, M.D., Kimberly Winters, APRN, CNP and Matthew Schaner, PA-C to offer expert diagnosis and management of disorders affecting the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. New providers include:
- Amanda Fossum, APRN, CNP
- Elida Voth, M.D.
- Makda Bsrat, M.D.
- Steven Park, M.D.
- Maaz Badshah, M.D.
- Gina Hansen, APRN, CNP
- Rachel Voyles, PA-C
With a focus on prevention, early detection and long-term management, the GI team delivers both routine and advanced diagnostic services in inpatient and outpatient settings. The program emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration, working closely with primary care, surgery, oncology, radiology and nutrition to ensure seamless, patient-centered care. Services include:
- Preventive Care: Colon cancer screening and surveillance, with screening recommended starting at age 45.
- Advanced Endoscopic Procedures: Upper endoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, polyp removal, stent placement and dilation.
- Chronic Disease Management: Care for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), liver disease and pancreatitis.
“Our goal is to provide high-quality, comprehensive care for patients with digestive health needs,” said Jackie Farland, vice president of operations, Sanford Bismarck. “By expanding our team and services, we’re improving access to preventive screenings and advanced treatments that can make a significant difference in patient outcomes.”
Patients may be referred by primary care providers, specialists or through hospital discharge planning. Direct referrals are accepted for screening colonoscopies and routine GI concerns, while urgent referrals are coordinated for GI bleeding, severe abdominal pain or abnormal imaging findings.
Additional highlights of the program include:
- Colonoscopy services available in Bismarck and Dickinson.
- The region’s only two Board-Certified Colorectal Surgeons, offering advanced robotic colorectal surgery.
For more information, please visit sanfordhealth.org or call 701-323-8030.
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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