Sanford Fargo announces executive leadership team changes
Jan. 22, 2026
Contact:
Nathan Aamodt
Sanford Health Media Relations
(701) 200-6080/nathan.aamodt@sanfordhealth.org
FARGO, N.D. – Sanford Health Fargo is announcing changes to its executive leadership team.
Doug Griffin, MD, is retiring in May. Dr. Griffin currently serves as the chief physician at Sanford Fargo. Dr. Griffin practiced family medicine for 30 years, including 17 at Sanford Alexandria, before assuming regional leadership roles as chief medical officer in 2016 and chief physician in 2022.
“Whether it’s his dedication to our team, patients or communities, Dr. Griffin has wholeheartedly embodied the qualities of a servant leader, consistently putting others first and leading with humility, compassion and integrity. From his integral leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthening our clinician workforce through record annual recruitment, Dr. Griffin’s achievements have left a lasting mark on our organization,” said Tiffany Lawrence, Sanford Fargo president and CEO.
Steven Briggs, MD, will transition into the chief physician role in February. Dr. Briggs is currently the chief medical officer at Sanford Fargo. He has been with Sanford Health since 2006, building a distinguished career as a trauma surgeon and in leadership, previously serving as medical director for trauma services in Fargo and Sanford AirMed in the Fargo and Bemidji regions before his promotion to chief medical officer in 2022.
“Throughout his career, Dr. Briggs has demonstrated a profound commitment to advancing care, improving outcomes and challenging the status quo to find better ways of doing things,” said Lawrence. “His leadership has strengthened both care delivery and patient experiences across our region, and I’m confident he will continue to make a meaningful impact as chief physician.”
Andy Burgard, MD, will be the next chief medical officer at Sanford Fargo. Dr. Burgard will begin his new role in March. Dr. Burgard began his career with Sanford Health as a respiratory therapist from 2004 to 2007 and returned in 2014, following medical school and residency, as a family medicine provider at the Sanford West Fargo Clinic. He’s held numerous leadership roles, including service chief for family medicine, chair of the Primary Care Enterprise Committee and membership on both the Sanford Fargo Region Physician Executive Council, where he currently serves as vice chair, and the Physician Leadership Council.
“I’m excited to welcome Dr. Burgard to the Sanford Fargo executive leadership team,” said Lawrence. “As a native of Jamestown, N.D., his strong local roots provide him with a deep understanding of rural health care and what matters most to the communities we serve. I am confident that his experience, passion and collaborative approach will help us continue enhancing care across the region.”
For more information on Sanford Health, visit sanfordhealth.org.
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.
