A future rural doctor is getting a big surprise at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine in Sioux Falls. Set to graduate in May and move on to residency, Jessica Linke, also a lieutenant in the South Dakota Army National Guard, is being awarded a $5,000 Sanford Health Military and Veteran Scholarship.
“I’m truly honored and very, very grateful,” said Linke, a soldier in the National Guard since 2022. “It means a lot. And that money, getting to be able to put it directly towards my education is something that I can’t speak enough thanks about.
“I’ve always had a deep love for this country and a very deep sense of patriotism. And so giving back was something I’ve always wanted to do. And then once I found out that I could do it during medical school, and then as a physician, I was like, sign me up.”
Linke, also an active community volunteer with a high GPA, was presented her check by Navy veteran and Sanford Health senior director of learning and development Mike Dishman.
“Sanford Health believes in supporting our veterans,” said Dishman. “It’s part of how we decide to support our community. We know veterans are part of our community. And those who are serving or who have served and then are pursuing careers that are aligned with our values within Sanford Health is why we do this.”
‘Access to care was always a concern’
Eager to provide access to care, Linke plans to practice family medicine near her husband’s family farm in rural South Dakota.
“I grew up in a town of 180 people and access to care was always a concern of ours growing up,” added Linke. “The more and more I saw about rural health and the gaps, not only in Minnesota where I grew up but in South Dakota as well, I thought it would be almost selfish of me to not pursue that.
“I never imagined myself married to a farmer and loving the farm life. But as soon as I met him and got to go out and see the farm and see all of the different ways that they could put their passions to work and then the fruits of their labor after the fact, it was an extremely rewarding experience.”
Loving the small-town farm life and animals doesn’t hurt.
“And of course, the baby calves help too. Those are always really cute,” Linke said laughing.
‘Extremely important and very, very noble’
Dishman reiterates Linke is “just an amazing person, amazing service member, and obviously going to be an amazing doctor.”
A worthy recipient of the Sanford Health Military and Veterans Scholarship.
“I think that our veterans and people currently serving are some of the most important people in our country because they’re willing to not only give up their time away from their family or away from their career, but they’re willing at some point to sacrifice their life, if need be, to keep this country safe and to keep other countries safe as well,” said Linke.
“I think that what Sanford is doing to encourage people to not only pursue careers in health care, but to support them through that while they’re serving or after they’ve served is extremely important and very, very noble.”
Three other $5,000 Sanford Health Military and Veteran Scholarships were awarded this year.
Fellow winners are:
- Megan Lauseng, Sanford School of Radiologic Technologies
- Ali Moses, University of North Dakota
- Connor Griffin, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
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Posted In Physicians and APPs, Scholarships and Sponsorships, Veterans
