Pierre Rural residents begin their first year at the Center for Family Medicine in Sioux Falls, learning side by side with residents in our sister program. For years two and three, they make their home in Pierre, gaining hands-on inpatient and outpatient experience at Avera St. Mary's Hospital and Avera Medical Group.
Training model
Build relationships with your continuity patients and strengthen your core skills during year one in Sioux Falls. In years two and three, make your home in Pierre, where caring for rural families becomes part of your everyday life.
Training sites
Sponsoring Institution
In Pierre, residents train at Avera St. Mary's Hospital and Avera Medical Group Pierre – MAC Lane. Avera offers 24-hour emergency/trauma care, helicopter transport, and low-cost obstetric clinics where residents serve as primary physicians with faculty supervision.
Year 1 Continuity Clinic Sioux Falls
First-year residents spend PGY-1 in Sioux Falls at the Center for Family Medicine on the Avera McKennan campus — the model continuity clinic shared with Sioux Falls Family Medicine residents.
Both hospitals operate 24-hour emergency/trauma departments with helicopter transport.
Rural rotation sites
Several rural teaching sites have been carefully selected and prepared for resident participation, and housing is provided at each one.
Milbank, SD
Northeast SD · Whetstone Valley
Mobridge, SD
North-central SD · Missouri River
Madison, SD
East-central SD
Parkston, SD
Southeast SD · Avera affiliate
Orange City, IA
Northwest Iowa
Continuity clinics
Pierre Inpatient Years 2–3
At Pierre's state-of-the-art hospital, residents gain hands-on experience in inpatient medicine, obstetrics, emergency care, and procedures. With guidance from supervising physicians, they take the lead in caring for their patients and build lasting relationships—supporting growing families from the first prenatal visit through delivery and postpartum care.
Visit Avera St. Mary's Hospital
Pierre Outpatient Years 2–3
Your home for continuity care in Pierre, where you'll build relationships with patients of all ages and walks of life. With experienced rural faculty beside you, you'll grow your outpatient practice while caring for the community you call home.
Visit Avera Medical Group Pierre – MAC LaneRequired rotation sites
Pierre, SD
State capital primary training site Y2–3
Sioux Falls, SD
Year 1 Center for Family Medicine
Regional SD, SD
Required rural rotations across the state
Join us for a one-week visit or a 2 or 4-week rotation to explore the Center for Family Medicine in Sioux Falls and Avera St. Mary's in Pierre. Meet the people, see the spaces, and get a feel for where you'll learn and grow.