Contact Us

To contact a licensing board, select the appropriate board on the licensing board page and use the direct contact information found on the individual board page. Questions about Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program should be directed to the Department of Social Services.

To contact the Department of Health general mailbox use this form or find a direct contact in our directory below.

South Dakota Department of Health

Robert Hayes Building

600 E. Capitol Ave.

Pierre, SD 57501-2536

Phone: 605-773-3361

Fax: 605-773-5683

1-800-738-2301 (in SD only)

Staff Directory

Joan Adam, Secretary of Health
Lynne Valenti, Deputy Secretary, Division Director, Licensure and Accreditation, 605-773-6188
Doreen Kayser, Executive Assistant, 605-773-3923
Emily Kiel, Division Director, Healthcare Access, 605-773-3361
Beth Dokken, Division Director, Family and Community Health, 605-773-3737
Jennifer Larson, Assistant Division Director, Family and Community Health, 605-773-3737
Dr. Joshua Clayton, State Epidemiologist, 605-773-3737
Darcy McGuigan, Division Director, Finance and Operations, 605-773-4939
Kieran Tate, Communications Director, 605-774-3063

Child and Family Services - Linda Ahrendt, 605-773-4074

Maternal Health - Christine Catts, 605-681-8021
Infant Health - Jill Munger, 605-202-1798
Home Visiting Program - Carrie Churchill, 605-394-2495
Baby Care (case management for high-risk pregnant women) - Peggy Seurer, 605-948-2412
Better Health for Kids with Chronic Conditions - Whitney Brunner, 605-773-4749
Child & Adolescent Health - Sarah Barclay, 605-367-5212
Family Planning - Hope Klein, 605-688-5803
Newborn Screening - Bernadette Boes, 605-773-2944
WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children) - Rhonda Buntrock, 605-773-4786

Health Statistics - Mark Gildemaster, 605-773-3596

Health Facilities Licensure & Certification - Cassie Deffenbaugh, 605-773-3356

Health Protection (food safety; restaurant, campground & lodging licensure) - John Osburn, 605-394-6064

Medical Cannabis - Chris Qualm, 605-773-3361

Professional & Occupational Boards - Mariah Pokorny, 605-773-4961

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Administrator - Kiley Hump, 605-773-5610

Chronic Disease Director & Deputy Administrator of Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion - Laura Streich, 605-773-7046
- All Women Count! (breast and cervical cancer screening) - Lori Koenecke, 605-773-5725
- Chronic Disease Epidemiologist - Laura Gudgeon, 605-367-7081
- Colorectal Cancer Screening - Lori Koenecke, 605-773-5725
- Comprehensive Cancer Control - Lexi Pugsley, 605-626-2660, Ext. 134
- Diabetes Prevention & Control - Kayla Magee, 605-773-2981
- Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention - Rachel Sehr, 605-367-5356
- Nutrition and Physical Activity - Larissa Skjonsberg, 605-773-2171
- South Dakota Cancer Registry - Kay Dosch, 605-773-6345
- Tobacco Control - Sierra Phelps, 605-773-2891
- Opioid Program Director- Lori Martinec, 605-773-3917
- Worksite Wellness - Enid Weiss, 605-878-0314
- Injury Prevention Coordinator - Nicole Wright, 605-773-6744
- Injury Prevention Epidemiologist - Amanda Nelson, 605-367-7436

Infectious Disease Director and Deputy Administrator Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion - Angela Cascio, 605-773-4900
- Northeast/Central Regional Supervisor - Greta Thorpe, 605-626-2403