Healing Words Foundation Board of Directors
Richard P. Holm, M.D. - President
Dr. Rick Holm, an internal medicine physician, believes that in this world of marketing and misinformation, it is important to offer science-based truth about health care. Over the past decade, Holm in his role as the Prairie Doc®, has emerged as a leader of health care education and communication in the region and the U.S. Every week he works to persuade medical providers to volunteer many hours in support of the Healing Words mission providing accurate healthcare information free to the public; especially to people who often have limited access to healthcare professionals.
Holm, raised in DeSmet, S.D., and his wife Joanie, are currently residents of Brookings, S.D. They established Healing Words Foundation as a 501c3 in 2011. The Foundation accepts donations and serves as a funding mechanism for all Prairie Doc® programs. The Holms and their team engage in various communication strategies including a weekly television program, radio programs, editorial essays, Facebook and YouTube programs and a hospice choir, all aimed at improving health, fitness, and well-being in an effort to enhance health and reduce suffering.
Dr. Rick Holm, an internal medicine physician, believes that in this world of marketing and misinformation, it is important to offer science-based truth about health care. Over the past decade, Holm in his role as the Prairie Doc®, has emerged as a leader of health care education and communication in the region and the U.S. Every week he works to persuade medical providers to volunteer many hours in support of the Healing Words mission providing accurate healthcare information free to the public; especially to people who often have limited access to healthcare professionals.
Holm, raised in DeSmet, S.D., and his wife Joanie, are currently residents of Brookings, S.D. They established Healing Words Foundation as a 501c3 in 2011. The Foundation accepts donations and serves as a funding mechanism for all Prairie Doc® programs. The Holms and their team engage in various communication strategies including a weekly television program, radio programs, editorial essays, Facebook and YouTube programs and a hospice choir, all aimed at improving health, fitness, and well-being in an effort to enhance health and reduce suffering.
Joanie Holm, C.N.P. - Vice President
Joanie was born and raised in Jacksonville, Fla. She and Rick met while they were both in school in Atlanta, Ga. She trained as a Registered Nurse in Georgia, and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Virginia. Joanie and Rick have four grown children.
Joanie's role with Prairie Doc® includes collaborating with the team to plan programs for each season, working with the volunteers who take viewer calls during the weekly television show, and assisting with fundraising and administrative duties for the Board of Directors. She led the Prairie Doc® student assistants on a medical mission trip to Nicaragua. Joanie is also working to expand pediatric care information.
Joanie was born and raised in Jacksonville, Fla. She and Rick met while they were both in school in Atlanta, Ga. She trained as a Registered Nurse in Georgia, and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Virginia. Joanie and Rick have four grown children.
Joanie's role with Prairie Doc® includes collaborating with the team to plan programs for each season, working with the volunteers who take viewer calls during the weekly television show, and assisting with fundraising and administrative duties for the Board of Directors. She led the Prairie Doc® student assistants on a medical mission trip to Nicaragua. Joanie is also working to expand pediatric care information.
David Hyink, Ph.D. - Director
Dave Hyink grew up in DeSmet, S.D. and currently lives in the Black Hills west of Rapid City. He is a forest biometrician and retired from Weyerhaeuser Company located in Federal Way, Wash. in 2007. He currently owns Deerfield Consulting LLC. Dave's areas of emphasis on the HWF board are primarily corporate governance and finance. Dr. Holm and Dave are childhood and lifelong friends. Dave has been involved with Dr. Holm's work informally since 2007. In late 2013 Dave reorganized his volunteer portfolio to make time for a formal commitment to Healing Words and officially joined the board in 2014.
Dave Hyink grew up in DeSmet, S.D. and currently lives in the Black Hills west of Rapid City. He is a forest biometrician and retired from Weyerhaeuser Company located in Federal Way, Wash. in 2007. He currently owns Deerfield Consulting LLC. Dave's areas of emphasis on the HWF board are primarily corporate governance and finance. Dr. Holm and Dave are childhood and lifelong friends. Dave has been involved with Dr. Holm's work informally since 2007. In late 2013 Dave reorganized his volunteer portfolio to make time for a formal commitment to Healing Words and officially joined the board in 2014.
Tom Luzier, M.D. - Director
Dr. Luzier did his undergraduate studies with Westminster College where he graduated with a BA. He earned his medical degree at the University of Kansas in 1974. He then went on to do a rotating internship at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center where he completed a three year residency in pediatrics and was Board Certified in 1981. After practicing primary care pediatrics for four years as Chief of Medicine at Irwin Army Hospital, he studied allergy and immunology at Children’s Mercy Hospital and University of Kansas, achieving board certification in 1983. Dr. Luzier completed his active duty as a Colonel in 1985, retiring in 2005 after 35 years of service. After practicing in Lawrence, Kan., he moved to Aberdeen, S.D. and established a private practice. Dr. Luzier joined the board in June 2016.
Dr. Luzier did his undergraduate studies with Westminster College where he graduated with a BA. He earned his medical degree at the University of Kansas in 1974. He then went on to do a rotating internship at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center where he completed a three year residency in pediatrics and was Board Certified in 1981. After practicing primary care pediatrics for four years as Chief of Medicine at Irwin Army Hospital, he studied allergy and immunology at Children’s Mercy Hospital and University of Kansas, achieving board certification in 1983. Dr. Luzier completed his active duty as a Colonel in 1985, retiring in 2005 after 35 years of service. After practicing in Lawrence, Kan., he moved to Aberdeen, S.D. and established a private practice. Dr. Luzier joined the board in June 2016.
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, J.D. - Director
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is President of Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. Stephanie grew up on her family’s farm near Houghton, S.D. Raised in a family involved in government and public service, Stephanie chose to attend college in Washington, D.C., earning undergraduate, graduate and law degrees from Georgetown University.
From 2004-2011, Stephanie served South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to joining Augustana, she was General Counsel & Vice President for Corporate Development at Raven Industries, Inc., a publicly-traded company headquartered in Sioux Falls. She joined the Healing Words Foundation board in 2017.
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is President of Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. Stephanie grew up on her family’s farm near Houghton, S.D. Raised in a family involved in government and public service, Stephanie chose to attend college in Washington, D.C., earning undergraduate, graduate and law degrees from Georgetown University.
From 2004-2011, Stephanie served South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to joining Augustana, she was General Counsel & Vice President for Corporate Development at Raven Industries, Inc., a publicly-traded company headquartered in Sioux Falls. She joined the Healing Words Foundation board in 2017.
Jennifer K. May, M.D. - Director
Joining the Healing Words Foundation board in July 2018 is rheumatologist, Jennifer May. She grew up in Rapid City, S.D. where she currently practices at Rapid City Medical Center.Dr. May attended Augustana University in Sioux Falls for undergraduate studies and the University of South Dakota School of Medicine for her medical degree. She completed Internal Medicine training in Milwaukee at the Medical College of Wisconsin followed by a Rheumatology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Joining the Healing Words Foundation board in July 2018 is rheumatologist, Jennifer May. She grew up in Rapid City, S.D. where she currently practices at Rapid City Medical Center.Dr. May attended Augustana University in Sioux Falls for undergraduate studies and the University of South Dakota School of Medicine for her medical degree. She completed Internal Medicine training in Milwaukee at the Medical College of Wisconsin followed by a Rheumatology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.