Avera Health and South Dakota State University Enter Historic Partnership for Research and Education

Avera Health and South Dakota State University (SDSU) today announced the formation of an historic partnership that will enhance the education of health professionals and advance research into the treatment and cure of diseases.

The announcement, made this afternoon by John T. Porter, president and CEO of Avera Health, follows approval this morning by the Avera Health Board of Directors of a $15 million pledge to SDSU over the next 10 years to support health sciences research and education.

“By joining with SDSU, we will ensure the continuation of vital research that will improve the lives of many people,” Porter said.  “We also are pleased to support the education and training of health professionals for the future of health care in South Dakota.”

Avera’s pledge represents the largest single gift ever made to the state’s largest university.

The partnership will further research in areas of cancer, genomics and the development of new medical treatments.  The agreement enables SDSU to move forward with construction of a new facility for health-related sciences in the heart of the Brookings campus. The Avera Health & Science Complex will be home to the College of Pharmacy, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and science laboratories and classrooms.  More than 70 percent of SDSU students will benefit from the use of  the facility.

“All of us at SDSU are thrilled to join forces with a leading and respected health system to advance research and education,” said David L. Chicoine, Ph.D., president of SDSU.  “Our students, future students and people of the region are the real beneficiaries of this historic partnership.”

Research between Avera and SDSU has been ongoing on the SDSU campus and at the Avera Institute for Human Behavioral Genetics in Sioux Falls.  Continuing collaborative partnerships between SDSU and Avera also include nursing and medical education. Several other potential partnerships are in development stages.

Construction of the Avera Health & Science Complex is scheduled to start in April 2008. The new facilities will be used during spring semester 2010, according to the construction timeline.

About Avera
Avera Health is the leading health system in the region providing high-quality care close to home at 231 locations in 81 communities.  Avera’s unique partnership model makes possible a wide range of medical services through the expertise of specialists, sophisticated technology and cutting-edge research to meet the health care needs of local communities and providers.

About SDSU
Founded in 1881, South Dakota State University is the state’s largest, most comprehensive institution. This fall SDSU topped its enrollment record for the eighth consecutive year, hitting 11,706 students. SDSU graduates students from eight different colleges representing more than 200 majors, minors, and options, and offers master’s degrees in 25 majors and doctoral degrees in six fields of study. The work of the university is carried out on a residential campus in Brookings and at sites in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City. SDSU is a Division I university and the state’s only land-grant institution.