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Story by Tessa Henderson 

Dianne Smith, simulation education specialist for the South Dakota State University College of Nursing, received the Excellence in Healthcare Innovation and Education Award for the 2024-25 academic year. 

The Excellence in Healthcare Innovation and Education Award, a new award for the college, honors a full-time SDSU nursing staff member or educator with over two years of service who demonstrates outstanding dedication, innovation and leadership in health care education, embracing new technologies and teaching strategies to elevate student success and shape the future of health care.  

"The College of Nursing at SDSU benefits greatly from the innovation and creativity of our team members, yet we had no way to honor that work,” College of Nursing Dean Mary Anne Krogh said. “This year, I initiated this award to recognize the impactful work of team members who seek novel ways to improve educational opportunities to our students." 

Smith is the only certified health care simulation operations specialist within the College of Nursing and has used her expertise to navigate through innovation and changes made to the standardized patient program. 

“Dianne went above and beyond to be a driver in these innovations,” said Smith’s colleague, lecturer Takara Schomberg, in her nomination letter. “She pursued several possible solutions, and if one did not work as planned, she led us in the pivot to new solutions. In this way, Dianne role models a commitment to the process of innovation from idea through the twisty path of establishing a new normal.” 

Smith’s job description consists of preparing equipment for on-campus simulation, on-campus clinical and on-campus skills practice. She also tracks inventory, orders supply, fixes task trainers and manikins, and works with tech support to fix task trainers and manikins. 

She fulfills this job at the College of Nursing Sioux Falls site, but she also fills in at the Brookings and Rapid City sites if extra help is needed. 

Smith graduated from the nursing program at South Dakota State University in December 1989. After graduation, she fulfilled many positions, from oncology to pulmonary nursing, before moving toward a simulation position at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. 

In 2019, Smith started in a simulation position at SDSU, where her passion for nursing first began years earlier. 

When asked what the most rewarding part of her job is, Smith said, “My favorite part is when you see the light bulb go off for a student, and they put all the puzzle pieces together and figure something out. That is very exciting to me.” 

“I love SDSU, and I love the College of Nursing, and I will do anything I can to make this program be the best that it can be,” Smith said. “It was quite an honor to be recognized for that (the Excellence in Healthcare Innovation and Education Award), and I was not expecting it.” 

Smith continues to strive to keep technology up to date while creating relationships with faculty and information technology to ensure that all simulations can run smoothly for the betterment of the students’ educational experience. 

“Dianne consistently approaches her work with enthusiasm and a problem-solving mindset,” said Smith’s colleague, Alyssa Zweifel, in her nomination letter. “She never hesitates to take on new challenges and is always striving toward a common goal: preparing the next generation of nurses for the evolving health care landscape.” 

Smith is married and has three adult children that she enjoys spending time with. In her free time, she likes to golf and read or listen to audio books.