Yankton, SD —Yankton Medical Clinic Physician Byron Nielsen, M.D., Board Certified Nephrology, was named Pillar 3 Director of Medical Student Education at USD Sanford School of Medicine.

In announcing the move, Dr. Mark Beard, dean of Medical Student Education, says, “We in the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine are enthusiastically looking at the future of Pillar 3 and the leadership that Dr. Nielsen will bring to this phase of our curriculum. With his outstanding teaching skills, his fervor of helping fellow faculty succeed, his ability to help students identify strengths and weaknesses, and his outstanding leadership skills, we look forward to all that he will accomplish in this new role with the medical school.” Pillar 3 is the final 17 months of medical education at Sanford School of Medicine and includes surgery sub-specialties, sub-internships, emergency medicine and rural family medicine.

Dr. Nielsen will continue to serve Yankton and the surrounding communities as a nephrologist with Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C. At YMC, he also serves on the board of directors as president. Following the announcement of his new leadership role within USD Sanford School of Medicine, Dr. Nielsen, said, “I am privileged to have this opportunity to work directly with the Pillar 3 medical students to help them develop their skills and style and to guide them through their final year of medical school. The USD School of Medicine has a long history of training excellent physicians and to be a part of that is humbling.”