LifeCircleSD was based at USD Sanford School of Medicine in the Department of Neurosciences from its inception to May 2022. The Advisory Board was composed of people passionate about LifeCircle’s purpose and included a diverse group of professionals from multiple organizations who oversaw the activities. Chairs of the Advisory Board included Dr. Judith Batchelor, Dr. Susan Schrader and Dr. LuAnn Eidsness.
In June 2022 the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organization (SDAHO) assumed its management. SDAHO hired Michele Snyders, MSW, CSW-PIP, APHSW-C to Chair the LifeCircle SD Advisory Board. In the fall of 2023, the South Dakota Palliative Care Network (SDPN) merged with LifeCircle South Dakota to continue the work started during their 2020-2023 HRSA Rural Health Network Development grant period.
(Click here to view the Welcome letter.)
In the fall of 2025, based on the findings of a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)Planning Grant that studied the need for a more formal network to improve access to hospice and palliative care in South Dakota, LifeCircle-South Dakota’s Hospice and Palliative Care Network was instituted. An advisory board and 4 work committees were adopted to help obtain the purpose, vision, aim and goals of the organization.
Purpose of LifeCircle SD: Improve serious illness care for patients and their support person(s), not limited to, but including end of life care.
Vision of LifeCircle SD: South Dakotans living with serious illness and their support person(s) will have access to palliative care and hospice care; healthcare providers will have access to information and education to improve care for patients and families.
Aim of Life Circle: Provide a collaborative, interdisciplinary, inter-institutional approach to improve care, education, and access to palliative care and hospice care for South Dakotans living with serious illness and their support person(s).
Goals of LifeCircle SD: To help us meet our purpose and vision, LifeCircle SD strives to provide:
- Professional Education
- Public Education
- Patient and Support Person(s) Education
- Public Policy- monitoring and advocacy