Sydow Hired to Develop Healthcare Workforce

Developing a local two-year nursing program and working to recruit healthcare workers are top-priority for Brooke Sydow in her new role.

Huron Regional Medical Center Foundation is pleased to announce addition of Brooke Sydow, EdD, as workforce program developer, according to Joel Nelson, HRMC Foundation board chair and controller for Huron Regional Medical Center.

In this new position, hired in partnership with HRMC, Sydow will assist the hospital and other area healthcare organizations in developing programs to increase the licensed workforce for our rural healthcare systems.

“The entire nation, including our region, is facing serious shortages in the availability of trained healthcare workers to replace current staff as they near retirement age,” explained David Dick, HRMC president and CEO. “HRMC and the Huron Nursing Taskforce identified the need for a local, two-year nursing education program as imperative to our ability to recruit and retain local residents interested in caring for the citizens in our communities.”

One of Sydow’s primary responsibilities is to bring that vision to reality. She will also assist HRMC staff in a variety of areas including student and workforce recruitment and retention, creation of further education opportunities for the greater Huron area, diversity integration and development of partnerships within the Northern Plains Health Network.

Prior to joining the HRMC Foundation, Sydow worked as the workforce development coordinator for Greater Huron Development Corporation, and taught adjunct for Northern State University at the Huron Community Campus. Before relocating to Huron in 2014, Sydow was an instructor, advisor and special projects coordinator for South Dakota State University (SDSU).  

“I am excited to join the HRMC team and be a part of creating opportunities for students and current healthcare workers. It is my goal to help our existing and future workforce achieve their dreams of fulfilling a career that will enable them to care for others,” said Sydow. “I’ve already encountered a great response from the area healthcare organizations, local high schools and educational institutions – now is a very exciting time to be working in workforce development, especially in health care.”

Originally from Huron, Sydow holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication studies from SDSU, as well as a doctorate of education and administration from the University of South Dakota. She also earned a secondary teaching certification from Lone Star College in Houston, Texas, and a master’s certificate for online instruction from SDSU.

“Brooke has hit the ground running and her connections and experiences are proving integral to moving forward with our goal of recruiting local nursing education to Huron,” said Dick. “Her previous work in education and workforce development will be true assets to our team as we focus on building up the supply of available healthcare workers for our community.”

Sydow and her husband John, who is an electric operations supervisor for NorthWestern Energy, have a five-year-old daughter, Summer, and two dogs, Nova and Remi. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, personal training, camping and traveling, as well as spending time with extended family.

 As a program developer with the HRMC Foundation, which is a separate 501(c)(3) corporation, Sydow has the flexibility to collaborate with other organizations in the region. The mission of the HRMC Foundation is to bring the gifts of the community together to strengthen, support and enhance the HRMC system of care.