North Dakota Medicine

As the collection of graduate class photos later in this magazine suggests, we just wrapped up our Commencement festivities for our Class of 2025 students.

What made this year’s M.D. Commencement ceremony so special was that it was the fiftieth time that we’ve conferred the Medical Doctorate degree on our young physicians. As you might know, North Dakota’s only comprehensive school of medicine and health sciences converted from a two-year Bachelor of Science in Medicine degree to a four-year Medical Doctorate program officially in 1976.

Half a century of M.D. training is a big deal.

Even more astounding is the fact that 2025 represents 120 years since the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences was founded in 1905.

I say all this to emphasize the fact that not only 50 years ago but 120 years ago the people of North Dakota entrusted us with the job of providing them with exceptional healthcare providers across professions. So happy fiftieth to our M.D. program!

We don’t take that responsibility lightly.

Because healthcare education is a huge investment, each of our professional programs strive to produce a return on the investment that North Dakota made in us by sending not only physicians but physician assistants, physical and occupational therapists, medical laboratory scientists, athletic trainers, and Indigenous and public health professionals to communities across this state each year.

Our state legislature codified our charge in the North Dakota Century Code, and it is from this that we have determined our purpose, which is “to serve North Dakota for the benefit of its people and enhance the quality of their lives.”

Speaking of the legislature, the North Dakota Legislative Assembly just wrapped up its 69th session in May. I can’t thank our legislators enough for their continuing support for our School. It’s this support that has resulted in our astounding retention of graduates in-state. We also appreciate the support of the North Dakota Medical Association who stood with us every step of the way during the legislative session. Our alumni and health system partners showed up to voice their support for the SMHS, the new addition, and the continuance of the one-mill levy.

Since it was founded, SMHS has graduated thousands of top-quality healthcare providers. With every North Dakotan who receives care that would not have been available without North Dakota’s medical school, the hope and promise that the people of North Dakota invested in us both 50 and 120 years ago continues to be realized. We look forward to many future decades of service to this great state and its people!

Wishing you and your families a great summer and hope to see you in the fall at UND Homecoming.

Marjorie R. Jenkins, M.D., M.Ed.H.P., FACP
Vice President for Health Affairs, UND
Dean, School of Medicine & Health Sciences

North Dakota Legislative Assembly: Notable 2025 Outcomes

• $5M to design the new Health Professions addition to our School of Medicine & Health Sciences building in Grand Forks, along with the go-ahead to begin fundraising. This addition will house UND’s College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines (CNPD), additional biomedical research space, and a new center for AI and emerging technologies in healthcare! We are looking forward to collaborating with CNPD Dean Maridee Shogren and her team as planning gets underway.
• Approval to establish a UND Center for Aerospace Medicine, which will allow UND’s aerospace and medical colleges to better partner on studying the healthcare training for pilots of all types.
• Full appropriations support though a bill supporting North Dakota University System operations.
• Preservation of the statewide mill levy that contributes crucial funding to our training programs and community efforts throughout North Dakota.