Aspire by Sanford

Aspire by Sanford Programs & Events

Welcome to Aspire by Sanford, where opportunities, experiences, and future careers begin. Our programs and events are designed to inspire students of all ages to explore healthcare, discover their passions, and build meaningful connections with professionals across Sanford Health. Whether you are attending a hands-on workshop, career exploration event, leadership experience, or educational program, each opportunity is created to spark curiosity, build confidence, and open doors to your future. Use this page to explore upcoming programs and events, learn more, and register to begin your Aspire journey.
Click the locations below for registration details.
Bemidji, MN
No current registrations are open. Please check back soon.
Bemidji, MN
No current registrations are open. Please check back soon.
Bismarck, ND
Aspire by Sanford 2026 High School Career Conference
The conference is an interactive, hands-on experience designed to help students explore the wide range of careers available in healthcare. Whether students already have a career path in mind or are just beginning to ask, "What is next?", this conference creates space for curiosity, discovery, and inspiration.
What to Expect:- Interactive breakout sessions led by healthcare professionals
- Dedicated time to explore a wide variety of healthcare and education exhibitor booths
- Opportunities to ask questions, learn from real experiences, and explore multiple career pathways
- Prize giveaways and hands-on learning experiences throughout the day
- Check-In Opens: 8:00 AM CST
- Keynote Begins: 9:00 AM CST
- Breakout Sessions & Exhibition Booths: 9:45 AM – 2:00 PM CST
- Closing Keynote & Prize Giveaways: 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM CST
Virtual Health Career Summit
October 7, 2026
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A FREE online event to explore health careers, hosted via Zoom!
Aspire by Sanford at ND HOSA Fall Leadership Conference
Bismarck State College
October 19, 2026
Meet up with Aspire by Sanford staff at our hands-on health careers activity booth and exploration room!
Aspire by Sanford at Central Dakota Career Expo
Bismarck Event Center
November 4, 2026
Meet up with Aspire by Sanford staff at our health careers booth at this career expo!
Black Hills, SD
Sanford MedX
Sanford Health Facility
2026–2027 School Year
Are you a high school student interested in healthcare? Sanford MedX is a new monthly career exploration program from Sanford Health of the Black Hills for the 2026–2027 school year.
One registration gives you access to every monthly session, held from 6:00–7:00 p.m. Each session highlights a different healthcare career through hands-on activities, demonstrations, tours, panels, and interactive experiences with Sanford professionals.
College Fair Week
Western South Dakota
September 29–October 1, 2026
Sanford Health Aspire will be at College Fair Week events in Hot Springs, Rapid City, and Spearfish. Stop by our booth to learn more about healthcare careers and discover what your future could look like with Sanford Health.
- Hot Springs: September 29 | 2:00–3:00 p.m.
- Rapid City: September 30 | 8:30–11:00 a.m.
- Spearfish: October 1 | 9:00–10:30 a.m.
Girl Scouts BIG Event
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
October 24, 2026
Are you a Girl Scout? Stop by the Sanford Health Aspire booth at the Girl Scouts BIG Event for a fun, hands-on healthcare activity. We look forward to connecting with Girl Scouts from across the Black Hills!
High School Internships
Sanford Health Facility
Spring 2027
Recruitment for Spring 2027 high school interns is underway. If you are a high school senior who will be enrolled in an approved internship or capstone course and are interested in an internship with Sanford Health, contact Colleen Bsharah at colleen.bsharah@sanfordhealth.org.
Fargo, ND
Aspire by Sanford 2026 High School Career Conference
Sanford Amber Valley
April 29, 2027
8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The conference is an interactive, hands-on experience designed to help students explore the wide range of careers available in healthcare. Whether students already have a career path in mind or are just beginning to ask, "What is next?", this conference creates space for curiosity, discovery, and inspiration.
What to Expect:
- FREE conference and FREE lunch provided.
- Interactive breakout sessions led by healthcare professionals
- Dedicated time to explore a wide variety of healthcare and education exhibitor booths
- Opportunities to ask questions, learn from real experiences, and explore multiple career pathways
- Prize giveaways and hands-on learning experiences throughout the day
Registration: Coming soon!
*All high school students, educators and chaperones must register.
Sanford MedX
MedX is a medical careers exploration club for high school juniors and seniors living in and around Fargo. MedX offers tours, presentations, and hands-on activities at our monthly sessions.
Fargo's 13-week healthcare career exploration program begins on September 14! Please reach out to susan.munyer@sanfordhealth.org if you are interested in joining the list for the 2027/2028 school year.
High School Internships
Fall cohort is starting on September 14. Please reach out to vanessa.skolberg@sanfordhealth.org if you are interested in interning at Sanford!
WIN-Liberia
Amber Valley
August 22, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Women Initiative Network of Liberia in Cass and Clay Counties (WIN-Liberia) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2017 to create a place with activities and support services that would cater for specific needs for single moms, youth, children and vulnerable adults in Cass & Clay counties.
Career Fair
Davies High School
October 1
Aspire by Sanford is excited to see high school students at the high school career fair. Stop by our booth to learn more about healthcare careers and discover what your future could look like with Sanford Health.
Marshfield, WI
Barron County Career Fair
September 17, 2026
Meet up with Aspire by Sanford staff at our health careers booth!
Ho-Chunk Career Fair
September 24, 2026
Meet up with Aspire by Sanford staff at our health careers booth!
Hands-On Health Day
October 9, 2026
Marshfield Medical Center – Weston
Free to attend and lunch provided!
This interactive event gives students a real-world look at what it's like to work in healthcare through hands-on activities, simulations, and guidance from professionals in the field.
Featured Careers: Surgical Technologist, Surgeon, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Cardiac Sonography
Wisconsin Rural Scholars (WiRS) Rural Career Information & Exploration Event
December 11, 2026
Join other rural high schoolers from around the region to learn more about what to expect from college and the career pathways that follow. This program is a good fit for all students, especially those with an interest in healthcare. You'll gain tools to explore your academic interests and plan your next chapter and hear from medical students in the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine. We'll close our session with hands-on and/or interactive career exploration sessions that highlight the array of healthcare careers students can explore.
Fritz Wenzel Science Conference
February, 20, 2027
Robert F. Froehlke Auditorium, Laird Center for Medical Research, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Inc. (MCHS)
This conference offers an array of lectures, demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and tours, designed to inspire high school students to pursue a career in the science field and encourage high school science teachers to enhance their classroom environment by incorporating the most relevant aspects of healthcare science and technology.
In appreciation for his dedication and service to Marshfield Medical Center, this conference was renamed in 1999 to the Fritz Wenzel Science Conference. Fritz Wenzel served as Executive Director of Marshfield Medical Center from 1976 to 1993 and was instrumental in the growth and success of this organization.
Registration: coming soon!
Sioux Falls, SD
MedX
MedX is a medical careers exploration club for high school juniors and seniors living in and around Sioux Falls. MedX offers tours, presentations, and hands-on activities at our monthly sessions.
MedX Session 1
Date: September 17
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: Sanford USD Medical Center in Schroeder Auditorium
MedX Session 2
Date: October 15
Time: 6:30pm – 8:15pm
Location: Augustana University, Froiland Science Center
College and Career Fairs
Stop by our table to learn more about healthcare careers and discover what your future could look like with Sanford Health.
Lake Area Tech, Watertown: October 13 | 9:30am–11:30am
Dakota Valley HS, North Sioux City: October 14 | 8:30am–11:30 am
University of South Dakota, Vermillion: October 19 | 8:30am–9:45am
Mount Marty University, Yankton: October 19 | 10:45am–noon
Augustana University, Sioux Falls: October 20 | 8:00am–10:30am
South Dakota State University, Brookings: October 20 | 12:30pm–2:30pm
Madison High School, Madison: October 21 | 8:30am–10:30am
Huron Area, Huron: October 21 | 1:30pm–3:00pm
Dakota Wesleyan, Mitchell: October 22 | 9:00am–11:00am
Jefferson High School, Sioux Falls: October 26 | 8:45am–10:45am
Lincoln High School, Sioux Falls: October 27 | 8:45am–10:45am
Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg: October 27 | 1:00pm–2:30pm
Roosevelt High School, Sioux Falls: October 28 | 8:45am–10:45am
Washington High School, Sioux Falls: October 26 | 8:45am–10:45am
JA Inspire
Date: November 18, 2026
Location: Sioux Falls Convention Center
As a premier sponsor, Sanford Health hosts a large, hands-on exhibit space where a wide variety of health care professionals interact with around 3700 local 8th graders and help them explore career pathways.
Other Locations
Sanford Aberdeen MedX
Aberdeen, SD
Starts in September!
Free evening health careers exploration program available to local high school students.
North Valley Career Expo
Grand Forks, ND
October 28, 2026
Meet up with Aspire by Sanford staff at our health careers booth at this career expo!
Sanford Jackson/MN West Health Sciences Camp
Jackson, MN
November 10, 2026
Free hands-on health sciences camp co-sponsored by Sanford Jackson and MN West!
Registration: coming soon!
Sanford Worthington/MN West Health Sciences Camp
Worthington, MN
November 17
Free hands-on health sciences camp co-sponsored by Sanford Jackson and MN West!
Registration: coming soon!
Virtual
BeHEARD for Educators
BeHEARD (Behavioral Health Education, Awareness and Response Development) for Educators is an interactive training designed to help educators and school staff recognize and respond to behavioral health concerns in youth ages 10–17. The course provides practical, easy to use tools—including the REACH OUT method—and supports participants through a blend of self paced online modules and a live virtual session. An optional professional development credit is also available.
Virtual Health Career Summit
October 7, 2026
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A FREE online event to explore health careers, hosted via Zoom!
Accessibility & Inclusion
Aspire by Sanford is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming experience for all participants. If accommodations are needed, please indicate them during registration so we can support your participation.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, please contact us at aspire@sanfordhealth.org
Experience Aspire
Hands-on learning. Real career exploration. Meaningful connections. Aspire by Sanford programs give students the opportunity to explore healthcare in a supportive, safe, and engaging environment while building confidence, skills, and future career possibilities. Families can feel confident knowing their student is gaining valuable experiences, guidance from healthcare professionals, and exposure to real-world opportunities that help shape their future.













