Sanford Health Company Culture

Sanford Health operates with a mission to care, comfort and cure, aspiring to be the premier rural health system in the United States. With 55,000 employees headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the non-profit organization is defined by its five core values: Service, Courage, Humility, Stewardship, and Family. Currently undergoing massive system-wide transformation, leadership is heavily focused on the Marshfield Clinic integration, uniting the systems under what the CEO calls "similar cultures, values and visions." Sanford's aggressive historical expansion was famously described by former leadership as requiring an "anti-authority" and "pirate" approach—a growth mindset that built a multi-state powerhouse but sometimes leaves employees navigating a complex corporate entity perceived by some as a monopoly. While executives emphasize value-based care, standardize workflows onto the Epic system, and leverage AI like an automated recruiter named Morgan, frontline staff often face local realities like 5:1 med/surg ratios and travel nurse reliance. Furthermore, advancement can sometimes be perceived as gatekept by established cliques rather than pure performance. Despite these contrasts, the system is ranked as a "Military Friendly Company" and a Forbes "best employer," offering those who adapt to rapid corporate scaling a stable, tech-forward, and highly competitive environment.