Mayor TenHaken Appoints Joe Kippley as Next Public Health Director
Published on May 15, 2024
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Mayor Paul TenHaken has appointed Joe Kippley as the next Public Health Director for the City of Sioux Falls. Kippley has extensive experience in leadership and healthcare, most recently serving as the clinic director of cardiology at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls.
“Joe’s education, which includes a law degree, paired with his background in healthcare, make him a great next leader for our health department in the City of Sioux Falls,” said Mayor Paul TenHaken. “He genuinely cares about serving our community and is committed to making it better not only in his work but through his involvement in various volunteer efforts.”
Kippley’s first interest in public health came in 2001 when he served as a U.S. Senate Page in high school in Washington, D.C. when the 9/11 and anthrax attacks raised the profile of bioterrorism threats. That experience led to two summer internships during college with the South Dakota Department of Health in Pierre related to bioterrorism readiness and a study of the state’s uninsured population. Before returning to South Dakota in 2016, he led teams at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, IL, and Singing River Health System in Pascagoula, MS, managing day-to-day operations across a wide array of fields, including primary care and oncology. Kippley worked in multiple director roles at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls with Imagenetics and the cardiology department.
“I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the team at the Sioux Falls Health Department,” said Kippley. “Local government is on the front line of serving our community, and I look forward to sharing my passion for this city while making a positive impact on public health.”
Kippley was born and raised in Brookings, SD, but has called Sioux Falls home for the past seven years. He holds multiple higher education degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from the University of Notre Dame, a law degree from the University of South Dakota, and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Iowa. Kippley is heavily involved in his community, currently serving on the Minnehaha County Commission since 2023, volunteering as a board member for the Boys and Girls Club of the Sioux Empire, and participating in multiple leadership classes, including Leadership Sioux Falls. Joe and his wife, Amanda, have two daughters.
The Public Health Director’s appointment requires the advice and consent of the City Council, which will be presented for their consideration and approval at the May 21, 2024, City Council meeting.