Sanford Health
The Kevin Longino Excellence in Kidney Care Innovation Award recognizes an individual or organization demonstrating exceptional leadership, creativity, and impact in advancing kidney care through innovative solutions. Established in 2026, the inaugural award was presented to Kevin Longino, Chief Executive Officer of the National Kidney Foundation, in recognition of a decade of visionary leadership and transformative impact on kidney health, including his role in establishing the NKF Innovation Fund to accelerate new solutions across the kidney care continuum. The award honors those who carry forward this spirit of innovation and meaningful impact for people affected by kidney disease.
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 60,000 employees and serves more than 2.5 million patients and nearly 415,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 60 hospitals, 315 clinic locations, 145 senior care communities, 4,900 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,100 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to nearly 80 specialties. Nearly 450 residents and fellows are trained each year through over 40 graduate medical education programs, with Sanford Health serving as the primary funding source for 75% of the programs. Sanford Health also includes 92 retail pharmacies, including Sanford and Lewis Drug pharmacies with locations in 6 states, and more than 300 pharmacists.
