Transplant Team

Each person who comes to the Sanford Transplant Center meets a team of experienced health care providers. Each member of the team will become a resource for you in understanding the evaluation process, transplant procedure and care post operatively to ensure long-term quality outcomes.

Transplant Surgeon

The Transplant Surgeon plays a key role in the transplant process.  He is the physician who performs the transplant operation and coordinates all aspects of pre and post transplant patient care. The transplant surgeon is ultimately responsible for the outcome of the transplant. Transplant candidates will meet the transplant surgeon during their initial evaluation.  During this visit the transplant surgeon will perform a physicial examination, gather information about the patient's medical history and order additional tests.  The patient and surgeon will have an open discussion about the transplant process, options available for patient, including living donor kidney transplant.  The patient will have a chance to ask any questions about surgery.  After the surgery the surgeon will work with the nursing staff on the unit to coordinate post operative care. Together with the Transplant Team he will address all aspects of the patient's care daily during both the donor's and recipient's hospital stay, and aftern that for the life of the transplanted kidney. 

Anatolie Usatii, MD, Surgical Director of Transplantation
Dr. Anatolie A. Usatii received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Moldova. Following completion of his residency program in General Surgery at City Emergency Hospital in Moldova in 1996, he practiced as Trauma Surgeon for three years. In search for better medical education in 1999 he moved to the United States, where he completed an internship at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis in 2000 and his General Surgery residency training at the University of North Dakota in 2004.  Following residency, Dr. Usatii completed his Solid Organ Transplantation Fellowship in one of the leading transplantation institutions in the nation, Ohio State University. Dr. Usatii is board certified in General Surgery.

Transplant Nephrologists

The Transplant Nephrologists work closely with each recipient throughout the transplant process. Nephrologists are medical doctors who specialize in kidney disease, but do not go into the operating room. They are a part of the transplant team involved with the day-to-day decisions about all medicines, tests and treatments. After discharge from the hospital, the Nephrologists work closely with the transplant team to evaluate the recipient’s medical issues frequently. The transplant team communicates the current plan of care to your referring Nephrologist and works closely to provide long term care following transplant. Our Nephrologists are also available for any questions referring doctors may have and for transplant consultations at the Sanford Transplant Center.

Administrative Director

The Transplant Coordinator is a registered nurse who has a special interest in transplantation and training in the steps necessary to get patients through the transplant process. The Transplant Coordinator is the first contact person for patients and family for any concerns that arises before, during or after the surgery. Coordinators meet with every patient for an education session, and they facilitate contact with referring doctor’s offices.

Clinical Transplant Coordinators

Nancy Dieters, RN, BAN, CCTC

Transplant Coordinator Assistant

The Transplant Coordinator Assistant assists the Transplant Coordinator with scheduling and facilitating your care. The Transplant Coordinator Assistant is a trained medical professional and thoroughly understands the transplant process.

Michelle Buus, LPN
Michelle was born and raised in Sioux Falls, attended Nettleton Junior College, graduating with Associate of Science in Medical Assisting. Career in healthcare began in 1992 as a Medical Assistant in Family Practice. Michelle also has a background in Acute Care, Oncology/Hematology and most recently 10 years of Nephrology. Practical nursing diploma received from Minnesota West Technical College of Pipestone, MN in August 1996. 

Transplant Social Worker

The Transplant Social Workers primary focus is to assist patients to achieve the goal of a successful transplant. This includes helping the patient understand the non-medical problems, challenges and changes that transplantation brings as well as completing a thorough psychosocial evaluation of the patients emotional, social, support and financial resources that may adequately support or not support a successful transplant. The social worker works with recipients, caregivers and donors to address problems that stand in the way of their goal of successful transplant.

Ricky L. Reuwsaat, MSW, CSW-PIP
Born and raised in Yankton, SD, Rick is a graduate of Mount Marty College with a major in Social Work and a graduate of the University of Iowa with his Master’s Degree in Social Work. He is currently licensed to practice social work in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota. Rick also holds a specialty certification with the National Association of Social Workers as a Certified Social Worker in Health Care and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the National Kidney Foundation Council of Nephrology Social Workers, and the Society for Transplant Social Workers and the American Association of Kidney Patients.

With more than twenty years of professional experience in mental health, administration, and program development along with more than six years in dialysis and experience with a host of other experiences in rehabilitation, gambling addictions, sexual abuse, grant writing and working with Native Americans, Rick is uniquely qualified to assess and address a wide variety of psychosocial issues and concerns in transplant.

Transplant Dietitian

It is very important to be adequately nourished before and after your transplant. Your transplant dietitian’s role is to help you learn about nutrition and diet and how it impacts your health and well being. Nutrition plays a role in many of the typical post-transplant concerns that may arise. These include: weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels, elevated blood glucose levels or diabetes, and bone loss. Your transplant dietitian will assist you by providing you nutrition information to help prevent or treat these concerns.

Kelly Messner RD, LN, Transplant Dietitian
Born and raised in South Dakota, Kelly is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a major in Dietetics and Food Science. She is a Registered Dietitian and is a Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist in the State of South Dakota. Kelly brings over 10 years of clinical nutrition experience to our transplant team including the areas of critical care, trauma, burns and renal disease. In 2001, she was awarded "Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year" by the American Dietetic Association and the South Dakota Dietetics Association.

Transplant Financial Coordinator

Making sure all our patients have proper insurance coverage and can afford their treat is another complicated evaluation that requires a specialist. Your Financial Coordinator at Sanford Transplant Center is the expert who helps patients through the maze of regulations and insurance rules and helps make your transplant a reality.

Dana Trujillo, Transplant Financial Coordinator
Dana graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD with a degree in Social Work and Sociology. She worked for Sanford Health in a Financial Counselor role for over 2 years prior to coming to the Transplant Center. Dana has over 15 years of experience relating to insurance, billing and financial counseling.

Transplant Pharmacist

Without the help of a pharmacist, it can be overwhelming to learn about all the new medicines needed after transplant. A Transplant Pharmacist is part of the Transplant Team and available in the hospital to teach the transplant recipient about all the new medications necessary to the success of your new kidney. Teaching sessions are held at the bedside so that all questions are answered. Our pharmacist is experienced in ensuring the correct medicines are given and evaluate side-effects.

Sarah F. Hutton, Pharm.D
Sarah grew up on a cattle ranch near Burke, SD. In 1999, she graduated with a Bachelor in Pharmaceutical Sciences from South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy. In 2001, she graduated from the same institution with a Doctorate in Pharmacy. She pursued a residency in Primary Care/Family Medicine at Moses H. Cone Family Practice and Greensboro Area Health Education Center in Greensboro, NC. Following completion of her residency, she returned to her home state to work for SDSU College of Pharmacy, Sanford Health USD Medical Center, and University Physicians Clinic. Her position focused on teaching graduate pharmacy students, caring for patients in the clinic setting, and pain management in the hospital setting.
She is a member of the South Dakota Pharmacist's Association, South Dakota Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and American College of Clinical Pharmacy (including the Immunology/Transplantation Practice and Research Network).

Sarah's in-depth medication knowledge, in combination with her love for one-on-one patient education, is an asset to the transplant team.

Transplant Hospital Nurses

Around the clock, the dedicated Transplant Nurses work in the hospital to help the transplant recipients through the first days after surgery. These dedicated nurses enjoy sharing in the progress each patient makes during the brief hospital stay.