Deb Soholt served as a SD state senator, women’s and children’s health pioneer, podcast/radio host and national/international speaker on issues of women’s health, health policy, and transformative change. As a four-term legislator, she chaired the Senate Health and Human Services & Education Committees, was Majority Whip, a member of the Legislative Executive Board, and co-chaired the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) health innovation task force. She was selected for the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development. In her 8-year Senate tenure, she prime-sponsored 36 enrolled health policy bills, including Medical Order for Scope of Treatment (MOST) legislation expanding end of life determination. She chaired 7 interim study groups, the most of any legislator in SD history.
Deb has served on many boards with notable leadership roles as President of both the South Dakota Board of Nursing and the South Dakota Nurses Association. Currently she is Chair of the SD Children’s Home Society Board. She was the Director of Women’s Health at Avera Health, In 2021 she was inducted a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.
