ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ

Session 1: AI in Health Care

Erica DeBoer, RN, M.A.

Erica DeBoer serves as chief nursing officer for Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the country. In this role, DeBoer provides strategic clinical leadership across quality, safety, research, care management and the integration of enterprise-wide clinical initiatives, with a focus on advancing new care delivery models.

With more than 20 years of experience as a front-line registered nurse, DeBoer’s background spans critical care, clinical leadership, education and clinical informatics. She most recently served as Sanford Health’s senior executive director of nursing and clinical services and clinical informatics, where she championed technology-enabled care, data-informed decision-making and workforce innovation. DeBoer has also served as adjunct faculty for nursing programs at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ and the University of Sioux Falls, reflecting her deep commitment to professional development and leadership growth within the nursing profession.

DeBoer oversees Sanford Health’s nursing practice — the largest division of the enterprise workforce — supporting patient and resident care across postacute, ambulatory and inpatient settings, including nearly 11,000 nurses across rural and urban communities. She views nurses as essential leaders in care transformation and as a unifying force across the health system, driving safe, high-quality care and exceptional patient experiences.

A strong advocate for aligning employee experience with patient experience, DeBoer sponsors initiatives that leverage technology and innovation to improve care quality, safety and access — particularly in rural settings. These efforts include the use of predictive analytics to inform care delivery and workforce planning, automation of nonvalue-added work to allow clinicians to practice at the top of their license and advancement of health outcomes. She believes nurses are uniquely positioned to lead these changes and play a critical role in shaping patient-centered care models for the future.

Active in several professional associations, DeBoer holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ and a master’s degree in nursing from Augustana University.

DeBoer resides in Lennox with her husband, Shane, and their two children.