Dr. Waldner to begin family medicine in Redfield this September
By Shiloh Appel
Dr.Randall Waldner, son of Roger and Dawn Waldner and a 2009 graduate of Redfield High School, has returned to Redfield after 11 years away. He will begin his practice as a full scope family medicine provider at the Redfield Clinic and Community Memorial Hospital in September.
Waldner said he first became interested in the field of medicine when he was in middle school.
“I was always good at school and liked to help people and wanted a challenge. I think I started working with Dr.Owens in eighth grade, so from eighth grade on. I have been around him a long time,” said Waldner. “I shadowed him a couple times [in eighth grade] and listened to him talk during several career days when he came up to the school and during health fairs and things like that. Then, throughout your high school days you have to do some type of career shadowing again. While I was in undergrad, medical school and residency I would come back here and work with Dr.Owens for a couple weeks to a month at a time.”
As far as challenges, Waldner said being from “the middle of nowhere” played a part in causing difficulties as he walked his career path.
“There are not a lot of places to go. In South Dakota, there is only one medical school. It is always a challenge to make sure you get in on time. You have to make sure that you get good grades and that you do well in everything else so that you can set yourself up for a successful career,” said Waldner. “Another thing would be coming back to the middle of nowhere. Not everyone wants to do that. Not everyone understands that. But I’m from here and want to come back here and help the community, so that has always been a big challenge.”
Through it all, Waldner said he has enjoyed learning new things every day. He also enjoys meeting people of all walks of life.
“I like to talk a lot, so it is kind of convenient that my job will involve a lot of talking and listening to people,” said Waldner. “I specialize in family medicine, so I will get to take care of brand new babies all the way up to great-grandparents.”
Throughout his training, Waldner said he disliked obstetrics (OB) the most, and he is thankful he will not be doing that anymore.
“I don’t like to deliver babies, but I have delivered a lot of babies,” said Waldner. “There is a lot of unknowns and a lot of uncertainty. A lot of things that can go right and a lot of things that can go wrong.”
On the flip side, Waldner is excited about spending time in the clinic.
“I probably enjoy the clinic the most because you learn the most there,” he said. “You have to stay on top of your game because it seems to be ever-changing. I really have also enjoyed emergency medicine because of the procedures I get to do. I also do endoscopy.”
Going forward, Waldner said his goal is to set up a successful practice in Redfield and “maybe expand CMH’s footprint a little bit.” He also hopes to serve specific needs within the community.
“I was brought up my entire life here, so I know some of the challenges that Redfield and rural South Dakota present as far as access to things and lack of amenities at times, so I am hoping to be as helpful as I can in that manner and to be as respectful as I can when it comes to challenging medical conditions,” he said.
Waldner graduated with a degree in Biology from Dakota State University in 2013. He then went on to medical school at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine and graduated from there in 2017. He attended Texas A&M following his graduation from USD SSM. After completing his family medicine residency and graduating from Texas A&M in June of 2020 with honors, Waldner returned to Redfield and finished his training in July of this year. He married his “better half,” Stephanie Binger, daughter of Rex and Sherry Binger, on August 22nd, 2020. He now looks forward to serving the community beginning in September.
