Dr. Sam Schimelpfenig

Pediatrician at Avera McKennan

I grew up in a small town in Wyoming, but moved to South Dakota to attend medical school at the University of South Dakota. I did my pediatric training at the University of Arizona and I followed that with a fellowship in sports medicine halfway across the United States in Buffalo, N.Y.

I am motivated to come to work every day because of the kids. I love working with children and building relationships with their families as the kids grow and develop. I feel privileged to have an opportunity to be a part of families’ lives.

My wife and I moved to Sioux Falls a few years ago, and it’s great to be back in South Dakota. In my spare time, I like spending time outside and playing with our dog.

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Author Archive | Dr. Sam Schimelpfenig

Understanding Childhood ADHD

By on March 28, 2013

“My child just can’t ever sit still for more than two seconds!”
“I tell him to take out the trash, and I find him a few minutes later doing something else.”
“She is easily distracted by pretty much anything, and her teacher reports it takes her twice as long to do an assignment as it does her classmates.”
Do these types of frustrations sound familiar? Read More »

Child Development, Pediatrics · McKennan · Comments { 0 }

Why Your Kids Need Recess

By on March 7, 2013

Remember those days when you could look forward to recess several times a day? Have you ever wondered why it is built into your child’s school day? It turns out that recess is an important part of learning for children, just as taking a break from a task leads to better productivity for us as adults! Read More »

Child Development, Just for Fun, Pediatrics · McKennan · Comments { 0 }

Heart Health for Kids: Cholesterol Screening

By on February 8, 2013

February is American Heart Month. Fortunately, most children are not at risk for the same heart-related problems (Cardiovascular Disease, or CVD) that adults face, but that doesn’t mean that those problems can be completely disregarded in children. In fact, it turns out that a lot of the problems we may face in later years have their roots in what we did when we were young. Read More »

Heart Health, Pediatrics · McKennan · Comments { 0 }

New Year’s Resolutions for the Family

By on January 14, 2013

Another holiday season has come and gone and I hope everyone enjoyed that time with family and friends as much as I did. With the coming of the New Year, many people choose to make a resolution – to do something different in their life that will benefit them down the road. Read More »

Exercise, Just for Fun, Pediatrics · McKennan · Comments { 0 }

Christmas Gift Ideas That Will Get Your Kids Moving

By on December 11, 2012

Another Christmas is nearly here! And if you’re anything like me, you still have some shopping left and you’re wondering what to get those ‘hard-to-shop-for’ people – the little ones in particular. Allow me to offer a few suggestions. Bear in mind that I’m writing from the perspective of a pediatrician who is concerned about the increasing incidence of overweight children in this country. Read More »

Exercise, Just for Fun, Pediatrics · McKennan · Comments { 0 }

Migraines in Adolescents – What You Need to Know

By on November 15, 2012

Chronic headaches – we think of them as something that affect mainly adults but the truth is that they affect children, too. And the worst kind headache for most people is a migraine headache. I find many parents are surprised to learn that a child can get migraine headaches just like an adult. Read More »

Pain Control, Pediatrics, Primary Care · McKennan · Comments { 0 }