RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 7, 2025) — A new independent medical facility is expanding access to critical heart and vascular care in western South Dakota. The Black Hills Heart and Vascular Institute has officially opened in Rapid City, becoming the first in the region to offer same-day appointments for both chest pain and vascular concerns.
Founded and led by identical twin interventional cardiologists Dr. Thomas Wilson and Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, the practice aims to reduce long wait times and hospital dependence for patients across the Black Hills and surrounding areas.
“This clinic is long overdue,” said Dr. Thomas Wilson, MD, FSCAI, a quadruple board-certified interventional cardiologist. “With same-day chest pain and vascular clinics, we can diagnose and treat patients faster, reduce ER strain, and provide advanced alternatives to surgery—right here in Rapid City.”
The Wilson brothers, both highly trained specialists, bring decades of combined experience in interventional and endovascular medicine. Dr. Thomas Wilson completed his residency and fellowship training at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, while Dr. Jeffrey Wilson trained at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls and completed additional fellowship work in complex peripheral vascular interventions.
“Too often, patients are told surgery is their only option,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, MD, FACC, FSCAI. “We provide advanced alternatives that restore quality of life—without the risks, costs, and long recoveries of open surgery.”
A Needed Solution for the Region
Monument Health Rapid City Hospital’s emergency department sees more than 57,000 visits per year, making it the busiest in South Dakota. With few interventional cardiologists available across the vast rural West River region, many patients have faced long travel distances and limited access to specialized care.
The new Institute’s Same-Day Chest Pain Clinic and Same-Day Vascular Clinic are designed to meet those needs quickly and safely, providing immediate evaluation for symptoms like chest pain, leg discomfort, or suspected blood clots.
State-of-the-Art and Patient-First
The clinic emphasizes a concierge-style patient experience, offering longer appointment times, minimal waits, and personalized attention. It also features new diagnostic and treatment technology for faster, more accurate results.
Conditions treated include:
- Chest pain and coronary artery disease
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Venous insufficiency and varicose veins
- Aneurysms, circulation problems, and hypertension
- Heart rhythm disorders and cardiovascular risk management
The Institute also offers advanced, minimally invasive procedures such as Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) for knee arthritis, Plantar Fasciitis Embolization (PFE), and Uterine Vein Embolization for chronic pelvic pain.
Serving the Black Hills and Beyond
While based in Rapid City, the Black Hills Heart and Vascular Institute also serves patients in Gillette, Wyoming, and Philip, South Dakota, expanding access to advanced cardiac and vascular care across the region.
The Institute is now accepting new patients and same-day appointments.
