By Jodi Schwan

The new leadership of Sanford World Clinic expects significant growth for the health system’s international arm.

The most immediate addition could be a presence in New Zealand, where Sanford has been exploring opportunities and where Sanford international board member Kirk Penney rose to basketball stardom.

“There’s a handful of new opportunities on the horizon,” said Micah Aberson, whose new role includes oversight of World Clinic.

“We have real intentions on having 30 to 40 different unique sites around the world,” he continued. “And we consider Ghana to be one of those as a country, even though there’s 20 clinics today. There’s a real appetite for growth, and that’s consistent with the vision of Mr. (T. Denny) Sanford as the philanthropist that catalyzed this.”

Sanford Health’s international agenda is broader than the World Clinic program, he added, noting opportunity to collaborate on research in other countries. Sanford has a stem cell clinic in Germany and has developed research-related relationships in Vatican City in recent years. Its Profile by Sanford weight-management business is expanding in Canada.

In Ghana, the opportunity remains to partner with the government in opening up to 300 clinics.

“That’s still the house on a hill we’re marching toward,” Aberson said. “There’s a unique relationship in Ghana with a government-payer model that allows for sustainability, which makes it a great environment in which to operate.”

In China, plans are moving forward to add a second pediatric clinic. Sanford also is exploring opportunities in Australia, Costa Rica, Ireland and Vietnam.

“They come in waves,” said Dr. Dan Blue, who leads World Clinic. “There’s a lot of groundwork to get these things in motion, and I think we’re on the verge in the next six to 12 months of having a number of things pop here, so it’s an exciting time for World Clinic.”

World Clinic has 25 locations in four countries.