Mitchell's Margallo elected future president of SD State Medical Association

Jun. 15—Healthy physicians mean healthy practices.

That's from Dr. Lucio Margallo, the well-known Mitchell doctor who now can add yet another title to his three-page packet of accomplishments, awards, distinctions, publications, and professional and academic appointments.

This month, the South Dakota State Medical Association elected Margallo to the position of president-elect. His role will automatically transition to that of the association's president in July 2022.

The SDSMA Board of Directors, which the president-elect is a part of, serves as the legislative and business body of the association, dedicated to protecting the health care interests of patients and enhancing the effectiveness of physicians throughout South Dakota.

For now, president-elect Margallo plans to support current president Dr. Kara Dahl's initiatives and to advocate for the organization, while continuing to focus on the health of physicians, too.

"Our main focus, of course, is for the mental and physical wellbeing of the members and physicians in the state of South Dakota," Margallo said. "In doing so, we will be able to extend high quality patient care."

Margallo said physicians who are well can operate higher quality practices, in turn providing better care to patients.

Once his term as president begins, he has a host of issues he aims to address, including the rules of prescribing medical marijuana, pursuing Medicaid expansion, pandemic-related liability issues and the nationwide physician shortage.

"We have to be more specific," Margallo said of medical marijuana prescriptions. "What are the proper, proper indications to prescribe and make sure you're not just giving it because people want (it)?"

Margallo said there are "really no proven studies" that medical marijuana is effective for most health issues. He noted there are only five instances where he "may" consider prescribing medical marijuana.

Another item high on Margallo's agenda is the physician shortage in the country.

"It is reported that we will have (an) approximately 130,000 physician shortage in America," Margallo said. "About 25-30% of them are international medical graduates, like me."

Changes in immigration laws implemented under the Trump administration limits the ability for foreign-born doctors to practice in the United States, regardless of their training.

"130,000. That's a lot of positions that would be needed to serve our medically underserved communities," Margallo said.

The SDSMA is not a political organization, Margallo stressed, but said that politics often overlap in some areas of the association's focus.

"We work hard and communicate and extend issues and concerns to the government, state legislature and the governor," Margallo said, adding that it is a necessary part of the association's work.

More than just a doctor

In addition to his service with the SDSMA, Margallo has also served as a team physician for both Dakota Wesleyan University and the Mitchell School District, an attending physician at the Abbott House in Mitchell and is even a professor in DWU's athletic training program.

Time spent working countless athletic events with the two schools is Margallo's own volunteered, unpaid service as a way to give back to the community he says has given him so much.

"This community has been very supportive," Margallo said. "I've been friends (with) almost everybody."

Cory Aadland, activities director for the Mitchell School District, has worked professionally with Margallo at both DWU and Mitchell High School over the past seven years. He says Margallo's presence is more than just in his role as a physician.

"He fits into that 'number one fan' group," Aadland said. "He's a really dedicated, passionate individual, he's a constant presence at a number of different sporting events."

But when someone tweaks a knee, breaks a bone, Margallo is there to render aid.

"He's always willing to do whatever we need," Aadland said, "for our kids or for the other team."

Margallo has racked up a number of accolades and awards throughout his career, including local recognition as a 2011 recipient of Mitchell High School's Distinguished Service Award, a 2005 inductee to DWU's Hall of Fame and is slated to be inducted into the Mitchell School District Hall of Fame's Class of 2021.

Margallo mentions his family, especially his wife Claudette, for helping push him through the "bad days" he's experienced throughout his life.