Carolyn Wilson, a registered nurse, was chosen as the new president of the University of Minnesota Amplatz ChildrenâÄôs Hospital and the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.
For more than a year, two interim leaders have been filling the shoes of WilsonâÄôs predecessor, Dr. Gordon Alexander. Now, Steve Hill, chief operating officer of the medical center, and Kathie Taranto, vice president for patient and family care at Fairview Health Service, can devote their full attention to their full-time jobs.
As president, Wilson will have direct oversight of each hospital and FairviewâÄôs system-wide services: cardiovascular, oncology, mothers and children and behavioral services.
More than 700 of the 800 University of Minnesota Physicians practice medicine at the two hospitals Wilson will be overseeing, said Dr. Bobbi Daniels, chief executive officer of UM Physicians.
Daniels interviewed Wilson twice as part of the hiring process. She said Wilson came across as âÄúvery pleasantâÄù and âÄúcollaborative.âÄù
Daniels expects to meet with Wilson several times a week as she did with Alexander, who she said created an environment where both the needs of the hospitals and the needs of University physicians were met.
Wilson has a bachelorâÄôs degree in nursing and a masterâÄôs degree in business administration. She worked at the University of Chicago Medical Center for 13 years as chief operating officer and associate dean. Wilson also served one year as a staff nurse at the National Institutes of Health.
âÄúWe are grateful for CarolynâÄôs leadership âĦ especially in our patient experience and labor relations efforts and in helping us to plan for the transition to the New Hospital Pavilion,âÄù said a statement from Sharon OâÄôKeefe, president of the UCMC.
âÄúCarolynâÄôs broad clinical and leadership experience in a variety of healthcare settings make her a great fit âĦâÄù said Mark Eustis, Fairview president and CEO, in a statement.
âÄúShe has the demonstrated ability to advance strategy and vision while balancing the operational realities of our current environment,âÄù he said.
Wilson will start her position Nov. 1.
– Ian Taylor contributed to this report
