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Health Care Leaders

Jon Hallberg, MD

Medical Director | M Physicians Clinics

Influence: Gerald Mullin, MD, was a Mayo-trained internist and rheumatologist. I met him during my residency and was struck by the way he interacted with his patients and nurses, always with kindness and compassion and, when appropriate, with a smile and humor. He was universally loved. I joined his practice, and working with him for five years had a profound, lasting impact.

Leadership: It requires respect, empathy and humility. I want my leaders to be people I respect. Leaders should be empathetic and truly understand what team members and patients are going through. Leaders should be humble, as humility can be an antidote to hubris. We are lucky (and often privileged) that we’ve risen to certain positions of leadership, and I never want to forget that.

David Hamlar, MD, DDS

Maj Gen (BVT,RET) | Minnesota Air National Guard (USAF): Chairman, DEI Council, University of Minnesota Medical School

Influence:  My parents taught me I could achieve whatever I dedicated hard work and commitment to. An entire “village” from family, teachers, coaches, teammates and friends were influential. Thirty-one years in the Air Force reinforced the idea of community, helping others, and being part of something greater than yourself. Finally my wife, children and grandchildren who demonstrate what is truly important in life: taking care of people.

Leadership: There are many elements. Teamwork builds success. Take ownership of your work and responsibility for your own actions. Respect your chain of command. Hire for character. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Recruit, train, mentor, delegate and retain for success. Be flexible, as all things change. Above all else, be yourself. You can only fake it so long!

Elaina Hane, RN

Executive Director | Minnesota Nurses Association

Influence: My dad’s mentorship and integrity was the driving influence. He was a health care worker and labor leader, helping Allina paramedic’s and EMT’s form a union and later joined its executive board. He led me to work in a union hospital and become the leader I am today. I wish he was still around today to see his influence.

Leadership: It’s more than titles and achievements. It’s knowing your values and leading by example. It is about integrity, gratitude and genuine compassion. It means acting fearlessly, taking risks and doing what others can’t. It’s trust built through listening and collaborating, always centering social justice, equity and inclusion. It should be multiplied not divided, and provide mentoring, motivating and creating new leaders.

Rachel Hardeman, PhD, MPH

Director | Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity 

Influence: My grandmother suffered from kidney failure and I often went with her for hemodialysis. She experienced so much discrimination and indifference that she stopped the treatment. At sixteen, I lost my grandmother; she was tired of dealing with a health care system that didn’t care about her. My love for my grandmother and our whole community drives my work, which aims to change racialized systems.

Leadership: Advancing racial health equity means fighting for resources, opportunities and dignity. Leadership is rooted in the values of innate human dignity and worth of all people. My colleagues, community partners, students and mentees are all people first. My life, experiences and loved ones inspire and strengthen me; the same is true of those who share my work and goals. 

Jodi Harpstead

Commissioner | Minnesota Department of Human Services

Influence: Former Medtronic CEO Bill George. He said in ten years a leader will have given the organization the best of what they have to offer. After 23 wonderful years at Medtronic, I spent 15 years at Lutheran Social Service. DHS has allowed me to work on strengthening culture and supporting Minnesotans to achieve their full social, emotional and health potential.

Leadership: Jim Collins in his book Good to Great said it’s about getting the right people on the bus and in the right seats. The right combination of courage, competence and caring makes all the difference. Every employee deserves a great manager to bring their best talents to the work. Great managers maximize their teams’ strengths while keeping the vision for the work at the center.

David C. Herman, MD

CEO | Essentia Health

Influence: I am incredibly fortunate to have been mentored by many great leaders throughout my life: coaches, teachers and colleagues. Each has been critically important at each phase of my life and career, and it would be inaccurate and improper to call out a single individual. Yet it does call out the need for each of us to be that mentor for all whom we have the privilege to encounter in our lives.

Leadership: The most important aspects of leadership are the respect and professional positive regard for all we are privileged to lead and a constant attitude that it is a great privilege and responsibility to be a leader.

Tim Hernandez, MD

CEO  | Entira Family Clinics

Influence: Dean Guenther, MD, a family physician with an engaging personality who used humor effectively and was an innovative thinker. He taught me the importance of being authentic in relationships and present in the community. He loved life and people and leveraged his personality to ensure our clinic was a staple in the West St. Paul community and remained independent.

Leadership: Understanding organizational culture, a clear vision and having courage in one’s convictions are critical elements of leadership. Effective leaders understand the norms and values of their organization. Trust is critical as you refine and communicate your vision for the organization. Even the best laid plans go awry, and if they do it requires courage to stay the course or make the necessary changes.

Kenneth Holmen, MD

President and CEO| CentraCare

Influence: I have been fortunate to have a supportive community around me on this journey – from friends and family to colleagues and team members. Each person, in their unique way, has influenced how I’ve navigated different roles in my career. I am grateful for the many who have aspired, inspired, engaged and committed to do remarkable things.

Leadership: Being responsive and genuinely interested in your team members is critical. It’s important to demonstrate you care – both professionally and personally. It’s also essential to have a clear strategy, one that is clearly articulated and ultimately achievable. Above all, be inspirational and willing to go on the journey with colleagues – sharing in the challenges and celebrating the successes.

Steve Inman, MD, FAAP

Medical Director | Pediatric Services, PA

Influence: Two individuals stand out. David Raab, MD, a cardiovascular surgeon who employed me out of high school as a surgical scrub tech and encouraged me to become a physician and Jim McLeod, MD, a pediatrician and former partner whose vast medical knowledge and dedication to his patients provided a model for me to emulate.

Leadership: The most important traits are honesty and integrity. The best leaders are great listeners and open to input from all stakeholders. They demonstrate respect even when there is disagreement. Progress in medicine is constant and the best leaders acknowledge that progress, embracing change. They lead by example — to get the best from employees and colleagues, it is imperative to model behaviors that you want people to emulate.

Amy Jerdee

President | St. Francis Regional Medical Center

Influence:  The biggest influence on my career is a physician mentor who recruited me to a role in hospital operations. In addition to his being a clinical expert with a wealth of knowledge, his leadership and support afforded me the opportunity to work with and learn from other phenomenal leaders, which ultimately influenced the trajectory of my career. Being allowed the autonomy to grow into my role and take some risks, I was able to build a thriving team and meaningful partnerships to support ongoing growth and success.

Leadership: The most important elements of leadership are authenticity, integrity and trust. These leadership elements, together through a collaborative team approach, allow a leader to create a positive culture to build a committed, high functioning, effective leadership team.