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Health Care Leaders

Jessica H. Lind, PharmD, BCACP

President | Minnesota Pharmacists Association

Influence: I credit my interest in leadership to the Leadership Emphasis Area program at the U of M College of Pharmacy, which allowed me to develop confidence in navigating the changing health care landscape. Along my path, I have connected with many formal and informal mentors who have helped bolster me toward my current role.

Leadership: It is engaging in active learning and adjusting processes as needed. Leadership is not something I am naturally gifted at, rather it has been a process of self-development over years and something I will continue to develop! Having a vision to aspire to but allowing for flexibility is an essential element of leadership. Having flexibility allows you to be agile in decision-making, which can ultimately lead to better outcomes.

Jennifer P. Lundblad, PhD, MBA

President and CEO | Stratis Health

Influence: My parents, for modeling love, grace, respect, resilience and curiosity, which I strive for every day. Also many wonderful mentors – Edie at Tufts University taught how to be a good listener; Bill at the U of M taught how to get things done in a complex environment; Patsy at Stratis Health helped me think boldly and work smartly and with humor; and Gary, my doctoral advisor for stretching my thinking.

Leadership: Creating a vision, being clear about expectations, and empowering people to be their best. Leadership is listening to, respecting and lifting up those around you, especially those who may not have voice or power. Recognize what you know while maintaining the humility to acknowledge what you don’t know. Leadership is about trust and gratitude.

Hilary Marden-Resnik

President and CEO | UCare

Influence: This question is very easy for me to answer. My mom is my hero. And anyone who knows Dorothy Marden will understand why I say this. Despite a nontraditional and often challenging childhood, mom achieved tremendous accomplishments as a finance executive, distance runner and community volunteer. More important, mom is the most humble, authentic and supportive person I know.

Leadership: As a leader, your most important role is to create and foster an environment in which your employees don’t just understand the mission rather they are passionate about the mission and proud of how they carry out the mission to improve lives. This passion and pride are the difference-makers that lead to success in every other area of the business.

Corey Martin, MD

Chief Medical Officer | Innovations in Resilience, Bounce Travels, and Stellis Health

Influence: My colleagues and friends, Eric Lefebvre and Glenn Pfister, were the biggest influence on my career. Their tragic deaths ten years ago prompted me to take inventory of my life and realize I wasn’t living the life I wanted. To process our grief and support our community, we created the Bounce Back Project. This transformed my life, helping me see each day as precious.

Leadership: It involves building trust through vulnerability, openly sharing challenges and encouraging others to do the same. Asking for help is crucial, it fosters collaboration showing that all input is valued. Creating a sense of community and connection makes everyone feel like they belong. Acting out of love and care forms the foundation of effective leadership, inspiring loyalty and dedication. 

Zeke J. McKinney, MD, MHI, MPH, FACOEM (he/him)

Program Director | HealthPartners Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency

Influence: My father, who instilled in me the values of diligence, sacrifice and generosity, and emphasized the importance of being adaptable. He taught me about social responsibility and the duty to use my talents and training to do good. He encouraged me to be a doctor, a path that hadn’t been available to him. He felt that healing people and helping them through vulnerable situations is one of the greatest things you can do.

Leadership: It’s doing the best you can for everyone in your charge, even if there’s no perfect answer, or when it’s unpopular, or even when nobody’s looking. It’s recognizing the value in others and empowering them to contribute and succeed. It’s fostering individual motivations to enable working together toward a common goal.

Kathy Messerli

Executive Director | Minnesota Home Care Association

Influence: I had a mentor during my internship who continued to influence me throughout my career. While I spread my wings, expanding my career from senior housing management to various health-related organizations and positions, Carol continued to mentor me on a variety of subjects from operations to problem solving. She had a heart for the people she was serving and I credit her for my becoming so client/member-centric. 

Leadership: Integrity and communication top the list. This enables you to build trust and respect. Adaptability and resilience are also essential. Leaders must have the ability to pivot. Empathy has also served me well with my leadership style. As I think about strategic direction for an organization it’s also important to be forward thinking, innovative and accountable.

Christopher P. Meyer, MD

President | Twin Cities Orthopedics

Influence: Gary Wyard, MD, TCO’s former CMO, profoundly shaped my career. I’ve known Dr. Wyard since I was in high school. He was my best friend’s father and influenced many of my key decisions. Ultimately, he hired me and then showed me the ropes. His blend of integrity, adaptability and top-notch patient care left a lasting mark. He taught me when to pivot and when to stand my ground, shaping not just my career but my approach to life.

Leadership: Integrity, neutrality and consistency are all essential qualities. Staying neutral on controversial topics fosters unity. Upholding integrity ensures collective success. Consistency in decision-making maintains trust. Actively engaging with team members, promptly addressing concerns, and being as accessible as possible are extremely important things for any leader.

Tracy Mills, OHCC

President | Minnesota Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (MNASCA)

Influence: The most influential person in my life is my mother. She taught me that the true measure of success is not based on material things but on the lives that you impact. She taught me to always encourage one another and build each other up. She taught me to lead from the heart and with good intentions in everything you do.

Leadership: Be your authentic self. Employees and colleagues want to work alongside people with whom they can truly make a connection with. Once you have that connection you can build trust and rapport. If your employees feel you are genuine, they will be more comfortable and engaged.

Danielle Mueleners, MBA, PHN, RN

Sr. Director of Operations | Herself Health

Influence: My dad, he worked tirelessly as a police officer to support our family and help others. His dedication to his job, despite the challenges, showed me the importance of hard work and perseverance. His commitment to community service and protecting others inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a positive impact. His example taught me the values of integrity, resilience and the importance of helping others.

Leadership: It hinges on the self-awareness to recognize strengths and weaknesses and the integrity to act ethically. Empathy fosters relationships and it is important to be decisive. Adaptability helps navigate change and vision provides direction. Resilience maintains composure during challenges, humility encourages continuous learning and trust builds a reliable team dynamic. All this inspires and guide team goals, in our case, putting women first.

Rachael Pelinger

President | Healthcare Leaders Association of Minnesota

Influence: Two people in my early career at HealthPartners, Megan Remark and Clay Ahrens, were greatly influential. They were leaders by example, mentors, teachers. They taught me how to lead with positivity, uplift your team, and empower them to reach their goals without interfering. Later in my career, I met Barb Bender. She opened my eyes to new ways to lead, negotiate and influence.

Leadership: To be authentic it must come from the head and the heart. Look for long term successes rather than squeezing out short term results by recognizing the humanity in a team. Have empathy for others and understand that overall well-being directly translates into success of a team. Leaders who look for input from many stakeholders will have greater buy-in and success.