Q1: Are there any exciting developments on the horizon for Lutheran Health Network (LHN) that you can share?
We currently have a 120-bed behavioral health joint venture hospital near completion on West Washington Center Road; a primary and urgent care site on Lima Road in Huntertown set to open this fall; and we’ve started construction on a freestanding emergency department near the corner of Stellhorn and Maplecrest to serve northeast Fort Wayne and the surrounding communities. We also recently announced a $30 million enhancement to our hospital in Warsaw. We are excited to continue increasing access to care and providing value to the communities we serve.
Q2: How does Lutheran continue to uphold and excel in its mission to provide compassionate, quality care with the best possible experience to every patient?
Our mission is what guides us through every action and every decision we make. We are committed to continual improvement and spend a great deal of time looking at feedback we receive from our patients. When we hear positive feedback, we hold it up as best practice. When we receive feedback that we didn’t provide five-star-care or service, we reach out to learn how we could have done better. Our leaders, our frontline caregivers and anyone who interacts with patients are all engaged in conversations about the care we provide and how each one of us supports our mission.
Q3: What are you most excited about for LHN over the next five years?
One of the most important things about Lutheran Health Network is the impact we have on the community. The charity and uncompensated care we provide, taxes we pay, as well as our donations and capital investments totaled more than $1 billion in 2021 – that’s more than $3 million every day of the year. It’s rewarding to be a part of an organization that gives back to our community in such a meaningful way that translates to new access points, new technology and services making Northeast Indiana an attractive place for people to live and work.
Q4: What would LHN employees be surprised to find out about you?
Like many of us, my health took a backseat during the pandemic. After a serious wake up call earlier in the year, I immersed myself in a healthier lifestyle. Now I consistently make time for exercise and have committed to healthier eating habits. I am really proud that I’ve lost a significant amount of weight and just feel better overall. I made a decision to put myself first and make my health a priority.
Q5: What have you enjoyed most about the city of Fort Wayne since coming here last July?
My family visited Fort Wayne many times when my children were younger for travel sports. It’s amazing to see the growth that has occurred. All of the community accolades make recruiting medical providers easier. I enjoy the culture of the business community. There are a lot of people invested in making this region a wonderful place and I appreciate the opportunity leaders from Lutheran Health Network have to work alongside and support them. Collaboration is essential to enhance our health and well-being.
Q6: What does a normal day look like for you?
My days are often long and rarely normal but extremely rewarding. I usually begin early in the morning talking with physicians before they start seeing patients. There are lots of meetings with our leadership to discuss quality, patient experience, metrics and improving access to care, and getting out to our hospitals and clinics to meet patients and team members is always a priority. I also like to set aside time to respond to calls or emails from community members or business leaders.
Q7: What are a few accomplishments you are proud of since joining Lutheran Health Network?
Lutheran Health Network has accomplished so much in the past year. We opened a new hospital in downtown Fort Wayne, an orthopedic ambulatory surgery center, primary care and diagnostics office in Auburn and a medically integrated fitness center on the Dupont Hospital campus. I am proud of how our expanded Network provides patients with convenient access to care close to home or work.
I am also happy that we are investing in our team members. Earlier this year, we announced a new program called Pathways, which includes a student loan repayment program that can offset student loan balances up to $20,000 per employee. We also expanded our tuition reimbursement program to allow our team members to pursue continuing education outside of their current career track.
Q8: How do you spend your free time?
Most of my free time is spent with my wife of 30 years, who was also my high school sweetheart, and my two adult children. We also have a lovable and goofy Bernedoodle that keeps us laughing. I try to squeeze in a round of golf every now and then. Scuba diving is a passion as well, and I have dived in Hawaii and Fort Lauderdale.
