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Our System

Gundersen is healthcare for neighbors, by neighbors. While we call La Crosse home, our system has 7 hospitals and 65 clinics in neighboring communities. Inside our walls and our neighborhoods, we deliver world-class medical care combined with the right amount of love. We call it Love + Medicine and it's who we are.

At Gundersen, we:

Put you first. Our La Crosse Hospital is a five-star place to receive care, the highest ranking issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Use technology to improve your care. Gundersen was recognized by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine’s for using information technology to improve performance in a number of areas, including quality and safety of patient care.

Care for our world. Gundersen Health System was the first in the country to produce more energy than it consumes. We're repeatedly honored as one of America’s greenest hospitals.

Deliver expert care close to home. Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinics and Gundersen Tri-County Hospital and Clinics are among the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals.

Care close to home

Communities we serve

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Our promise

Together, we inspire your best life by relentlessly caring, learning and innovating. This is our mission.

Leading with love, we courageously commit to a future of healthy people and thriving communities. This is our vision.

Our history

Our roots run deep. In 1891, Norwegian-born surgeon Adolf Gundersen, MD, opened his practice in La Crosse and served as Lutheran Hospital’s first medical director when it opened in 1902. In 1930, Gundersen moved his office from downtown La Crosse to a new clinic next to the hospital to be closer to his patients. Gundersen Clinic and Lutheran Hospital expanded over the years until what it is today — a world-class medical facility with 325 beds. In 1995, the clinic and hospital formed Gundersen Lutheran, Inc., and became Gundersen Health System in 2013. We're proud of our history and look forward to our future. Thank you for being a part of it.

Female doctor talking with female patient.
Bellin + Gundersen Health System

Our leadership

Scott Rathgaber, MD, Chief Executive Officer
Heather Schimmers, MBA, RN, Gundersen Region President
Portrait of Chris Woleske.
Chris Woleske, JD, Executive Vice President, Bellin Region President
Michael Dolan, MD, Gundersen Region Chief Clinical Officer
Cynthia Lasecki, MD, Bellin Region Chief Clinical Officer
LeAnne Andersen, Chief People Officer
Portrait of Chris Ceelen.
John Ceelen, Chief Financial Officer
Professional portrait of Andrea Werner.
Andrea Werner, Chief Population Health Officer
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Praveen Chopra, Chief Digital & Information Officer
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Bill Farrell, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer
Lisa Harton, RN, Chief Quality Officer

Medical Governors

  • Ezana M. Azene, MD, PhD
  • Stephanie Carroll, MD
  • Elizabeth Cogbill, MD
  • Chris Eberlein, MD

 

  • Trey Folkers, MD
  • Benjamin T. Jarman, MD, FACS
  • Jennifer Kleven, MD, MPH
  • Benjamin S. Orozco, MD
Bellin Gundersen Health System

Board of Directors

  • John Dykema, chair
  • Jerry Arndt, vice chair
  • Saied Assef, MD 
  • Ezana Azene, MD 
  • Bill Bohn, JD 
  • Elizabeth Cogbill, MD 
  • Christopher Eberlein, MD 
  • Susan Finco 
  • Dan Florness 
  • Barb Gilling

 

 

  • Sherri Hoyman, DO 
  • John Lyche 
  • Rick Radcliffe, JD 
  • James Rider, MD 
  • Karl Schmidt 
  • Tita Yutuc 
  • Scott Rathgaber, MD, CEO 
  • Chris Woleske, JD, EVP and President Bellin Region 
  • Heather Schimmers, MBA, RN, President Gundersen Region
     

Regional Administration

  • Theresa Braudt, Administrator
    Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital and Clinics
  • Patrice Kuennen, Administrator
    Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics
  • Kristie McCoic, Administrator
    Gundersen St. Joseph's Hospital and Clinics

 

  • Joni Olson, Administrator
    Gundersen Tri-County Hospital and Clinics
  • Frank Perez-Guerra, Administrator
    Gundersen Moundview Hospital and Clinics
  • Jim Root, Administrator
    Gundersen St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Clinics

1900 South Ave.
La Crosse, WI 54601

(608) 782-7300

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