Our Leadership

Western Wisconsin Health’s leadership is focused on leading the organization in fulfilling our mission, achieving our vision, and living our values. Get to know the dedicated, passionate experts who have helped make us the region’s premier provider of holistic healthcare.

Our Board of Directors

Christine Penfield
Chair

Christopher Babbitt
Director

Christian Gausman
Director

Brandon Graber
Vice Chair

Chad Brakke
Director

Dr. Randy Hurley
Director

David Melloh
Director

Shane Bauer
Treasurer/Secretary

Dan Connors
Director

Christine Rasmussen
Director

Our Leadership Team

Eilidh Pederson, MPH, FACHE

Eilidh Pederson, MPH, FACHE

Chief Executive Officer

Ellen Thompson

Ellen Thompson

Chief Operating Officer

Lea Kaiser, MBA

Lea Kaiser, MBA

Chief Financial Officer

Erin Benson

Erin Benson

Chief Human Resources Officer

Shonda Helgeson, RN, BSN

Shonda Helgeson, RN, BSN

Chief Nursing Officer

Ryma Lindquist

Ryma Lindquist

Director of Community Relations

Melissa Turngren

Melissa Turngren

Director of Finance

Jennifer Hinkel, DPT

Jennifer Hinkel, DPT

Director of Rehabilitation Services

Nick Berger

Nick Berger

Director of Specialty Services

Kasey Johnson

Kasey Johnson

Director of Health Information Management

Stephanie Quam, LNHA

Stephanie Quam, LNHA

Director of Risk Compliance and Quality

Trent Yunker

Trent Yunker

Director of Facilities and Environmental Services

Erika Schurtz

Erika Schurtz

Director of Patient Care Services

Medical Executive Staff

Medical Staff

Jess Brehmer, MD, FAAOS

Jess Brehmer, MD, FAAOS

Associate Chief of Staff

Stephanie Waterman, FNP

Stephanie Waterman, FNP

APP Officer

Kathleen Findlay, MD, MPH

Kathleen Findlay, MD, MPH

Chief of Staff

Department Chiefs

Liban Farah, MD

Liban Farah, MD

Chief of Medicine

Emily Veenendaal, PMHNP

Emily Veenendaal, PMHNP

Chief of Behavioral Sciences

Leah Gapinski, MD

Leah Gapinski, MD

Chief of Emergency Department

Russell Roloff, MD

Russell Roloff, MD

Chief of the Clinics

Peter Dahlberg, MD, PhD

Peter Dahlberg, MD, PhD

Chief of Surgery

Nate Schwartz, MD

Nate Schwartz, MD

Chief of the Clinics

Dennis Hartung, MD, FACOG, OB/GYN

Dennis Hartung, MD, FACOG, OB/GYN

Chief of OB/GYN

Medical Directors

Nate Schwartz, MD

Nate Schwartz, MD

Medical Director RHC

Russell Roloff, MD

Russell Roloff, MD

Medical Director RHC

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