Woodwinds CEO to Assume New HealthEast Leadership


WOODBURY, MN--(Marketwire - November 12, 2009) - HealthEast Care System is pleased to announce that Julie Schmidt, CEO of Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury, has been named the first-ever HealthEast Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer.

"When I was chosen as the CEO of Woodwinds nearly 13 years ago, I believed I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to create the health care experience in a way that hadn't been done before," said Julie Schmidt, CEO of Woodwinds. "With the help of incredible staff, leaders, physicians and volunteers, we've turned that opportunity into a reality, and for that I am forever grateful!"

As Chief Transformation Officer (CTO), Schmidt will drive strategic initiatives and business growth to help HealthEast achieve its milestone quality goal of becoming the "benchmark for quality in the Twin Cities by 2010" and beyond. She will be responsible for creating the road map for change for the next 10 years to fundamentally position the entire organization for sustained growth.

Woodwinds became Woodbury's first hospital when it opened its doors in 2000. Under Schmidt's leadership, Woodwinds has earned national and international recognition for its exceptional customer service as well as its model of care which integrates traditional and non-traditional approaches to care.

"Woodwinds has raised the bar for the entire organization and is continually referenced as a model," said Schmidt. "My primary goal (at HealthEast) will be to move the culture to one that is high in accountability, driving transformational change through ensuring consistency in identification, development and implementation of best practices throughout the system."

HealthEast is starting the search for a new CEO for Woodwinds with the help of an outside search firm. The process is expected to take four to six months.

About Woodwinds Health Campus

Opened in August 2000, Woodwinds is a collaboration between HealthEast Care System and Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. This sophisticated 86-bed acute care facility in Woodbury offers a full-spectrum of health care services including emergency services and an orthopaedic specialty center. For information about Woodwinds visit: www.woodwinds.org

Contact Information: For more information: Jodi Ritacca 651-232-6410

Julie Schmidt, CEO, Woodwinds Health Campus, Woodbury, Minnesota