THE VALUED VOICE

Laura Walczak has been named President of SSM Health St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo. Walczak previously served as Vice President of Patient Care at SSM Health - St. Mary’s Hospital Janesville since April 2013. Walczak takes the reins at St. Clare October 1.

A registered nurse, Walczak earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UW-Milwaukee, as well as a master’s degree in business administration from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Leaders.

Before joining SSM, Walczak was Director of Government Programs for the Joint Commission, where she worked to transform the accreditation process for the Veterans Health Administration and the U.S. Department of Defense. A Wisconsin native, Walczak began her career as a critical care nurse for St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee and went on to hold leadership positions with hospitals in the Advocate, Centegra, and Mercy Health Systems in the greater Chicago area.