Recognizing the leadership role Wisconsin hospitals and health systems played in responding to and fighting the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented stress it placed on the state’s health care system and economy, the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin will honor the CEOs of five health systems with its Wisconsin Business leader of the Year Award. It is the first time that the club has awarded the accolade to more than one recipient.
The five health system CEOs receiving the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin award are:
- Alan Kaplan, CEO of UW Health
- Cathy Jacobson, president and CEO of Froedtert Health
- Bernie Sherry, CEO of Ascension Wisconsin
- Jim Skogsbergh, president and CEO of Advocate Aurora Health
- Chris Woleske, president and CEO of Bellin Health System
Lisa Wright, vice president of the Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year Program, told
The Valued Voice, “The heart of the Business Leader of the Year Award is the recognition of exceptional leadership, impact, and innovation. There could have been an extensive list of deserving health care organization executives chosen for this year's award. After thoughtful reflection and research, our committee selected the leaders of health care systems with the greatest reach caring for our state during the pandemic.” Wright continued, “They navigated issues for which there was no playbook—such as staffing optimization, supply chain challenges and operationalizing changing clinical protocols, all while ensuring the well-being of their front-line workers. Moreover, they acted in concert with one another in their COVID response, collaborating for the greater good of the communities they respectively serve.”
Wright added, “All of the nominees pointed to their teams as the true recipients of this award, and we applaud these heroes for their herculean efforts. Yet, an organization requires someone to direct the charge, and these five individuals embody leadership excellence in an unforgettably complex year."
WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding said, “The decision by the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin to pay tribute to the way hospitals and health systems stepped up to fight COVID with this year’s Business Leader of the Year Award appropriately underscores the role health care providers play in both the physical and the economic health of our state. While this award recognized five deserving health system leaders, the honor extends to the hospitals and health systems throughout the state whose dedicated staff work every day to keep their communities healthy and safe.”
The Business Leader of the Year Award will be presented to the health system leaders in an
event co-hosted by the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin and the
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in September.