MyMichigan Health president and CEO Diane Postler-Slattery, 62,
died along with her husband in a plane crash in Florida on March 8.
Before becoming MyMichigan Health president and chief executive officer in 2013, Postler-Slattery was president and chief operating officer of Aspirus Wausau Hospital. She began her 24-year service to Aspirus as an intensive care nurse and served as chief operating officer prior to her appointment as the hospital’s top leader.
Postler-Slattery’s history of service to the health care industry in Wisconsin includes serving as North Central Region president from 2007-2008 and region alternate from 2009-2012. She was a WHA Public Policy Council member from 2005-2008 and served as council chair from 2009-2013. She served on the Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center Board from 2009-2012 and on WHA’s Executive Committee from 2009-2012.
When she was chief operating officer at Aspirus Wausau Hospital in 2004, Postler-Slattery was named Nurse of the Year by the Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Executives. In nominating her for the award, then-chairman of Aspirus Hospital’s board of directors Stuart Carlson called Postler-Slattery “an outstanding spokesperson and advocate for the hospital and the entire nursing profession.” Postler-Slattery was also named “Best of the Best” by the Partners of WHA in 2010 for excellence in health care administration. Aspirus volunteers noted in their nomination of Postler-Slattery that she regularly walked around the hospitals to interact with and thank volunteers individually to let them know they are valued.
WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding also remembers Postler-Slattery as both a talented health care practitioner and an effective industry advocate, lending her voice, for example, to successful opposition to a proposed ban on hospital construction in 2002. “Diane’s untimely passing is felt far and wide. In Wisconsin, we remember Diane as a passionate advocate that we were so fortunate to have on our member team. She was an outstanding person who inspired the WHA staff to lead and take on tough issues with conviction,” Borgerding said. “This is a devastating loss for so many, and while we grieve with her family and loved ones, we are grateful for the time we spent working together. Diane left an indelible mark on health care and all those who knew her.”
Diane and her husband Don are survived by three children and five grandchildren.