Nan Gardetto
WHA has honored Nan Gardetto of Advocate Health with the 2022 Trustee Award. WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding presented the award to Gardetto on Dec. 12.
For more than 60 years, the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) has recognized outstanding member trustees, those who excel and make an exemplary commitment to his or her hospital and community.
In presenting the award to Gardetto, Borgerding said, “I’ve had the privilege of giving this award 14 times now, and sitting in on the nominating committee’s deliberation for each one. I will say I have rarely seen as strong and unanimous an endorsement from the committee as I did for this year’s recipient, Nan Gardetto.”
“Nan possesses a rare mix of empathy for patients, obviously a strong business sense, and an intimate knowledge of the communities we serve here in Wisconsin,” said Advocate Health CEO Jim Skogsbergh. “In addition to her leadership on this board, Nan has been instrumental in driving patient experience and health care transformation for services ranging from integrated medicine for cancer patients to preventing falls and hospitalizations among aging patients, to ensuring access to care for underserved patients through the Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic.”
Acknowledgements of merit include Gardetto’s service on Advocate Aurora’s Board for 12 years, where it’s been her mission to ensure access and equity to the community. Gardetto chaired Aurora’s Safety and Quality Committee. She drew upon her personal experiences to be the voice of those not at the table.
Her philanthropy has been influenced by the experiences of her family and her desire to help other families, particularly those in need. In 2015, Gardetto provided generous support to the Aurora Health Care Foundation, which provided service to more than 7,000 cancer patients last year at free or reduced cost. She has generously donated to support Wisconsin’s largest free clinic, Aurora Walker's Point Community Clinic; Aurora’s Behavioral Health and Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence programs; and Aurora’s Aging Well Initiative.
“I’m really, really honored by this recognition. It means a lot to me. It’s been a real privilege to serve on various Aurora boards and committees over the years, and it’s been, personally, very fulfilling to me. I’ve learned an awful lot and I’ve gotten to work alongside some amazing talented people who really have been examples of what passionate, compassionate care looks like,” commented Gardetto.
As part of her recognition, WHA will donate $500 to the charity of Gardetto’s choice.