Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Board of Directors welcomes two new members as it announces the 2010 officers.
Karla Erickson, PhD, MA, assistant professor of sociology with Grinnell College, and Laura Van Cleve, DO, psychiatrist at Poweshiek County Mental Health, join the medical center’s governing body. Erickson and Van Cleve join 13 area residents providing direction, vision, and strategic planning for GRMC’s future. Van Cleve steps in as the new 2010-2012 GRMC medical staff president and as an ex officio member of the board.
“Karla brings a unique perspective to the board as a sociologist, as well as her special research interest in end of life care,” says Susan Witt, GRMC board chair. “Some of her work focuses on how the transforming world impacts organizations and organizational changes. As healthcare faces extremely rapid changes and challenges, this perspective will help as we develop our vision of healthcare in Poweshiek County.”
Erickson moved to Grinnell with her husband, Matt Karjalahti, in 2004 to join the sociology department at Grinnell College. She completed graduate work and taught for one year at St. Olaf College in Minnesota before moving to Grinnell. She earned her PhD in American studies and women’s studies from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.; an MA in liberal studies from Hamline University, St. Paul, Minn.; and her BA in English and women’s studies from Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Ill. Her board experiences include serving as an ex officio member of the Midwest Sociological Society as the editor of its magazine and on the ethics committee of Mayflower Community. Erickson also earned a certified nursing assistant certificate.
“In serving on the hospital board and as a faculty member at Grinnell College, I will work with GRMC to collaborate on joint projects. I’m very interested in quality end-of-life care and want to work with GRMC as it continues its mission in that area,” Erickson says.
“This is a great hospital both as vital resource to the community and for my research. Serving on the board is enticing for me as someone who studies the process of work,” Erickson says. “I’ll see the inside operations of what I, as a sociologist, study and teach. GRMC has been very supportive of the research I do with students for end of life and sociology.”
Erickson is a frequent user of hospital services at Fly High Fitness Studio, where she is a regular yoga participant. She also enjoys downhill skiing, writing poetry, watching movies, and serving as a hospice volunteer.
Van Cleve joined the GRMC medical staff in 1997. She provides psychiatric care to area residents through the Poweshiek County Mental Health Center. Van Cleve earned her medical degree from Des Moines University and completed a residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She also completed a fellowship at the University of Iowa in child and adolescent psychiatry. She is board certified by the Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Van Cleve currently serves as the ethics chair of the Iowa Psychiatric Society.
She will serve a two-year term on the GRMC board that coincides with her elected position as medical staff president. As the representative from the medical staff, Van Cleve bridges communication and represents the medical staff at the board table.
“In 2009, the board of trustees, administration, and the medical staff created four ad hoc task forces to find ways to expand knowledge, understanding, and improvement in GRMC’s physician recruitment, process improvement, communication, and information technology efforts. I will focus on these four areas to help ensure a stronger future,” Van Cleve explains. “We still face a difficult future with the economy and healthcare reform. We need a strong unified leadership of hospital, board, and medical staff to meet the challenges ahead.”
“The co-dependence between the medical staff and the hospital emphasizes the role of the medical staff representative on the board of trustees. Laura understands the essential dependence yet independence of physicians to this process to build strong relations,” says Todd Linden, GRMC CEO and president. “She takes her role leading the medical staff very seriously and has already made concerted efforts to build on the already strong relationship that exists within the hospital.”
Erickson and Van Cleve began their roles on the GRMC Board in January when the board installed officers. Starting her second year as chair is Susan Witt, co-owner of Miraco, Corp. Chair elect has been filled by Ed Hatcher, long-time board member and area farmer. Debby Pohlson, assistant at Jensen Optometrists, continues in the past-chair position. Secretary is Stan Greenwald, MD, retired obstetrician. Treasurer is Frank Brownell, owner of Brownells, Inc., in Montezuma.
GRMC and the residents served by the medical center have benefited from the diverse membership of the board and representation by community members as well as medical professionals. The GRMC Board of Trustees includes the officers listed above as well as Laura Ferguson, MD; Bill Menner; Michelle Rebelsky, MD; Wally Walker, and Joanne Yuska. Ex officio members of the board include Todd Linden, GRMC president and CEO; Todd Reding, GRMC Foundation board president; and Van Cleve.
Sig Barber, PhD, German professor at Grinnell College, Clayton Francis, MD, and Leila Maring, RN, retired from the board in December. Francis completed his two-year term as medical staff president, now filled by Van Cleve. Barber and Maring completed four, three-year terms on the board.
“GRMC is grateful for the many, many hours of dedication to our mission from these three stellar board members,” Linden says. “The commitment to excellence in governance was their hallmark and the hospital will forever be a better place because of their service.”
The board is responsible for overall governance of GRMC, a nonprofit, private medical center. Its primary roles include maintaining the mission and vision; strategic planning; appointing members of the medical and allied health staff; approving the annual budget and providing financial oversight; monitoring overall quality of services; and appointing the chief executive.
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