New Essentia Health CEO is an International Falls Native

DULUTH – Essentia Health announced today that its board of directors has appointed David C. Herman, MD, as chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors. He joins the organization in early 2015.
Dr. Herman, who is a native of International Falls, Minn., received his medical degree from Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minn., and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education.

He has a fellowship in ocular immunology and uveitis from the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

He also has a master of science degree in medical management from the University of Texas at Dallas. He is interested in continuing to practice ophthalmology while serving as CEO.

With more than 20 years in healthcare leadership, he most recently served as the president and chief executive officer of Vidant Health, an integrated healthcare system in eastern North Carolina with eight hospitals, 70 clinics, 12,000 employees and $1.5 billion in net operating revenues.

Prior to that, he served on the Mayo Clinic staff from 1988 to 2011, where he was a professor of ophthalmology. Dr. Herman was also chair of the Clinical Practice Committee at Mayo Clinic, a member of the Rochester Executive Board, a member of the board of directors for Mayo Clinic Health System and a member of the Mayo Clinic Management Team. He serves on the board of directors for the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the (international) board of trustees for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

"We are delighted that David is joining Essentia Health. He is a highly qualified and experienced healthcare executive and physician who will further advance Essentia's mission of being called to make a healthy difference in people's lives," said Dick Blair, chair of the Essentia Health board of directors. "David's extensive experience and impressive record in healthcare strategy, governance, management and leadership makes him the perfect person to lead Essentia Health into its next chapter of innovation and growth for our patients, their families and the communities we serve."

The appointment follows a comprehensive, national search that began in June when CEO Peter E. Person, MD, MBA, announced he would be retiring after spending 33 years in medicine at Essentia Health, 20 of which were in executive leadership roles.

"I am honored and proud to join Essentia Health," said Dr. Herman. "My family and friends have received their health care from Essentia and I have seen firsthand the passion and dedication to health and service delivered each day."

Today, Essentia Health is an integrated health system that reaches from northwestern Wisconsin to Idaho. Its 12,500 employees and physicians serve more than 400,000 patients annually in 66 clinics and 17 hospitals, many of them in underserved rural areas.

Essentia Health offers access to more than 55 medical specialties and supports an active medical research institute.