Aidan Cunningham- WinnMed (MHA '26)

 Hello from Decorah, Iowa!

This summer, I have had the amazing experience of interning at WinnMed in Decorah, Iowa. WinnMed is a critical access hospital located in northeastern Iowa and due to its location, it is a hub for healthcare. It not only provides access to healthcare for Iowans, but it reaches to patients in southern Minnesota. WinnMed is in a rapid state of expansion and since June they have brought on a general surgeon, rheumatologist, and a dermatologist. By the end of the summer, they will also have a urologist and a new family physician starting practice. Additionally, WinnMed is in the late stages of a clinic expansion set to open in the middle of September. My preceptor for this internship is the CAO of WinnMed, Steve Slessor, who is an Iowa MHA alumni and executive in residence for the program. Working under him and the rest of the senior leadership team has brought me immeasurable knowledge on leadership and the daily operations of a rural hospital. 

I am in my 8th week of the internship and have had an array of learning opportunities. I was able to work an overnight shift in the emergency department and shadow the rehab clinic for a day. These gave me further insight into the operations of a hospital and see firsthand how we provide care to a diverse patient population. Being at WinnMed has also provided me with countless networking and educational opportunities. I attended the Iowa Hospital Associations Rural Health Leadership Forum where I met different senior leadership members from critical access hospitals across Iowa. I also volunteered at the Winneshiek County Fair where WinnMed has a booth to answer questions, hear grievances, and provide updates on hospital operations. I also joined Steve for the Decorah Chamber golf outing and had the chance to meet with different key stakeholders in the area. Outside of these opportunities I have tried my best to dive into the community and learn about the culture at WinnMed. From meeting with every director at the hospital, to attending daily huddles, and even being a mock patient for a new commercial I am ensuring that people can put a face to the name.


During my internship I have been able to work on various projects and tasks to develop a deeper knowledge of this career. One of the first things I did was develop a plan for qualifying our providers to provide medical interpretation during visits. The goal of this was to make sure WinnMed remains compliant with Joint Commission standards, and to improve access for our patients who don’t speak English as their first language. Additionally, I helped file a certificate of need for the da Vinci 5 surgical robot that WinnMed is aiming to purchase. We would be the first hospital in the region to provide this service. Another project I am close to finishing is creating the Critical Access Hospital Annual Program Evaluation and Quality Review Report. This report is required to maintain a critical access hospital status, and it provides insight into service utilization, record reviews, and quality measures at the organization. Finally, my key project is creating a business plan and financial analysis for the addition of a full-time oncologist at WinnMed. This is a service we do not yet provide and are looking to bring to WinnMed to expand access to care in the region. I will present my findings at the August Board of Trustees meeting.


Outside of my internship I have kept busy with exploring what Decorah has to offer. I like to go on hikes in the bluffs surrounding the town, run around, and adventure Decorah with my roommates. So far, I have been to the bowling alley, checked out the fair, and went to my very first rodeo. As far as traveling I went to Duluth, Minnesota a couple of weeks ago and ran Grandmas Marathon with one of my lifelong friends… I highly recommend. However, what I’m most excited for is Nordic Fest here in Decorah at the end of July. I’ll have a chance to get in touch with my roots, run a 5k, and attempt to throw a 75lb rock as far as I can. I could not ask for a better summer experience and I am looking forward to the remaining 4 weeks and the opportunities that lie ahead.

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