Alex Peterson - WinnMed (MHA '27)

Hello from Decorah! 

This summer, I am enjoying an amazing opportunity with WinnMed in Decorah, Iowa. WinnMed is a large critical access hospital located in northeastern Iowa, and it serves many patients in the region as well as in southern Minnesota. WinnMed is expanding rapidly and has recently brought many new providers and supporting staff on board. Additionally, they just completed a major expansion project called “Transforming Tomorrow,” which involved new construction and increased clinic capacity. My preceptor for this experience is Steve Slessor, CAO. He is an Iowa MHA alum and an executive-in-residence for the program. Working with Steve and the rest of the senior leadership team is absolutely wonderful. Each of them has a unique perspective,
and they come together to form a strategic team that exceeds its goals. I have learned so much about rural hospital operations, and I know I will only continue to grow in my next 5 weeks at WinnMed.

I am in the 7th week of the internship and have had some amazing learning opportunities so far. In weeks 1-3, Steve set up 1:1 meetings with myself and each director at the main campus. I have grown to really appreciate the value in getting to know everyone and each of their unique, important roles. WinnMed is not just a workplace, it’s a community. Just last week, I spent two days in the surgery department, where I shadowed a few surgeons and operations (including a robotic surgery!), as well as CRNAs and nurses. This experience allowed me to step into the clinical world and truly immerse myself in their daily responsibilities. Gaining perspective is extremely important as a healthcare leader, and I aim to gain as much as I can while I am here at WinnMed. During week 4, Steve and I attended an Iowa Hospital Association Rural Health Leadership Forum. I had the opportunity to learn about current rural health challenges and policies, and it was very insightful. This occasion was also a great networking opportunity. While we were there, we ran into a few Iowa colleagues and other leaders I had met since being in the MHA program. In the next coming weeks, I will be volunteering at the Winneshiek County Fair with Steve where WinnMed has a booth to answer questions, hear grievances, and provide updates on hospital operations. I will also spend time in OB, the ED, scheduling, and shadowing a clinic provider for a day. Outside of these events, I prioritize helping others in any way that I can.

I am able to work on various projects throughout the internship to further develop my knowledge of what it means to be an effective healthcare leader. One of the first projects I completed was with the clinic nurse team. I worked alongside the Director of Clinic Nursing, Director of Operations, and many supporting staff. Initially, their clinic staff scheduling system was manual, and their PTO requests were still on paper. I helped automate most of that system, saving time and effort for both directors and staff. This project was extremely rewarding, as after I completed it I had another department reach out to me and ask to create something similar for them as well. The key project I am working on is a business plan and financial analysis for a new piece of technology to be used in the surgery department. It aims to help patients with GERD or concerning esophageal symptoms. This is a procedure we are currently unable to perform at WinnMed, and gaining this technology would allow us to better serve the patients in our region. I will present my findings to the Clinical Practice Committee, Admin Council, and the Board of Trustees at the Board of Trustees meeting in August.