Karl Jacobsen, member of the WinnMed Board of Trustees, resigned his position earlier this month following a change in by-laws requiring trustees to attend 50% plus one meeting in-person in a year’s time. His term ends in 2026. He says, “In retirement, my wife and I enjoy traveling, and with the recent change in Board bylaws, our plans were not compatible with my continued service in this role.”
Jacobsen was elected to the Board of Trustees in November 2012 and began serving in January 2013. During his time on the Board of Trustees, Jacobsen was involved in multiple projects and initiatives, including the transition of WinnMed’s electronic medical records to Epic in 2017, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, the brand change to WinnMed in 2023 and the start of the Transforming Tomorrow expansion project in 2024.
Jacobsen began his healthcare career in the early 1970’s at the (then) Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital as one of the first emergency medical technicians (EMTs). He served locally and as a charter member of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Jacobsen went on to earn his nursing degree through Northeast Iowa Community College and subsequently provided nursing care in various capacities across the Midwest. He continued his education and earned his Nursing Home Administrator license, which opened opportunities to lead care facilities in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Decorah’s Barthell Eastern Star Home in the latter years of his career.
Concurrently and as a second arm of his professional life, Jacobsen provided financial advisory and investment services to clients across the United States.
Jacobsen says, “My experiences in health care, first as an EMT, then as a nurse and still later, in an administrative role, helped me throughout my tenure on the Board of Trustees. I appreciated and understood the challenges of a changing industry from both a professional and a patient perspective and brought that insight to the Board as we faced significant decisions over the past 10 years.” Jacobsen frequently presented the Board with education on current topics, trends and changes in the health care industry. He says, “I sought to use the skills and knowledge I had to help our entire board govern our local hospital.”
Steve Slessor, chief administrative officer, WinnMed, says, “I want to thank Karl for his years of service on the Board of Trustees. Karl has well-rounded experience allowing him to add perspective both as a clinician and a business leader. Karl was incredibly supportive of the many changes and advancements we have made at WinnMed, and the passion he has for the care we provide and what we mean to our communities we serve was evident throughout his time as a Trustee.”
Per the WinnMed Board of Trustees bylaws, candidates for Jacobsen’s open seat will be reviewed by a Board Governance Committee, and it will be filled by appointment for the remainder of his term.
