HealthPartners Institute is governed by its own board of directors working closely with colleagues and leaders at HealthPartners. Our leaders possess a wide range of experience that helps guide research and education strategies. The Institute uses a dyad leadership model led by Nico Pronk, PhD, as President, and Jen Augustson as Vice President. Executive directors also lead the areas of research and education.
Executives
Nico Pronk, PhD
President, HealthPartners Institute and Chief Science Officer, HealthPartners
Jen Augustson
Vice President, HealthPartners Institute
Kelly Frisch, MD
Executive Director, Health Professional Education
Elyse Kharbanda MD, MPH
Executive Director, Research
Senior leaders
Jenilee Christy
Director, Research Administration
Michele Lacy
Senior Director, Institute Centers of Research and Education
Sonya Painschab
Director, Administration
Richard Paskach
Senior Director, Research Project Operations, Informatics and Technology
Board of directors
David Lagerstrom
Chair, Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Turck, Inc. (retired)
Ginger Kakacek, MD
Vice Chair, Chief Medical Officer, HealthPartners Health Plan
Denis Clohisy, MD
Associate Dean of Surgical Services and Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School
Susan Culican, MD, PhD
Senior Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education, University of Minnesota Medical School
Bill Doherty, PhD
Professor of Family Social Science and Director, Citizen Professional Center, University of Minnesota
Tasha Gastony, PA-C
Regional Medical Director, Park Nicollet
Glen Gunderson
President and Chief Executive Officer, YMCA of the North
Bret Haake, MD
Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Regions Hospital
Cara Hull
Chief Quality Officer, HealthPartners
Steven Jackson, MD
Physician, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Medical Director, Spinal Cord Injury, Regions Hospital
Nico Pronk, PhD
President, HealthPartners Institute and Chief Science Officer, HealthPartners
Alita Risinger
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, HealthPartners Care Delivery
Pahoua Yang, PhD
Vice President, Community Mental Health and Wellness, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
To learn more about how HealthPartners Institute is working to improve health and well-being, view our Annual Highlights and About us.