Two CentraCare Health Directors Selected for Health Care Leadership Awards

CentraCare Health is excited to announce two of its directors were recently selected as TRUST 2019 Forum Award winners for their roles in providing leadership excellence in health care: Katy Kirchner, director, Coordinated and Correctional Health and Kay Greenlee, senior director, Performance Improvement.

The Women’s Health Leadership TRUST and the 2019 Forum Awards celebrate Minnesota women and companies in health care who are advancing efforts to help the health care industry boldly transform its future.

Katy Kirchner was among five award winners in the Collaboration & Partnerships category, which received numerous entries from women health care leaders in Minnesota. This award honors women who are building partnerships within an organization or forging collaborative external relationships that address a common goal where both parties benefit.

Kirchner is recognized for her leadership in implementing innovative programs at CentraCare including Coordinated Care which is a collection of care delivery models that address the health care needs of patients who are incarcerated, patients needing opioid medication management and patients who have complex needs that require both primary care and mental health support. These programs are successful due to Kirchner’s collaboration with local law enforcement, social services, community mental health, probation, NAMI, Veteran’s Affairs, the legal system and more.

Kay Greenlee was among four award winners in the Leadership category, which received numerous entries from women leaders in Minnesota health care. This award celebrates women who are viewed by their teams, peers, superiors and business partners as an exceptional leader.

In her role at CentraCare, Greenlee continually looks for opportunities for improvement and draws from different perspectives to create an environment that supports change. Greenlee encourages change through an employee-led process that includes common sense solutions in a complex health care world. She helps front-line staff recognize their ideas are important and has empowered them to do what they can to be successful.

"Both of these women are very deserving of this honor. Katy and Kay are both examples of exceptionally capable women possessing skills necessary to lead in today’s health care environment," said Beth Honkomp, vice president, Performance Excellence at CentraCare Health. "I am so proud that CentraCare has once again had female leaders chosen for these prestigious awards."

Previous TRUST Award winners from CentraCare Health include Linda Chmielewski, Joy Plamann and Jodi Gertken.

Award winners will be honored at the TRUST Forum from 4-8 p.m. April 9 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The awards ceremony will recognize 19 women in five categories: Health & Well-Being, Collaboration & Partnerships, Leadership, Innovation & Technology and Volunteer Engagement.