HURON — Laurie Solem was re-elected as board chairman for Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) at the June board meeting.
Solem, Avantara administrator, has served as chair since March 2020 and has been a member of the hospital board for more than five years.
David McGirr, Angie Uttecht and Justin Picek were reelected as vice chairman, secretary and treasurer, respectively.
Additionally, Rick Benson, who was recommended by the Beadle County Commission, was elected for his first term.
Dr. Todd Anderson, an orthopedic surgeon with the HRMC Physicians Clinic, was elected to his first term as a medical staff representative. Dan Wehde, senior financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, was also elected to his first term as an at-large board member. Laura Willemssen, Huron Middle School principal, was reelected to a second term as an at-large member.
Tom Hansen and Dr. Nathan Loewen, whose terms expired, were recognized for their service to the board. Dr. Loewen was recently elected as HRMC chief of staff and will continue to attend board meetings representing the medical staff.
HRMC is a private, not-for-profit organization. When the ownership of Huron’s hospital passed from the Fransciscan Sisters to a locally-owned, private corporation (Huron Regional Medical Center, Inc.) in 1978, those involved in the purchase wanted to ensure Huron’s community hospital would be governed by a board of directors reflecting a broad-base of the community.
The volunteer board consists of three members recommended by the medical staff, one recommended by the City of Huron and one recommended by the Beadle County Commission. The other board members are elected at-large. Each board member is elected for a three-year term and can serve up to three consecutive terms.
