Penny Wheeler, MD, will become the first female CEO of Minneapolis-based Allina Health after the current CEO, Kenneth Paulus, retires at the end of the year.
Mr. Paulus has led numerous growth initiatives throughout his tenure, including joint ventures, strategic partnerships and acquisitions that have situated Allina Health as the market share leader in the region.
Dr. Wheeler has served as chief clinical officer for Allina since 2006, before which she served on the board of directors of the company, where she chaired the Quality Committee. In 2013 Dr. Wheeler was named president of the system. In addition to being the first female CEO, she will also be the first physician CEO since the health system as formed in 1994. Dr. Wheeler specializes in obstetrics and gynecology.
"There's a convergence between the administrative side of what we need to do, and the clinical side of what we need to do, to make care better and make it more affordable for those we serve," Dr. Wheeler told Star Tribune. "I think we’re seeing an increasing number of clinical leaders, physicians primarily, in these leadership roles."