GRAND FORKS — Altru Health System announced on Thursday the selection of Heather Strandell as chief operating officer. Strandell has worked in a leadership position at Altru since 2004, most recently as senior director of clinic operations, quality and patient safety.
In her new role, Strandell will oversee inpatient and outpatient operations.
“We are thrilled to have Heather join our executive team and continue the excellent leadership she’s provided to Altru for over 22 years,” Altru CEO Todd Forkel said in a release. “Heather is incredibly skilled in process improvement and focused on patient-centered care. Combined with her depth of knowledge about the healthcare industry and organizational expertise, she is well-positioned to lead our operations and continue the pursuit of Altru’s vision and fulfillment of our mission.”
Strandell has served on boards for the Community Violence Intervention Center, Sharon Lutheran Church, and Minnesota and North Dakota Alzheimer’s Association. In her 30 years in healthcare, she has covered primary and specialty care operations, care management, performance improvement and beyond.
“I am incredibly excited and deeply honored to step into the role of chief operating officer,” Strandell said in the release. “Altru has been my professional home for many years, and I am continually inspired by our mission, and most importantly, the wonderful people who care for our patients and communities every day. As COO, I look forward to leading across both our inpatient and outpatient settings to help ensure a seamless, high-quality experience for every patient we serve. I remain dedicated to supporting our teams, advancing our strategic vision, and building on the strong foundation that makes Altru so special,”
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.