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Unity Hospital Names New President 

Kenneth Paulus, president and chief executive officer of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, announced this week that Lori Wightman will become president of Unity Hospital in January 2011. Wightman is currently president of New Ulm Medical Center.
"I’m pleased that Unity’s next leader will come from within Allina Hospitals & Clinics," said Paulus. "Lori has a terrific track record of success over many years. Equally important, Lori is trained as a nurse, bringing invaluable clinical skills to her leadership position."

Wightman, 50, has been president of New Ulm Medical Center for more than eight years. During her leadership, New Ulm’s hospital and clinic adopted a fully integrated medical record.
Wightman was instrumental in developing and obtaining federal funding for the Heart of New Ulm, a groundbreaking health initiative with the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and Allina’s Center for Innovation.

She is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and Minnesota’s Regent for that organization. She is also a regional chairman of the Minnesota Hospital Association and currently licensed as a registered nurse in Minnesota.

Wightman will replace Unity Hospital’s interim president John Stoltenberg, MD, who has been serving since Rickie Ressler’s retirement at the end of last year.


 2010 Allina Community Giving Campaign Underway

The Allina Community Giving Campaign, which will run from September 8 to October 15, allows Allina employees to demonstrate how much we care about our patients, our communities, and each other.  

Employees are encouraged to participate in the campaign at whatever level they feel comfortable and contributions can be made to any Allina foundation or program, local United Way or any qualifying nonprofit organization of an employee’s choice.  It is a simple, powerful way to improve the health of our community and show how much we care.

In 2009, Unity and Mercy hospital employees contributed $178,852 to the Community Giving Campaign.


1,800 Children’s Books Donated to Mercy and Unity Hospitals

Throughout the month of August, Borders book store in Coon Rapids conducted a book drive through which 1,800 children’s books, valued at $9,167, were collected for Mercy and Unity hospitals.  At the checkout counter, customers were asked if they would like to purchase and donate a book to a child at Mercy or Unity hospitals.  The books were donated to Mercy & Unity Hospitals Foundation and will be given to pediatrics patients at both hospitals. 



The Foundation would like to thank all of the generous community members who contributed to the tremendous success of this initiative! 

Gals Golf and Get Glammed for a Great Cause












On Monday, September 13 the Foundation held its annual Women’s Day on the Links with a Par & Pamper theme.  The women’s-only tournament, held at The Links of Northfork in Ramsey, hosted 14 teams who enjoyed contests on various holes, “Wine on 9” (a wine tasting on the 9th hole), “Fun on One” (trivia game), complimentary seated chair massages in the clubhouse, and many more fabulous incentives.  The 18 hole, four-woman scramble tournament was followed by a silent auction, dinner, prize drawing and brief program. 

This year’s event raised approximately $21,500 which will be used to support the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program and the Faith Community Nurse Program of Mercy and Unity hospitals.

Special thanks to our generous event sponsors: Sodexo, PSD LLC, New Ulm Medical Center; numerous hole and prize sponsors; and silent auction donors.

 The Foundation is looking for volunteers to help organize next year’s event!  If you would like to join the planning committee for 2011 please contact Kathy Schultz at 763-236-3966 or Kathleen.Schultz@allina.com.   

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