Leadership team
Leadership team
Helen Strike
President
- As the president of River Falls Area Hospital and Allina Health United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus in Hastings, Minn., Helen Strike provides leadership for hospital operations, patient experience, staff and physicians, and strategic planning. Helen previously served as president of Allina Health Mercy Hospital – Unity campus from 2013 through 2016.
- Helen was a registered nurse before she moved into leadership roles. She has also held positions at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul, Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville and Regions Hospital in St. Paul. She has also done consulting work for Navigant Consulting and, most recently, Press Ganey. She began her current role in June 2019.
Jen Loesch
Interim Director of Patient Care Services
- Length of service: since May 2004
- Director of Patient Care Services, River Falls Area Hospital
- Previous experience: director of quality, safety and performance improvement at River Falls Area Hospital
Melody McKenzie, MD
Director of Medical Affairs
- Medical School: University of Manitoba
- Residency: University of Manitoba
- Dr. McKenzie is board certified specializing in family medicine serving the Hastings community since June 1997.
- Professional interests include preventative health and pediatrics
- Dr. McKenzie has served in several leadership roles at the Allina Clinic, currently as the Medical Director for Alina Health Clinic at Frontage Road, Hastings. She has also served in leadership roles on the Allina Health United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus medical staff. Dr. McKenzie was appointed Director of Medical Affairs on March 1, 2020.
Cyndy Bayer
Manager of Quality, River Falls Area Hospital and Allina Health United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus
- Length of service: since 1997
- Previous experience: quality and risk manager and nursing leadership roles at River Falls Area Hospital since 2000
Linda McElmurry
Director of Human Resources, River Falls Area Hospital and Allina Health United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus
- Length of service: since July 2018
- Previous experience: 27 years in human resources field including HR manager at Carlson School of Management and senior HR generalist at Mercy Hospital, Allina
Brandi Poellinger
Community Benefit & Engagement Manager, River Falls Area Hospital and Allina Health United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus
- Length of service at Allina Health United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus: since 2015
- Previous experience: 15 years in community health, marketing and work site wellness at Regina, River Falls and Osceola Medical Center
Jason Bainbridge
Director of Operations, Allina Health United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus and River Falls Area Hospital
- Length of service at Allina Health United Hospital – Hastings Regina Campus: December 2005
- Previous experience: Registered nurse for 16 years. Manager of surgery, endoscopy, pain center, outpatient infusion and cancer center at Regina Medical Center.
- Director of Operations since July 2019