David Dobosenski taking helm as new SCRMC CEO

  
 

After careful deliberation, St. Croix Regional Medical Center’s Governing Board chose Dave Dobosenski to assume the CEO position replacing Lenny Libis, who is retiring mid December. Dobosenski, a resident of Chisago City, has been Fairview Lakes’ Chief Operating Officer since 2000. “Under Lenny’s leadership, our Medical Center has made dramatic progress,” said Larry Collins, Chair of the SCRMC Governing Board. “An individual with the right leadership skills can have a significantly positive impact on an organization, as we’ve seen these past eight years. We are very pleased to have Dave on board and are confident that he will offer the guidance and leadership we need to continue our growth. He is also committed to help us provide the excellent care that our communities have come to expect from us.”

The leadership transition promises to be gradual and smooth, since Libis and Dobosenski will spend the first month together. “A transition such as this should be less disruptive to the organization,” Dobosenski said. “My initial focus will be to get to know the staff, physicians, volunteers, and community and build an understanding of the organization’s mission. I’ve already witnessed SCRMC’s commitment to the community and appreciate their history and legacy of service. I was able to sense the organization’s energy while attending the corporate meeting and the Foundation’s Gala in September.”
 
 

Coming from a large health care corporation, Dobosenski is looking forward to working in an independent organization that serves the community. “To have an opportunity to help St. Croix Regional Medical Center expand and become even stronger is something I’m very excited about,” he continued. “Our smaller size should give us more flexibility and enable us to react more quickly to forces in the health care market.” Dobosenski recognizes SCRMC already has a strong foundation. “I would like to maintain what’s been established and build on it,” he explained. “We’ll see how we can expand existing services as well as look for new opportunities.”

Being closely attuned to the political landscape in which health care organizations operate and how it might affect medical centers like SCRMC is imperative, says Dobosenski. “While our independence is a strength,” he noted, “I see us forging more mutually beneficial partnerships, too.”

Dobosenski also pointed out that achieving and maintaining the highest standards of quality will be ever more important in the coming years. “In part,” he explained, “that’s because our outcomes, like those of all providers, will be increasingly available to the general public—who will demand to see them. In our recent issue of Healthbeat, for example, we’re providing outcome data on cesarean deliveries and mothers’ average hospital charges at our Medical Center.”

The demands encountered by any CEO can be daunting, and Dobosenski clearly recognizes that. ”While there always seems to be a lot going on day to day, it’s important to me to try to keep things simple. Once you determine your strategies, it’s essential to stay focused and to be certain that focus permeates the organization so everyone is moving ahead in the same direction.” Dobosenski began his new role November 2nd, and Libis will retire December 18th.