Tom Crowley, a Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and Clinics stalwart, is being recognized for his long-time dedication to rural healthcare with the 2023 Minnesota Community Star award. It’s an honor bestowed by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, which every year acknowledges one individual devoted to rural healthcare in each of the 39 participating states.
Crowley was approached about a job opening for an accountant at St. Elizabeth’s 52 years ago. He accepted an offer but figured he’d only stay for about six months before heading back to the Twin Cities where he previously worked. However, the more time he spent there and the more interaction he had with the Sisters, providers, employees and communities, the more he became drawn to the mission and vision of the organization and a passion for rural healthcare.
After beginning in finance, Crowley also took on the human resources role before becoming the hospital administrator, a position he held from 1983 to 2021. Today, he’s a senior executive consultant who works closely with current administrator Jim Root and the St. Elizabeth’s Community Development Foundation.
“I have truly enjoyed my 52 years here at St. Elizabeth’s due to the generosity and support that has allowed us to advance our technology and services available to our community; it’s been a ministry of service.” Crowley says.
Crowley credits the founding Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother with fostering his deep passion for rural healthcare. The Sisters established St. Elizabeth’s 125 years ago, and it now serves around 30,000 people in a three-county area of Minnesota and provides services for the hospital, long-term care, assisted living, home care, general surgery and primary care with orthopedics, ophthalmology, psychiatry, cardiology, podiatry, urology, and soon, dermatology.
“We’re really excited about this relationship with Gundersen. We have been able to expand healthcare services with an emphasis on keeping care locally.” he says.
Crowley is honored to be selected as the state’s Community Star this year, but he sees it more as an award to the entire service area, which has been so supportive of prevention and wellness programs in this area.
“I could never have done it alone. It was through the help of our Sisters, employees, providers and community,” he says. “With everyone working together, we are truly making a difference in the lives of the people we serve.”