‘Grace and space’ help Lechnir grow teams and care as Gundersen VP

Lead with people first. For Tina Lechnir, Gundersen administrative vice president for Cross-Functional Care, this approach leads to great culture and opportunities.  

“What drew me to Gundersen was the positive culture of learning and growth and the commitment to a mission and purpose that prioritizes care for people,” Tina shares. “It was clear to me, very quickly, that this was a place I wanted to be.” 

Tina joined Gundersen in September 2022 after serving as Director of Behavioral Health Services for Ascension in Appleton, Wisconsin. Tina has also held clinical inpatient and ambulatory leadership roles while at Ascension. In her new role, Tina will oversee a variety of services that touch multiple parts of the Gundersen region service area. 

“As a mental health clinician and organizational leader, I have had the opportunity to engage, motivate, and guide cross-functional teams. This has been and will continue to be my focus at Gundersen: Developing and nurturing relationships, learning processes, supporting people, and offering grace and space for those around me to learn and grow.”  

While at Ascension, Tina was an important leader in the creation and construction of new inpatient units and programs to meet community needs. She also notes leading diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the state and national level has been fulfilling to her growth as a leader.  

“Understanding ourselves, understanding the positive impact we can have on others, and identifying the opportunities to partner with local and regional organizations to better serve our patients and communities will guide us as we grow as an organization and as the preferred local and regional healthcare provider.” 

Tina holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.