Our System
Gundersen is healthcare for neighbors, by neighbors. While we call La Crosse home, our system has 7 hospitals and 65 clinics in neighboring communities. Inside our walls and our neighborhoods, we deliver world-class medical care combined with the right amount of love. We call it Love + Medicine and it's who we are.
At Gundersen, we:
Put you first. Our La Crosse Hospital is a five-star place to receive care, the highest ranking issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Use technology to improve your care. Gundersen was recognized by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine’s for using information technology to improve performance in a number of areas, including quality and safety of patient care.
Care for our world. Gundersen Health System was the first in the country to produce more energy than it consumes. We're repeatedly honored as one of America’s greenest hospitals.
Deliver expert care close to home. Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinics and Gundersen Tri-County Hospital and Clinics are among the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals.
Communities we serve
Our promise
Together, we inspire your best life by relentlessly caring, learning and innovating. This is our mission.
Leading with love, we courageously commit to a future of healthy people and thriving communities. This is our vision.
Our history
Our roots run deep. In 1891, Norwegian-born surgeon Adolf Gundersen, MD, opened his practice in La Crosse and served as Lutheran Hospital’s first medical director when it opened in 1902. In 1930, Gundersen moved his office from downtown La Crosse to a new clinic next to the hospital to be closer to his patients. Gundersen Clinic and Lutheran Hospital expanded over the years until what it is today — a world-class medical facility with 325 beds. In 1995, the clinic and hospital formed Gundersen Lutheran, Inc., and became Gundersen Health System in 2013. We're proud of our history and look forward to our future. Thank you for being a part of it.
Our leadership
Medical Governors
- Ezana Azene, MD
- Paul Bergl, MD
- Stephanie Carroll, MD
- Elizabeth Cogbill, MD
- Christopher Eberlein, MD
- David Gerhard, MD
- Benjamin Jarman, MD
- Jennie Kleven, MD
- Benjamin Orozco, MD
Board of Directors
- John Dykema, chair
- Jerry Arndt, vice chair
- Saied Assef, MD
- Ezana Azene, MD
- Bill Bohn, JD
- Elizabeth Cogbill, MD
- Christopher Eberlein, MD
- Susan Finco
- Dan Florness
- Barb Gilling
- Sherri Hoyman, DO
- John Lyche
- Rick Radcliffe, JD
- James Rider, MD
- Karl Schmidt
- Tita Yutuc
- Scott Rathgaber, MD, CEO
- Chris Woleske, JD, EVP and President Bellin Region
- Heather Schimmers, MBA, RN, President Gundersen Region
Regional Administration
- Theresa Braudt, Administrator
Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital and Clinics - Patrice Kuennen, Administrator
Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics - Kristie McCoic, Administrator
Gundersen St. Joseph's Hospital and Clinics - Daniel Coenen, Administrator
Gundersen Tri-County Hospital and Clinics - Frank Perez-Guerra, Administrator
Gundersen Moundview Hospital and Clinics - Jim Root, Administrator
Gundersen St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Clinics