Member News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 25, 2006

Silver Cross Hospital Names Bakken as Chief Operating Officer

Mary Bakken has joined Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, IL, as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. She will oversee all operations at the hospital as well as the organization’s nine ancillary facilities.

Bakken replaces Gregory Repetti, III, President/CEO at Vail Valley Medical Center in Colorado.

With over 25 years of healthcare experience, Bakken joins Silver Cross from Fairview Health Services Systems in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For the past five years, she was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Fairview Southdale Hospital. With 390 beds and 2,200 employees, the hospital is the second largest in the Fairview Health Services System. Prior to her position as COO, she led the creation of Fairview Clinics, a 180-provider, multi-specialty medical group practice with over 20 locations and served as its Senior Vice President until 2001. She also served as the Director of Clinic Services at North Memorial Medical Center in Minneapolis; medical technologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; senior consultant with Community Health Management Corporation in Skokie, Illinois; and a staff assistant at Arthur Anderson in Chicago performing audits for healthcare and other clients.

Bakken received her Masters of Management degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Management School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee. She is also a certified public accountant.

As a member of several professional and service organizations, Bakken currently serves on the Board of Directors of Minneapolis School of Anesthesia and also LifeLink II. She is a member of the American Hospital Association, American College of Medical Practice Executives, Medical Group Management Association, Northwest Hennepin Chamber of Commerce, Fifty Women, and Rotary. She previously served on the Fairview Clinics Board of Directors and as a faculty member of University of St. Thomas.

Bakken is married to Douglas, and they have two children-Alex (8) and Irene (5).

Licensed for 304 beds, Silver Cross Hospital has been creating world-class health care experiences for the southwest suburban communities for over a century. With 400 physicians, 1,800 employees and 500 volunteers working together, Silver Cross has been named a Solucient 100 Top Hospital as well as one of America’s friendliest hospitals by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers for two consecutive years. Exceptional care. It’s not unusual. It’s simply the way you should be treated. For more information, call (815) 740-1100 or visit www.silvercross.org.