Since 2020, Mr. Gassen has led Sanford Health, an over $11 billion integrated health system, guiding its mission to transform the care experience and expand access across the upper Midwest. He has championed Sanford’s strategic goal of becoming the premier rural health system in the U.S., emphasizing that high-quality care should never be constrained by a patient’s location. Under his leadership, the system launched a $350 million virtual care initiative, strengthened its workforce pipeline with 15 new residency and fellowship programs, and committed $10 million over a decade to support K-12 and post-secondary education in the Black Hills region. The system is also deeply committed to physician wellbeing and reports an annual $27 million in savings thanks to physician retention efforts like a clinician wellbeing council and a leadership development program. From 2022 to 2024 alone, the system reported an 8% increase in job satisfaction and a 13.8% reduction in burnout amongst physicians. Mr. Gassen is also overseeing the launch of Sanford Health’s new 480,000-square-foot medical center in Rapid City, S.D., supported by a $300 million philanthropic gift and slated for completion in 2030. The new campus will add 168 inpatient beds and various bays, suites, labs and centers that will expand access to care. Mr. Gassen serves on several national and regional boards, including the American Hospital Association, where he is chair-elect designate for 2027.
