LACROSSE, Wis. – Merger-hunting Gundersen Health of LaCrosse confirmed that that it will begin joint operations with Bellin Health of Green Bay on December 1. Plans for the merger were announced in June after the embarrassment of a Gundersen merger with Marshfield Clinic fell apart in 2019. The extent of a Gundersen-Bellin rebranding was not immediately clear although there will be two headquarters – one in LaCrosse and one in Green Bay. For patients the effect is expected to be minimal. The latest joint statement on the merger was vague, saying only that that merging “allows access to more resources and a broader network of services.” The statement focused on shuffling top executives.
> Scott Rathgaber, Gundersen chief executive officer, will become chief executive of the merged organization.
> John Dykema, chair of the Bellin board of directors, will become chair of the merged organization’s board.
> Chris Woleske, Bellin chief executive, will become executive vice president and regional president of the Bellin region.
> Heather Schimmers, Gundersen chief operating officer, will become president of the Gundersen tegion.
Gundersen profile
Gundersen operates a network with 7,600 employees at seven hospitals and 60 locations in western Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. It operates a comprehensive network of clinic services. It was founded in 1902.
Bellin profile
Bellin Health’s service area is northeast Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It was founded in 1908. It has more than 3,700 employees. Its emphases include cardiac, orthopedic, sports, digestive, and mental health care.