Avera Health Welcomes New Chief Executive Officer

Seasoned healthcare executive steps into CEO role with aim to deliver vision, strategy and sophistication to Avera organization

Beginning June 18, Bob Sutton will take on the role of Chief Executive Officer for Avera Health, a faith-based health system out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Born and raised in the state, Sutton offers more than 25 years of leadership experience and a depth of knowledge surrounding the South Dakota community and its needs.

Mr. Sutton entered the CEO search as an internal candidate backed by several years as an executive within Avera Health. Since 2013 Sutton held a number of titles including SVP of Community Relations, Regional President, CEO to Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, and most recently, Executive VP of Human Resources.

Avera’s search team expresses confidence that Mr. Sutton is an ideal fit to inherit the grand responsibility of system CEO, in which he’ll oversee 300 care locations and service 100 communities in five states.

According to Sister Mary Kay Panowicz, the sitting Avera System Members Chair and Chair of the CEO Search Committee, Sutton’s experience both in and out of healthcare empowers him to “continue Avera’s growth and strategic development as one of the nation’s most sophisticated health systems delivering rural health care.”

Mr. Sutton holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the same institution. He states, “I’m excited to work together with the Sisters and my Avera colleagues to continue to meet the challenges and move Avera forward as a leading health care organization.”

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