In his two and a half years as CFO of Allina Health, Doug Watson has transformed the Minneapolis-based organization’s financial performance amid industry turbulence, as costs have risen and reimbursement rates have dropped. In 2024, his first year, he became key to company efforts to report a positive margin following several years of operating losses. In 2025, Watson helped lead the creation and implementation of performance improvement initiatives aimed at financial sustainability. This required establishing several committees intended to reduce expenses, reduce patients’ average length of stay, and manage staffing resources. This year, Allina is reporting “meaningful signs of progress,” citing months of positive financial performance.