2026 Notable Health Care Leaders

Managing the high-stakes health care sector, these 15 leaders drive their businesses forward, whether it’s to improve care for marginalized populations, advance new treatments and technologies, or respond to urgent community medical needs.

Methodology: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list is not comprehensive; it includes only people who were nominated and accepted after editorial review. To qualify for this list, individuals must have at least five years of experience in their field and have shown the ability to effect change in their roles or areas of practice.

To nominate other best-in-class executives in their fields, click here.

2026 Notable Health Care Leaders

Joe Connolly

Joe Connolly

Co-founder and CEO, Visana Health
Inspired by his mother’s 25-year struggle with undiagnosed endometriosis and fibroids, Joe Connolly co-founded Visana about six years ago to improve health care for women, addressing everything from menstruation to
Melissa Flicek

Melissa Flicek

Chief information and data officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
In about two years with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Melissa Flicek has helped transform the Eagan-based health insurance nonprofit’s data foundation. She has defined data and technology
Rahel Ghebre

Rahel Ghebre

Staff physician, M Health Fairview; professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health, University of Minnesota Medical School
An educator, researcher, global women’s health leader, and physician with more than 20 years’ experience in gynecologic oncology, Rahel Ghebre has committed herself to advancing cancer care for women. At
Maggie Helms

Maggie Helms

Senior vice president, chief data, AI, and digital officer, HealthPartners
With her current role, Maggie Helms received her seventh promotion in 12 years with HealthPartners. Helms’ focus the past year and a half has been to build a culture aligned with HealthPartners’ AI
James Hereford

James Hereford

President and CEO, Fairview Health Services
In the past year, affordability concerns, policy debates, and increased financial strain have proven challenging for nonprofit hospitals and health systems like Fairview Health Services, notes Rahul Koranne, president and
Nicole Jung

Nicole Jung

CFO, Forj Medical
Nicole Jung recently led one of Minnesota’s most significant medtech business transitions and integrations, overseeing the financial strategy behind the combination of Minnetronix Medical and Intricon, two long-standing local contract
Archie Karpeh

Archie Karpeh

CEO, MelaninMD
After researching nanoparticles for cancer treatment at the University of Minnesota and pursuing medical school, Archie Karpeh founded MelaninMD. The St. Paul-based startup, launched in 2023, uses AI with the
William Katsiyiannis

William Katsiyiannis

President, Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute
William Katsiyiannis has been a practicing clinical cardiac electrophysiologist for more than 20 years and Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute (AHMHI) president since 2013. Recently, he developed the Cardiovascular Care and
Jessica Kuehn-Hajder

Jessica Kuehn-Hajder

Division director, breast imaging, University of Minnesota; system medical director of breast imaging, M Health Fairview
Through the academic and clinical leadership side of her career, Jessica Kuehn-Hajder has found better ways to provide care at the University of Minnesota and apply it more generally throughout
Jennifer Lundblad

Jennifer Lundblad

President and CEO, Stratis Health
Jennifer Lundblad has led Stratis Health as CEO for 20 years. The nonprofit quality improvement organization, based in Bloomington, expanded programs last year that focus on rural health and opioid use disorder
Branden Moriarity

Branden Moriarity

Associate professor, Department of Pediatrics; co-director, Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota Medical School
Branden Moriarity has in the past year accelerated hope for patients with solid-tumor cancers, says Steph Kennelly, program manager for the Minneapolis-based Center for Genome Engineering, part of the University
Elizabeth Seaquist

Elizabeth Seaquist

Chair, Department of Medicine, and dean, Medical Specialties and Primary Care, University of Minnesota Medical School
As chair of the University of Minnesota’s Department of Medicine, Elizabeth Seaquist has led recruitment of many faculty members, expanding the specialized clinical care available in the Twin Cities and contributing to
Pete Swenson

Pete Swenson

Chairman and CEO, Park Dental Partners
Leading Park Dental Partners, the Roseville-based provider of business and nonclinical support to dental practices, Pete Swenson has seen the company through immense growth. Swenson, who has nearly 30 years
Mary Tjosvold

Mary Tjosvold

Founder and CEO, The Mary T Family of Companies
Across four states, Mary Tjosvold oversees health care operations spanning independent and assisted living for seniors, independent-living skills training services and group residential homes for persons with disabilities, home health,
Kathleen Tune

Kathleen Tune

Managing Partner, Capita3
Kathleen Tune is managing partner of Capita3, a Minneapolis-based venture capital fund dedicated to backing women-led health care startups. Capita3 has invested in 18 health care companies to date, and