MARSHFIELD, WI—Mike Schmidt, President of Ministry Health Care’s Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, announced that he plans to retire in January 2010. He shared the news with the senior leadership team at the hospital, the hospital board of directors, and all staff earlier today.

Schmidt began his twenty-five year career at Saint Joseph’s in 1984 as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to his coming to the hospital he served as a Certified Public Accountant in Minneapolis. In 1989 he was named Executive Vice President of Finance.

After several years of responsibility for the financial performance of the organization, he was named President in 1993. He has held that post since that time.

Under Schmidt’s leadership, the largest hospital in the Ministry Health Care system, Saint Joseph’s Hospital, has achieved many milestones and has become one of the leading hospitals in the state. Among the many accomplishments attained with Mike’s leadership are:

• Establishment of the hospital’s first Home Health Agency in 1986 and the formation of Ministry Home Care in 1997
• Worked with others to have Saint Joseph’s Hospital join the Children’s Miracle Network in 1989
• Provided leadership to establish the Spirit of Marshfield Emergency Air and Ground Transportation System in 1993
• Led the planning for a new and expanded Child Care Center building in partnership with the Marshfield Clinic in 1993
• Provided leadership for the purchase of the Leksell Model C Gamma Knife for stereotactic radiosurgery in 2000, along with the facility construction for the Gamma Knife
• Provided leadership in the ongoing acquisition of state-of-the-art tertiary level technology, including PET CT, intraoperative magnetic resonance imagery system, vascular surgery systems, catheterization labs and electrophysiology lab systems, the DaVinci surgical system and linear accelerators

In addition to these many achievements that have helped to build Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Schmidt’s leadership has been instrumental in having the hospital receive American Nurses Association Magnet Hospital designation, recognition as one of the 100 Most Wired Hospitals in the nation, as a Thomson Reuters Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospital, a HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence, and Premier Healthcare’s 2008 Award for Quality.

Schmidt also played a key role in the creation of Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, one of only three children’s hospitals in the state of Wisconsin.

He has also served on the boards of a number of community organizations including the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its Foundation, the Foundation of UW-Marshfield/Wood County, the Marshfield YMCA where he was a founding board member, Columbus Educational Foundation, Hope Lodge, and Heritage Bank. In 1999 he co-chaired the United Way drive with his wife Anne.

Ministry Health Care President and CEO Nick Desien noted, “Mike’s career with Saint Joseph’s Hospital has spanned twenty-five years and he has been an outstanding leader for both the hospital and Ministry Health Care. We can all be proud of what we have accomplished under his leadership.”

“Mike has been an outstanding leader for our organization and central Wisconsin communities,” stated Michael Kryda, MD, and CEO for Saint Joseph’s Hospital. “His tenure with the organization has helped to create a world class hospital that serves the health care needs of central and northern Wisconsin.”

Schmidt will continue in his role through the remainder of the year and assist with the leadership transition at the hospital.