Aurora Health Care Announces Two National Leaders to the Organization's Board of Directors

MILWAUKEE, WI--(Marketwired - October 24, 2016) - Aurora Health Care today announced Joanne Disch, PhD, has been unanimously elected new chair of the Aurora Health Care board of directors, and Tejal Gandhi, MD, has joined the board as a new member. Drs. Disch and Gandhi are two national leaders in health care.

"We are fortunate to have leaders like Dr. Disch and Dr. Gandhi serve on our board of directors," said Aurora CEO Nick Turkal, MD. "Their extensive experience in health care, especially in nursing and patient safety, will serve Aurora well as we work to deliver the very best in integrated care to our communities in new and innovative ways."

Dr. Disch is professor ad honorem at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and is the first nurse to chair the board of directors for Aurora Health Care. She succeeds John Daniels, chairman emeritus of Quarles & Brady, who will continue to serve as a director. She has provided leadership to several national organizations, including a term as board member and chair of the National Board of Directors for AARP, as president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and as president of the American Academy of Nursing. In addition to being the new chair of the Aurora board, Dr. Disch is chair of the Board of Trustees for Chamberlain College of Nursing and a member of the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing Board of Visitors. She is also a co-author of the book Person and Family Centered Care, which discusses ways to meet the needs of patients, families and caregivers.

"I am honored to serve as chair of the board of directors for Aurora Health Care -- the largest integrated health care system in Wisconsin," Dr. Disch said. "Aurora Health Care's consistent delivery of high-quality, affordable care has made it a national leader, and I am pleased to be able to guide Aurora as the organization continues to elevate its efforts in helping people to live well."

Joining Dr. Disch on the board is Dr. Gandhi, president and chief executive officer of the National Patient Safety Foundation, the NPSF Lucian Leape Institute, and the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety. She advocates for patient safety at the national level, driving educational and professional certification efforts, and helping to create and spread innovative safety ideas. Dr. Gandhi is a board-certified internist and associate professor at the Harvard Medical School. In 2015, she was named one of Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.

"Aurora Health Care is a forward-thinking, progressive system," Dr. Gandhi said. "I look forward to the opportunity to serve on the board of directors as Aurora continues to define the future of health care."

The appointments of Drs. Disch and Gandhi were announced at Aurora Health Care's October board meeting. Aurora's board members are:

• Joanne Bauer, retired president, Kimberly-Clark Health Care
• Thomas M. Bolger, president and CEO, Johnson Financial Group
• Steve Dickson, retired vice president and controller, WEC Energy Group, Inc.
• John Daniels, chairman emeritus, Quarles & Brady
• Nan Gardetto, president, The EveryDayGood Foundation
• Charles Harvey, retired chief diversity officer, Johnson Controls
• Dan Minahan, president and COO, Continental Properties Co., Inc.
• Chris Shimojima, founder, The Pocket Suite, and past-CEO, Provide Commerce
• Tim Sullivan, CEO, REV Group, Inc.
• Nick Turkal, MD, president and CEO, Aurora Health Care
• Rick Weiss, retired partner, Foley & Lardner
• Chris White, vice president of safety and security, Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation

About Aurora Health Care:
Aurora Health Care is a not-for-profit health care provider in Wisconsin and northern Illinois and is a national leader in efforts to improve health care quality. Aurora offers services at sites in more than 90 communities throughout eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Aurora is the area's most comprehensive health care provider and the state's largest private employer. Aurora serves more than 1.2 million patients every year via a comprehensive network of facilities, services and providers, including 15 hospitals, more than 150 clinics, 70 pharmacies and 32,000 amazing Caregivers. As evidenced by more than 300 active clinical trials, Aurora is dedicated to delivering innovations to provide the best possible care today, and to define the best care for tomorrow. Get helpful health and wellness information via the Aurora MyHealth blog, our Facebook page, our Twitter account and our Pinterest account.