William “Bill” Petasnick, former president and chief executive officer of Froedtert Health, died on November 8 at the age of 76.
Petasnick led the Milwaukee-based health system from 1993 to 2012, during which he worked on long-term development missions, physician integration, fundraising, and government relations, according to the report. a Froedtert Health newsletter. He was succeeded by Cathy Jacobson, who continued to lead the system.
“In his 19 years of service to Froedtert Health, Bill has transformed our organization from half a hospital operated in partnership with Milwaukee County to a center of academic health, health system and health network. integrated academics,” Jacobson said in a statement. “He fosters collaboration among competitors, builds organizations to drive quality and safety improvements, and enhances access and coordination for underserved patients. service.”
While at Froedtert Health, he served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Hospital Association in 2008. “Throughout his career, Bill has always been focused on his efforts to improve patients’ lives and creating healthy communities,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said in the news release.
Petasnick has also served as president of the Hospital and Health Systems Teaching Councils of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
He was awarded the AHA’s highest honors, the Service Excellence Award in 2016 and the Wisconsin Hospital Association Distinguished Service Award in 2005.
Prior to joining Froedtert Health, Petasnick was an administrator and chief operating officer at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic in Iowa City and director of operations at the University of North Carolina Hospital and Clinic in Chapel Hill.
In addition to mentoring healthcare organizations, Petasnick also teaches as an adjunct professor of health management at the University of Iowa.
