About Us
We treat patients better
Our mission—empowering our patients to achieve their best health—exemplifies our commitment to look at healthcare differently. But even more importantly, we look at you, the patient, differently. We believe that healthcare can be better and this is what really drives us.
At North Memorial Health, you have a voice and we listen. You have health goals and we have the knowledge and the tools to help you get there. Even when illness or injury steals your strength, we will not let it steal your power. We believe when you’re engaged and informed, you will have better health and a better life.
Empowering our patients
North Memorial Health started as a single hospital in 1954 by a doctor that wanted to do things differently—do things better.
Today, that inventive spirit continues throughout our network of specialty and primary care clinics, urgent and emergency care offerings, medical transportation services and two hospitals—Robbinsdale Hospital and Maple Grove Hospital—not to mention the 450+ providers and 6,500+ team members that are dedicated to delivering a more connected experience for our patients.
By providing better experiences, where you are in control, you can live your most vibrant life. We know good health is at the root of our well-being, but can a healthcare system make healthcare…healthier? We say yes.
Our mission, vision and values
Mission
Empowering our patients to achieve their best health.
Vision
Together, healthcare the way it ought to be.
Values
To provide the best care for our patients, their loved ones and each other, we will:
- Advocate Courageously: We champion doing the right thing.
- Rally Together: We see challenges as opportunities.
- Respect Uniqueness: We show compassion for all.
- Create Impact: We are accountable for the best possible outcomes.
“At North Memorial Health, we’re more than a healthcare system. We’re a team united by one mission, empowering our patients to achieve their best health. Critical to our mission are the shared values we live by. They are the DNA of what makes North, North, and they inspire our actions to provide the best care for our patients, their loved ones, and each other.”
– Trevor Sawallish, CEO
Executive Leadership Team
Trevor Sawallish is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of North Memorial Health, where he leads the organization with a strong focus on mission, community impact, and long‑term sustainability. He joined North Memorial Health as Chief Operating Officer in 2023 and was appointed CEO in 2024. Since joining the organization, Trevor has guided North through significant industry challenges while advancing a patient‑centered vision grounded in compassion, access, safety, and locally driven care.
With nearly 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, Trevor is an accomplished executive recognized for his steady leadership, commitment to caregivers, and dedication to ensuring high‑quality care for the communities North Memorial Health serves. His career includes senior leadership roles at Dean Clinic, Children’s Minnesota, and SSM Health. At North Memorial Health, his contributions have centered on operational discipline, safety, and optimizing the patient experience. He brings a broad range of expertise across hospitals, ambulatory care, surgery centers, and managed care to his role.
Dawn Backlund was named Chief Compliance Officer at North Memorial Health in 2020. She provides strategic direction and oversight of our compliance, privacy and risk management programs to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, internal policies and standards of conduct. Backlund joined North Memorial Health in 2018 as director, Coding, CDI and HIM. Prior to that, she served as system director, Corporate Compliance for Fairview Health Services.
Bjorn Gunnerud joined North Memorial Health as Chief Experience and Marketing Officer in 2021 and became North Memorial Health’s first Chief Strategy Officer in 2023. Gunnerud oversees the development and execution of North Memorial Health’s operational plan, aligning departments throughout the system with a focus on delivering unmatched experiences, expanding equitable care, and driving North’s growth and reputation in the communities in which it operates and beyond. He is an accomplished marketer, brand builder and business strategist with 20+ years elevating global, regional and start-up companies. Active in the community, he serves on the board of YMCA of the North.
Stephanie Gale joined North Memorial Health in 2021 and serves as Chief Financial Officer. She manages the financial actions of a company, playing a crucial role in strategic planning, risk management, and overall business growth. With over 15 years of healthcare leadership experience, she is dedicated to building high-performing teams and advancing equitable, patient-centered care. Prior to joining North Memorial Health, she held operational leadership roles in large organizations across the Midwest.
Dr. Ogland joined North Memorial Health in 2018 as Chief Medical Officer, Ambulatory Services and became Chief Medical Officer for the system in May 2019. She provides clinical leadership and management for North Memorial Health providers, chairs the North Collaborative Care board and sits on the Medical Executive Committees for North’s hospitals in Maple Grove and Robbinsdale. Prior to joining North Memorial Health, Dr. Ogland served as vice president, Clinical Primary Care, at Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin and as vice president, Medical Affairs, at SSM Health/Dean Medical Group.
Shannon Sloan joined North Memorial Health in 2022 as Vice President of Human Resources and became Chief Human Resources Officer in 2024. She is a relationship-oriented workforce lifecycle leader with more than 20 years of experience across multiple industries in human resources and operations. She connects strategic initiatives to drivers of organizational growth and team member engagement through building a workforce centered around North’s core values. Her expertise in workforce development and style of leadership led to being appointed to the Minnesota Governor’s Workforce Development Board in 2023.
Senior Leaders
As Vice President of Medical Affairs, Dr. Doorenbos leads and supports clinicians and team members to ensure the highest level of care is delivered at North – Maple Grove Hospital. Dr. Doorenbos joined the North Memorial Health leadership team in 2015, but was part of the hospital medical staff since the hospital opened in 2009. Prior to joining the leadership team, Dr. Doorenbos served as a full time family medicine physician for over 20 years.
Paul Krogh joined North Memorial Heath in 2013 as Director of Pharmacy Services and currently serves as System Vice President – Service Lines. He is accountable for oversight of the neuroscience & orthopedics, trauma, emergency medicine, hospital medicine, imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, chaplaincy, safety, security, facilities, biomed, nutrition & dietary, transport, environmental services, and information technology infrastructure / applications for the health system. Prior to joining North, he was Pharmacy Manager at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.
As Chief Ambulatory Officer, Mary Beth McDonald is responsible for all operations for North Memorial Health outpatient clinics, oncology and rheumatology infusion centers, the cardiovascular service line, home hospice, the call center, and community care management. Mary Beth brings more than 30 years of healthcare system experience, leading medical groups and transforming clinic practices into value-based care delivery models. Prior to joining North, she held medical group executive positions at Aurora Health Care, SSM Health and Ascension. Mary Beth received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin and her master of business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Mike Opat joined North Memorial Health in 2022 as its first Chief Business Development and Community Relations Officer and currently serves as the Interim Chief Development Officer for the North Memorial Health Foundation. He leads aspects of government relations, strategic community partnerships and corporate sponsorships. Before joining North Memorial Health, Mike spent 28 years as a Hennepin County Commissioner, leading a number of transformational projects spanning governance for Hennepin Healthcare, building and financing Target Field, Hennepin Community Works projects including the Midtown and Humboldt Greenways and various transportation projects like the Bottineau Light Rail.
Scott Sampey joined North Memorial Health in 2020 as Vice President and Chief of Ambulance Services. Scott provides executive leadership for 911 and critical care ground transport, the Air Care program, community paramedicine, and the services that support these programs. Scott has many years of leadership experience in emergency and medical transport services, and has led large-scale transport systems, expanded multi-state operations, and driven strategic growth initiatives across the country. With a clinical foundation as a registered nurse and paramedic, he brings a unique combination of operational expertise, strategic vision, and frontline healthcare experience.
In his role as Vice President of Medical Affairs, Dr. Shah supports all providers and team members in North Memorial Health’s primary and specialty care clinics. His main area of focus is to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care through the improvement of current systems and processes. Dr. Shah joined North in 2019 as Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Ambulatory – and is a family physician by training, having practiced in outpatient and inpatient settings for more than 20 years.
Dr. Todd Stanhope joined North Memorial Health in 2014, contributing in both clinical and operational leadership capacities. His prior roles in the organization have included OB/GYN Section Chief, System Medical Director for OB/GYN, Physician Lead for OB Quality Committee, and Interim Vice President of Medical Affairs.
In his current role as Vice President for Medical Affairs – Service Lines, Dr. Stanhope drives the clinical mission of North Memorial Health, working closely with clinical teams to advance patient safety and quality initiatives across the system. He continues to provide compassionate patient care in our hospitals as a member of the North Memorial OB/Gyn hospitalists.
Dr. Gretchen Voge, System Chief Medical Informatics Officer, joined North Memorial Health in 2020. In her current role, she provides leadership and guidance on the design and use of healthcare IT throughout the healthcare system. Dr. Voge is focused on utilizing technologies to improve patient outcomes, provider efficiencies, and communication within the healthcare team. She previously practiced as a neonatologist for over 10 years where she held multiple leadership roles at systems throughout the Twin Cities.
Wendy joined North Memorial Health in April of 2017. As Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer, she oversees operations and clinical care at North’s hospitals in Maple Grove and Robbinsdale. Prior to joining North Memorial Health, Ulferts served as the Associate Administrator – Chief Nursing Officer at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, MN.
Board of Trustees
Cameron Berg, MD
Bruce Christensen
Bob Dahl
Ted Ferrara – Board Chair
Andrew Houlton, MD
Diane Huston
Allen Kemp, MD
Nick Kozlak
Laurie Lafontaine – Vice Chair
Warren Mack
Kenya McKnight-Ahad
Reuben Moore
Dr. Ramon Pastrano
Trevor Sawallish, CEO
Eric Skalland
Charlie Weaver
Learn more
At North Memorial Health, we’re on a mission to change healthcare. We’re delivering unmatched customer service and empowering our patients throughout the Twin Cities to achieve their best health.