Leadership Team for CentraCare Operations and Proposed Medical School Announced

(KNSI) — A proposed medical school partnership between CentraCare and the University of Minnesota is one step closer to reality.

The CentraCare Board of Directors and the University of Minnesota Board of Regents recently approved a non-binding Letter of Intent to partner in creating a campus of the University of Minnesota Medical School in St. Cloud. Dr. Cindy Firkins Smith is the current Senior Vice President of CentraCare Rural Health. She will lead the development of the new campus. Joy Plamann has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for CentraCare. Plamann is the President of CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital and will continue to serve in that capacity. Both will assume their new positions effective March 5th, 2023.

CentraCare President and CEO Dr. Ken Holmen is excited about the announcement saying, “I know no one who is more passionate about improving access to excellent care for rural Minnesotans than Cindy. In addition to improving our rural health services, she has served as a practicing physician in Willmar for 32 years and also an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota. She is ideally suited for this role.”

According to a press release, Smith has a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, an MD from the University of Minnesota, and a Master’s in Health Care Innovation from the University of Pennsylvania. She has been a practicing dermatologist for 32 years and has held statewide physician leadership roles, including president of the Minnesota Medical Association.

The release says Plamann has worked at CentraCare since 1994 and has demonstrated clinical and business expertise throughout her career. Among her many achievements, she has been a leader in helping CentraCare attain Magnet recognition in nursing excellence, and in her current role as Senior Vice President of Central Operations and President of St. Cloud Hospital, she led CentraCare’s response to the COVID pandemic.

“Joy has been an advocate for excellence in patient care at CentraCare for decades. Combined with her demonstrated business acumen, she is the ideal person to lead our operations. We are excited at the contributions that we know she’ll make to CentraCare and our communities,” said Dr. Holmen.

Rural Health operations and all CentraCare operations will transition to Plamann as COO. Plamann holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

“CentraCare has been my work home since starting my career as a nurse intern many years ago. I have seen CentraCare rise to be one of the country’s best health systems, and I could not be more proud or honored to serve the organization in this new role,” said Plamann.

Plamann has also served on the Quiet Oaks Hospice Board, Women’s Leadership Health Trust Board, United Way, and Vizient Upper-Midwest Clinical Group Board.

Dr. Holmen says the school will be a partnership between the healthcare system and the university. CentraCare and the university have assembled a family medicine residency program at St. Cloud Hospital. Many medical workers coming out of the program have stayed in rural areas.

The school would have about 20 students per year with a goal of having its first students in 2025.

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