A ski accident landed Robbie Petersen in the hospital. There, registered nurse Osasu Aduayi made a lasting impression. “I don’t remember every detail of my stay, but I remembered Osasu,” Petersen said. “He really made me feel safe in a time when I was in a lot of pain.” Aduayi’s care sparked something in Petersen – it helped him realize nursing was his true calling. Petersen enrolled in nursing school, supported by his mentor and friend Aduayi. He will graduate in May and start his career at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, working alongside Aduayi on the same unit he received care following his ski accident. Aduayi is humbled by his experience with Petersen. “I’ve taken care of thousands of patients,” he said. “Knowing the care I provided actually helped him choose his career – it’s reassuring to hear I’m making that much of a difference.” #NursesWeek is our chance to honor the powerful ripple effect that compassion, skill, and mentorship can have – and how our nurses embody these traits every day when caring for patients and supporting each other.
“It’s a sacred trust.” That’s how Amanda Pignato Bailey, RN, describes the relationship she builds with families while caring for their children at M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital. As a nurse in the pediatric unit and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), she makes it her mission to find the one thing that will make a difference for a child in the hospital. “That’s why I love my job,” she said. The teamwork and dedication of her fellow nurses at Ridges also keeps her motivated and inspired every day. “We’re a tight knit unit,” she said. “We have something super special here and not everybody can say that about a community hospital.” Nurses Week is our chance to celebrate the compassion and expertise that nurses bring to our hospitals, clinics, and other settings.
The grand opening of the M Health Fairview Donor Care Unit in Minneapolis yesterday is a milestone moment for our organ donation and transplant community. This unit, the first of its kind in Minnesota, will help us save more lives by ensuring more donated organs successfully reach people in need. People like George Surratt, a two-time organ transplant recipient who shared his inspiring story during a ceremony and hashtag#DonateLife flag raising. "As patients, our journeys bridge the science and humanity. Where the clinical precision of transplantation meets the intimate reality of gratitude, remembrance, and most of all hope.” The Donor Care Unit, opened in partnership with LifeSource, comes equipped with the latest advanced imaging and diagnostic technology, along with a dedicated staff ready to provide the highest level of care. “It’s our honor to provide the most compassionate care for people who selflessly give their organs to save others,” said Erin Schaden, nurse manager of the M Health Fairview Donor Care Unit. “This innovative model allows us to care for donors with more intense and focused expertise, which leads to optimal opportunities for a successful transplant to those in need.”
For the 8th year in a row, M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital received the Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades. Ridges is one of just seven hospitals in Minnesota to receive the award in 2025, and it is the only hospital statewide to earn the distinction for so many consecutive years. “This recognition reflects the extraordinary teamwork happening every day at Ridges Hospital,” said Jenna Virant, RN, the Fairview Health Services vice president of patient care and chief nursing officer at Ridges. “From our environmental services staff and nurses to our therapists, techs, and surgeons—every single person plays a role in creating a safe environment for our patients. It takes all of us, working together, to make this level of care possible.”
As a pediatric oncology nurse, Alex Winninger, RN, knows all too well the highs and lows that face children with cancer. Alex, a Fairview Health Services employee, works with patients in the bone marrow transplant unit at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital. Building relationships with families and helping create positive experiences during tough moments is his favorite part of the job. “I love having the opportunity to be there for patients and families during really tough times – trying to make it fun for them or at least helping them feel more like kids, because it's hard to do that when you're stuck in a hospital room.” His compassion for patients deepened after he lost his dad to cancer. He draws upon that personal experience, when focusing on the little things that can make a patient’s day – like sketching their favorite character on a cup, or even dressing up as their favorite superhero. These gestures and more have earned Alex three DAISY Awards for Exceptional Nurses from the The DAISY Foundation. Join us in thanking Alex for everything he does for our patients and their families. 👏
We’re thrilled to announce that John C. Heinmiller will serve as the new chair of the Fairview Board of Directors. With decades of experience in the medical technology industry – including finance, strategic leadership, and business growth – John is poised to guide Fairview’s continued growth and maintain our mission to improve health in the communities we serve. John, whose career highlights include serving as the executive vice president and CFO of St. Jude Medical, joined the Fairview board in 2017. He assumes the board chair role at a pivotal time as Fairview, with 34,000 employees, 1.2 million patients, and $1.3 billion in community impact, builds on nine consecutive quarters of financial improvement, our highest ever customer service scores, and top caliber quality and safety performance. “I’m honored to serve as Fairview’s board chair at this important time in Fairview’s history,” John said. “Fairview’s progress in recent years is impressive, and I’m eager to work alongside the board, leadership team, and community partners to continue the positive momentum and drive further innovation, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability.”
Good news: M Health Fairview Clinic – River Falls is growing so families in western Wisconsin don’t have to travel far for expert care. We are welcoming two new providers to the clinic and are expanding care in several important areas to better serve the community, including students at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. “We have providers who are bilingual, focused on reproductive medicine, and pediatrics,” said Steve Robinson, MD, vice president of primary care medical practice for the Saint Croix Region. We’ve also added virtual urgent care and eVisits to create more care options for families in the area. “For most of your healthcare needs, you can stay right here in River Falls,” said Michelle Johnson, clinic manager. “We’ll bring the specialists to you.”
70-year-old Jim Barron was one of the first people in our health system to receive a newly approved TriClip heart device. Jim had a leaky tricuspid valve, a serious heart condition that is traditionally repaired through open-heart surgery. An expert team at M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital used a minimally invasive approach that got Jim back on his feet faster. The clip will last Jim for the rest of his life and has already helped feel stronger, more energized and ready to embrace life again. “This builds on our team's experience in the burgeoning space of tricuspid disease,” said Marat Yanavitski, MD, an interventional and structural heart disease cardiologist with M Health Fairview who helped treat Jim. “We were part of the TR Clasp II clinical trial using a similar device, and we became the first center in the region to offer catheter-based repairs for the tricuspid valve, which until recently did not have many treatment options.” This year, St. John’s hospital was ranked #1 for cardiology in the Twin Cities by Healthgrades. Find out more: https://mhfv.care/3X5fwhj
10,000 hours. That’s how much time our employees spent volunteering in our communities in 2024. Together, they built accessible housing with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, provided free vaccines and equitable healthcare access at Twin Cities Pride Festival, packed and distributed fresh produce meals for families in need, and so much more. Our commitment to community extends far beyond our hospital and clinic walls. Thank you to every volunteer who gave their time, energy, and heart to serve others. 💙
We are thrilled to share our health system has been recognized on Becker's Healthcare’s list of “100 Great Neuro and Spine Programs.” Our neuro experts provide access to the latest breakthrough treatments while our comprehensive rehabilitation team ensures the best outcomes and quality of life for patients. Join us in congratulating our teams for making this possible.
