Joe Kalkman, EVP

I think I came to this job and this organization at an important time, and one that has allowed me to bring some experiences that I didn’t think I’d need during this unprecedented time that we’re working. I’ve faced a number of crises in some of my other jobs, and I did draw on that experience to help me personally navigate and to help others navigate this really extraordinary time. 

At the end of the day, we save lives for a living. And the qualitative difference is that, as hard and as heavy as the decisions are, the result of doing it well is, in some cases, life-saving, sometimes life-changing, sometimes miraculous, and sometimes heartbreaking. But the stakes are so much more valuable here than in other industries. And there is a spirit about working at CentraCare. There’s a prestige, a pride that comes from being part of a place that people count on. There’s a pride in the level of care and compassion that’s shown, from the housekeeper all the way through to the neurosurgeon.

I grew up here in central Minnesota, so I know there’s an ethic around work and around caring for others, and there’s an independence. All of that comes together, I think, to create a sense of who we are and where we choose to work and why we choose to work together. It’s really hard to find that somewhere else.