Sanford announces leadership changes at North Dakota, Minnesota locations

BEMIDJI, Minn. — Sanford Bemidji president and CEO Susan Jarvis will step down from her position at the start of the new year.

Jarvis will return to Sanford Fargo as vice president of operations starting on Jan. 1, and her position at Bemidji will be filled by Karla Eischens.

“It has been an honor to serve the Bemidji community and collaborate with community leaders and organizations over the last three years,” Jarvis said in a Friday, Dec. 16, release announcing the changes. “I look forward to this new opportunity to lead and grow with our Fargo market, and I know I’m leaving Bemidji in good hands with Karla as president.”

During her tenure at Bemidji, which began in 2019, Jarvis led Sanford and the community through the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded facilities and services including the construction of the Sanford Bemidji Crisis Center and merger with A Better Connection.

Annalise Braught / Bemidji Pioneer

Jarvis has been with Sanford Health since 2010, beginning as executive director of emergency, trauma and critical services in Fargo, moving to the vice president position in 2017, and taking over as president in Bemidji in 2019. Under her work in Fargo, Sanford opened a new medical center, several clinics and received certification as a Level 1 Adult Trauma Center.

In her new role, she will have an expanded scope of operations within the Fargo region during a time of growth for the market.

Eischens, the current vice president of operations at Sanford Bemidji, is being promoted to president and CEO of Sanford Bemidji following Jarvis’ departure. Eischens has been with Sanford Health for nearly 20 years, as a pharmacist, director of pharmacy, and operational executive director before taking on the role of vice president, the release said.

While vice president, Eischens oversaw operations for the COVID-19 special care unit, drive-up care site and vaccine clinics and distribution. She also aided in facility planning, including the recent ICU expansion, hospital-wide single-patient room conversion and the recent opening of the Vivaz Medical Spa.

In her new role, she will maintain her current responsibilities in addition to those of president and CEO.

“At Sanford Health, we pride ourselves on finding, developing and keeping great leaders,” said Matt Hocks, chief operating officer at Sanford Health. “Susan and Karla embody all the important qualities we value as an organization. Both are uniquely qualified to tackle the challenges and opportunities of their communities. I am confident they will be successful in their new roles and keep Sanford Health’s momentum growing.”