After more than two decades of service and leadership to northern Minnesota, Karla Eischens, RPh, president and CEO of Sanford Health in Bemidji, will retire at the end of 2025.
Eischens has proudly served in the role since 2022, building on a 21-year career with Sanford Health. Under her leadership, Sanford Bemidji expanded the Heart and Vascular Center and the Peak Center, expanded access to behavioral health with the region’s first crisis center and navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier in her career, Eischens advanced from pharmacist to director of pharmacy, helping to establish the home infusion pharmacy in the newly designed Joe Lueken Cancer Center Pharmacy, opened the Sanford Blackduck Pharmacy and expanded the regional 340B drug pricing program to reach more patients in need.
Deeply connected to the region, Eischens has championed the people, services and innovations that make high-quality care accessible close to home. Her leadership has strengthened the organization and fostered a culture of trust, excellence and pride.
Next Bemidji region CEO is a surgeon
Jason Caron, M.D., a long-time orthopedic surgeon and respected leader within Sanford Health, has been named her successor and will assume the role of president and CEO of the Sanford Bemidji region.
“It has been the honor of my career to serve the Bemidji region and to work alongside such an exceptional team,” Eischens said. “I’m incredibly proud of all we’ve accomplished together in Bemidji and have full confidence in Dr. Caron’s ability to carry on our mission to care, comfort and cure.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Caron has held several leadership roles, including orthopedic department chair, surgery service line chair and chair of the Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota Board of Directors. He was also recently named Sanford Health’s 2023 Clinician Leader of the Year, an honor awarded to a provider who demonstrates outstanding clinical skill, leadership, mentorship and integrity — living out Sanford’s values in every facet of their work.
“I’m incredibly honored to step into this role and continue building on the strong foundation Karla has helped create,” Dr. Caron said. “Bemidji is my home, and I care deeply about this community, our patients and our people. I look forward to leading with the same commitment to excellence and compassion that has defined Sanford Health in this region.”
Dr. Caron and his wife, Angie, have seven children and are actively engaged in the community. He enjoys the outdoors and participates in mission work in Peru through Scalpel at the Cross.
Dr. Caron will gradually reduce his patient load during the transition but will continue to see patients and plans to remain active in clinical practice after assuming his new role. Over the coming months, Eischens and Caron will work side by side to ensure a smooth, coordinated leadership transition in the Bemidji region.
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Posted In Bemidji, Company News, Leadership in Health Care, News
