Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers announced Dec. 16 that Kim Hawthorne, MBA, FACHE, has been named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization. Hawthorne, an experienced healthcare executive, succeeded Mari Freiberg and took office on December 13. Freiberg, who had served as CEO since 2003, pursued a career in community and business development at the Bank of Cashton.
Hawthorne brings over 35 years of healthcare leadership experience and talent, including having worked in public health and health systems such as Gundersen, Mayo and the Monroe Clinic.
“Kim is an obvious force who can help take Scenic Bluffs to the next level,” Freiberg said. “The Health Center has a great opportunity to drive initiatives forward in a new voice with critical experience, creative ideas, good questions, and plenty of curiosity about what makes Scenic Bluffs tick. I’m excited to see the amazing things Scenic Bluffs will do under his leadership.
Hawthorne received her Bachelor of Science in Community Health Administration from Northern Illinois University and an Executive Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Additionally, she is a Certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executive (FACHE). Hawthorne holds numerous professional honors and awards, is an experienced speaker and presenter, and has been involved with numerous state and community boards, coalitions, and committees. She has skills in strategic planning, financial management, public policy and medical practice management, among others. Hawthorne is the third CEO in the health center’s 27-year history.
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Hawthorne resides in Westby with her husband Jim. They have two adult daughters – Claire who lives in Sun Prairie and Allison (Ryan) from Mount Horeb.
Scenic Bluffs is a non-profit community health care provider that provides primary care and health care access services to patients in the area. The health center, which opened in April 1994, is part of a network of nearly 1,400 community health centers nationwide. Community health centers – also known as Federal Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) – provide care for people regardless of insurance status or income, offer variable-fee programs to reduce costs and health care barriers and are overseen by a board of directors that must be 60% consumers.
Scenic Bluffs has health centers in Cashton and Norwalk, additional dental services in La Crosse and Viroqua, and additional behavioral health services in La Crosse and several area school districts. Scenic Bluffs accepts Wisconsin Medicaid, Medicare, most private insurance, and caters for those without insurance. Additionally, Scenic Bluffs offers a fee schedule program, available to people with or without insurance, that can lower the cost of care for those who qualify. Qualifications are based on household size and individual income.
For more information about the services provided by Scenic Bluffs, visit scenicbluffs.org or call 608-654-5100.
