• Employee spotlight
• Leadership
• Board of directors
• Fairview Foundation
• Fairview Auxiliary

Fairview's 20,000+ employees are at the core of our care. Meet some of our employees who are proud to say, "I am Fairview."


Chris Meyers Janda, 2007 Contracting Professional of the Year, Journal of Healthcare Contracting

Chris was named Contracting Professional of the Year by the Journal of Healthcare Contracting for her innovation and her involvement of clinicians in her department's work.

As Fairview vice president, Supply Chain, Chris has accountability for Corporate Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Supply, Capital and Professional Services Contracting, Utilization and Standardization of Products, Transportation and the Central Processing Center, which processes all clinical instruments across the five care systems. She co-sponsors the Technology Assessment Committee (TAC) with the Office of Clinical Affairs and has responsibility for the site-based Supply Chain departments (Receiving, Internal Preparation, Internal Distribution, Inventory Management, JIT Central Stores and Linen).

"Chris has strong leadership, management and personal skills that make her highly effective," said Jim Fox, Fairview senior vice president and chief financial officer. "Her value to Fairview's senior leadership is well-recognized."

Gordon L. Alexander, Jr., 2007 Carl N. Platou Courageous Leadership Award

Gordon L. Alexander, Jr. began his affiliation with Fairview as an obstetrician and gynecologist, helping birth thousands of babies. After leaving private practice, he continued to be involved in births—of programs and relationships to help ensure Fairview achieves its vision to be the best health care delivery system in America. Gordy received the 2007 Fairview Courageous Leadership Award, recognizing a Fairview leader who moves us in new directions, who has created lasting, positive results and who creates a legacy. Gordy has an unusual ability to lead with both his intellect and his heart. His unique leadership style creates strong followers who are committed to him and the strategic direction he sets. Gordy leads the way with a focus on doing what is right for our patients each day. Gordy took the helm of University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview—the state’s largest medical center and the primary teaching hospital for the University of Minnesota—in 1998. He was a key member of the team that, a year earlier, created the University and Fairview partnership from which the medical center was born. Gordy’s Fairview leadership experiences are wide-ranging: Fairview Ridges Hospital’s medical staff chief, president of Fairview Clinics, the first board chair of Fairview Physician Associates and the Fairview system chief medical officer.


Kate Cummings, 2007 Fairview Cares Award

Kate Cummings, director of Fairview Hospice, received the 2007 Fairview Cares Award for her volunteer work, which is both local and international in scope. On behalf of Open Arms, Kate has been a leader in recruiting volunteers from Fairview Hospice to deliver meals to local people living with HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Kate has participated in numerous bicycle rides to raise money and awareness for HIV/ AIDS. She rode 300 miles during the Red Ribbon Ride last summer. Kate is a co-founder of Arm in Arm in Africa, a group that provides various types of help—including food, medical supplies and equipment—to people in two South African communities, Guguletu and Malungeni. Kate Cummings tirelessly renders services that are aimed at making a difference in other people’s lives. During five trips to South Africa, Kate, a registered nurse, has shared her knowledge with care providers. In 2006, she helped spearhead a project to package and ship 7,000 meals to Malungeni. Kate also has served as president of Hospice Minnesota since January 2006.

Mark Nelson, 2006 Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety recognition

As director of pharmacy at Fairview Lakes health Services, Mark co-led a team that improved the accuracy of patient records, leading to an estimated 31 percent decrease in potential errors for hospitalized and discharged patients. Fairview Lakes was honored by the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety for the effort, which included the creation of innovative tools and processes.

Mark's department consistently earns high employee engagement marks. Mark, who is respected for his wisdom and thoughtfulness, said he focuses on giving staff the tools and environment they need to be efficient and to obtain the best patient outcomes.