President and CEO
Aspirus Health | Wausau
Under Matt Heywood’s leadership since 2013, Wausau-based Aspirus Health has grown from a $600 million to $2.5 billion health system, thanks largely to its aggressive M&A strategy.
Today, Aspirus includes 18 hospitals and 130 outpatient locations throughout Wisconsin, northeastern Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It employs nearly 14,000 people, including 1,300 physicians and advanced practice clinicians.
Aspirus has enveloped several health systems in recent years. It acquired Portage-based Divine Savior Healthcare in 2019, creating a $1.4 billion combined health system. Aspirus then brought seven former Ascension hospitals, 21 physician clinics and air and ground medical transport services into its system in 2021. Earlier in 2024, Aspirus acquired Duluth, Minnesota-based St. Luke’s, a two-hospital health system with about $560 million in annual revenue.
Heywood has nearly 30 years of business and health care leadership experience. Before joining Aspirus, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of New Hanover Health Network in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Heywood currently serves on the boards of the Wisconsin Hospital Association, YMCA Foundation, Northcentral Technical College Foundation and Greater Wausau Prosperity Partnership.
Education: Bachelor’s, Dartmouth College; MBA, University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
President and CEO
Aspirus Health  | Wausau
Matt Heywood has led Wausau-based Aspirus Health as its president and chief executive officer since 2013. The nonprofit health system has 11,000 employees and operates 17 hospitals and 75 clinics throughout Wisconsin and Michigan.
Under Heywood’s leadership, Aspirus acquired Portage-based Divine Savior Healthcare in 2019, creating a $1.4 billion combined health system. In 2021, the health system acquired seven hospitals, 21 physician clinics and air and ground medical transport services – located across north and central Wisconsin – from Ascension Wisconsin. The ownership change added 2,700 employees to the Aspirus system.
The system is also currently building a new $15.6 million hospital in Ontonagon in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and earlier this year, it opened a new primary care clinic in downtown Wausau.
Heywood has served on the boards of the United Way of Marathon County, Woodson YMCA Foundation and the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
Before joining Aspirus, Heywood was executive vice president and chief operating officer of New Hanover Health Network in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Education: Bachelor’s, Dartmouth College; master’s, University of Michigan School of Business