Ascension Health and Columbia St. Mary’s Health System announced that Travis Andersen has been named president and chief executive officer of Columbia St. Mary’s Health System in Milwaukee.
Andersen assumes the role previously held by Mark Taylor, who retired at the end of June. Andersen will begin his new responsibilities on Aug. 4.
Andersen comes to Columbia St. Mary’s Health System from Ministry Health Care, where he has served as president of St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and oversaw Calumet Medical Center, a critical access hospital located in Chilton.
Andersen came to Wisconsin in 2001, when he joined Affinity Health System (which became a wholly-owned ministry of Ministry Health Care in 2012), as director of business development. Prior to coming to Wisconsin, Andersen was an area manager with John Deere Health of Moline, Ill., where he had responsibility for 120,000 members of its health plan.
“I am honored to be joining an organization with such a storied history and passion for care and service. Together, we can continue moving forward and build upon the tremendous progress and innovations of Columbia St. Mary’s, as the organization upholds its legacy of care in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas,” Andersen said.
Nick Desien, president and CEO of Ministry Health Care and the Ascension Health ministry market leader for Wisconsin, said, “Travis has done an outstanding job of advancing St. Elizabeth Hospital. He has engaged and energized not only the organizations’ physicians, associates and boards but also the entire Appleton community. He is an excellent choice to lead Columbia St. Mary’s.”
Ascension Health is the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system.
