Senior Leadership

As demonstrated by ECHC's long-term success in transforming rural and Critical Access acute care facilities, Essentia Community Hospitals and Clinics leadership use their collective knowledge and experience to enhance operations and financial stability.

	Dan McGinty, MHA, is president and CEO of Essentia Community Hospitals and Clinics and has more than 20 years of experience in integrated acute care services, including the areas of strategic planning, governance and medical staff dynamics and relationships, hospital operations, clinic management and construction project management.
	Carl E. Heltne, MD, ECHC chief medical officer, previously served as an executive vice president of SMDC Health System and president of the Duluth Clinic during his 25-year career as a staff physician in cardiology. He also served as a board member of the SMDC Health System. Since 1980, he has been a clinical assistant professor at the University of Minnesota-Duluth School of Medicine and a preceptor for the Duluth Family Practice residency program.
	Michael Hedrix, MBA, ECHC senior vice president of operations, has more than 20 years of health care experience, specializing in rural hospital turn-around services and physician practice management. His prior experience adds knowledge gathered from 12 years in the banking and finance industry.
	Jess Hawley, JD, ECHC vice president, business development, served as a hospital administrator for more than 13 years. A past board chair of the Idaho Hospital Association, he also served nine years on the board of Blue Cross of Idaho, the state's largest health insurance company. He also brings a breadth of business experience from working at a Fortune 500 engineering and construction company. For 17 years prior, he had his own private law practice.