Trustee of the Year Nomination Summary

Art Skarohlid has contributed 27 years of his life serving his community by being its liaison on the Fairview Northland Medical Center Board of Directors. When asked to serve on the board, Art accepted because he knew it was a great opportunity to be an advocate and voice for the community. Art’s active participation and leadership has supported the organization in its journey, leading to results of exceptional patient experience and exceptional clinical care.

Trustee of the Year Nomination – Art Skarohlid

A lifetime resident of Princeton, Art Skarohlid entered into the health care arena with his appointment to the board of directors in 1987. He retired from the Fairview Northland Medical Center Board of Directors 27 years later. His contributions to our growth of services and high quality health care have left quite the legacy.

  • Art’s board experience started with his work for the Fairview Princeton Community Hospital which had more than 30 licensed beds, one operating room and a four-bed emergency room.
  • At that time, Fairview Health Services managed the hospitals in both Princeton and Milaca. As healthcare continued to change and volumes at Milaca and Princeton were on the decline, Fairview began to discuss creating ties with the neighboring communities. Art and fellow board members skillfully helped community members understand the need to merge the Milaca Community Hospital with the hospital in Princeton. This involved a very emotional closure of the hospital in Milaca in 1991 with its conversion into a primary care clinic.
  • In 1991, the board pursued capital to build a new hospital. Art and the other members of the board had the foresight and persistence to help lobby for the purchase of additional land to support the future growth of the medical services in the community as well as relocate from downtown Princeton to a more visible location on Highway 169.
  • As the new hospital was nearing completion in 1992, Art was instrumental in Fairview’s acquisition of Rum River Medical Associates, serving on the first board of the new clinic structure as well as the hospital board. Both groups were very comforted by having Art on the board and knowing he would assure that the focus of all discussions was on serving the community.
  • In the next ten years, the board and leadership helped us to blossom with a 2005 expansion of the facility, doubling the size of the emergency department, expanding the number of operating rooms and adding a third floor with a new birthing center.
  • In the recent years, Fairview Northland realized the need to take the organization to the next level. Art, along with leadership, set the course for its 2020 vision of being a regional specialty hub. This has led to our campus addition of a specialty medical office building, expected to open in 2015

Art Skarohlid embraces the Fairview values—dignity, integrity, service and compassion and uses them in his leadership of the board. Over the years, as the organization went through times of downsizing, Art recognized and supported the need to downsize but always remembered that lives would be impacted. As a highly visible member in a small community, Art would “artfully” show compassion to those affected, help others understand and support the decisions made by the board.

Art has demonstrated strong leadership by serving three terms (9 years) as chair of the board as well as multiple terms as vice chair. Over the years, Arts has graciously assumed vacated officer positions to assure the board remains effective. He has served as the liaison to the corporate board representing Fairview Northland and the community in this role. Art has been an active partner in strategic planning as well as providing governance involvement in Joint Commission surveys.

Art has seen Fairview Northland steadily raise its performance and services and evolve its culture into a workplace that’s received multiple awards including MHA Best Hospital Workplace (Small Category).

Art also has strongly supported the development of Rum River Health Services, a not-for-profit community resource for health needs not met by the traditional health system. His involvement in this organization along with Fairview Northland has facilitated a strong working relationship between us to better serve ourcommunity.

Art always comments “we are blessed to have a hospital in our community.” We at Fairview Northland and the Princeton community are blessed to have him volunteer his time, talents and leadership to the board.

The 27 years of service alone could be the basis for recognition as Trustee of the Year. But it’s not just his years of service, it’s his unwavering passion to assure our community has access to high quality, patient-focused care that makes Art Skarohlid stand out as the Trustee of the Year!