Michael Austin of Brainerd, FACHE, was recently promoted to Cuyuna Regional Medical Center’s Executive Director of Acute Care.

In his new position, Austin oversees the Medical/Surgical Unit, Emergency Department, Intensive Care, Obstetrics, Inpatient Pharmacy, and Wound Care and has ultimate accountability for the overall delivery of care and services. He manages the departments in a cost-effective manner while offering high level oversight of daily operations through direct leadership, and oversight of quality, staffing levels/modeling, healthcare, and regulatory compliance. He is responsible for ensuring smooth operations in the departments, completion of special projects, is involved in strategic planning and organizational wide goals, and assists in the creation of a culture of safety across the organization. 

A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders, Austin previously served as CRMC’s Director of Pharmacy. A pharmacist at the hospital since 2005, Austin earned his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree at the University of Minnesota. He also holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from The College of St. Scholastica. Austin and his wife, Julie, a Central Lakes College professor, have four children.

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