Anna Solem

36

St. Luke’s Hospital

What do you do professionally?

I am a Registered Nurse by trade with a background in acute bedside nursing. I obtained both my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and my Rural Healthcare Administration MBA from St. Scholastica. I have been the Director of Case Management at St. Luke’s Hospital for almost five years and even stepped up for a brief interim role as Chief Nursing Officer. In my role I oversee a team of registered nurses and social workers who manage the discharge planning needs of our hospitalized patients, as well as interfacing with insurance companies for those who are hospitalized. My team is an immensely dedicated group of individuals who really keep the gears turning within the hospital and coordinate the great care provided at St. Luke’s.

How are you involved in the community? Do you volunteer with any organizations? I have coached youth soccer, been a Girl Scout troop leader, and a mentor with Mentor Connection through North Force to help the development of up and coming collegiate students in the healthcare field, in addition to supporting local veteran organizations.

What is important to you?

majority of my time is spent running between varying sporting events to cheer on our kids. I also enjoy being the semi-useful pit-crew for my husband during the summer as he races both wing and non-wing sprint cars. Our life is incredibly busy but we are immensely blessed because we have a great support network of friends and family.

Favorite things about living and working in the Northland?

Being born and raised here, I really appreciate that we have the balance of both access to the benefits of a moderately sized city life, while also having immediate access to the wilderness. I live in the county, enjoy hiking our trails and being in nature. But I also enjoy our access to concerts at Bayfront, our local restaurants and even our breweries.

What advice would you give to up and coming professionals?

From the nominator

“Anna has accomplished much for her age. She is resilient and hard working. She is known for her positivity and collaboration. She consistently supports her team and celebrates their achievements. She is full of experience and expertise, but always remains approachable and easy to talk to. No matter how much is on her plate, Anna takes time to connect with people and show that she truly cares. Her calmness and grace benefit St. Luke’s patients, and never more so than during the pandemic. Clearly, Anna loves her job and the people she works with. She’s an asset to St. Luke’s as a whole and a shining example of what it means to put The Patient. Above All Else.”

Life is all about balance, having a strong work ethic and genuine connections. I have an incredibly busy home life with my own two children and my two step-children with all four between the ages of 5 and 10. I also have to manage a challenging yet rewarding career. Family must always come first, but I also feel an immense need to support and protect my own team at work. I firmly believe that my work ethic, as well as the genuine connections I make with those around me, has gotten me to where I am in life, thus holding great importance.

How do you spend your free time?

My free time is spent supporting my children and husband during this phase of my life. Although I find time for myself to read a good book, spend time with my close girlfriends, as well as snowshoe in the woods at my house, the

Focus on finding joy in what you do. Make genuine connections with those whom you work with and lean into those around you to support both your growth and your knowledge base. Take your job seriously, but always have the ability to smile and laugh along the way. Allow people to experience you at face value because this fosters trust, which goes a long way in your career development. Don’t aim to climb the ladder, just aim to do a great job, support your peers and the rest will come.

Favorite moment in life?

I am someone who doesn’t have favorites; however, the births of my children and marrying the love of my life definitely are right up there at the top.

Who has inspired you or your favorite motivational quote?

“If you are more fortunate than others, it is better to build a longer table than a taller fence.” — Tamlyn

Tomita