For Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD — The Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Foundation has named members of its inaugural board of directors.

Retired Marshfield Clinic physician Dr. William Hocking will chair the board, which oversees philanthropic support to pursue new initiatives and enrich the lives of patients and their families while continuing to engage and help communities served by MCHS.

“I am honored to serve as the first chair of the Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation board,” Hocking said. “After spending my career at Marshfield Clinic, I am delighted to have this opportunity to continue to contribute to the success of this great organization. We have an outstanding group of board members, and I look forward to serving with them. Philanthropy will play an increasingly important role in health care, and our new foundation positions us for success for many years to come.”

Board members include:

—Three-year terms: Michael Smith, private wealth advisor, Ameriprise Financial Services; David Krause, vice president, Forward Financial Bank; and Dr. John Przybylinski, Marshfield Clinic internal medicine physician.

—Two-year terms: Al Nystrom, president, BMO Harris Bank in Marshfield; Mike Schmidt, retired president, Ascension Saint Joseph’s Hospital; Sheri Dick, vice president of marketing and e-commerce, Figi’s; and Ken Heiman, co-owner, Nasonville Dairy.

—One-year terms: Dr. Jessica Wernberg, Marshfield Clinic surgeon, and Robert Marsh, retired president, Marsh Insurance.

—Ad hoc members: Dr. Susan Turney, MCHS CEO; Dr. Narayana Murali, Marshfield Clinic executive director and MCHS chief clinical strategy officer; and Teri Wilczek, MCHS Foundation chief philanthropy officer.

“As a mission-driven organization, our top priority is to improve the health of our communities,” Turney said. “Philanthropy helps us provide accessible, affordable, compassionate care to more patients and fund research and education programs that set MCHS apart. Serving hundreds of thousands of people in our rural area underscores the need and importance of philanthropy as MCHS grows. Philanthropy ensures our programs flourish and remain strong, and some of them would not be possible without donor support.”

“Philanthropy is at the heart of the health system’s mission, vision, and values,” said Wilczek. “We are so excited to have a board dedicated to supporting the foundation as we look forward to the future of enriching lives together.”

For more information about the foundation, go to marshfieldclinic.org/giving or contact the foundation office at 715-387-9249.