MEDICAL ALLEY, Minn. (1/30/2024) — Medical Alley® announced the appointment of James Hereford as Board Chair, along with Scott Cundy, Heidi Dieter, and Aaron Hudy to the Medical Alley Board of Directors, effective immediately.
“As Medical Alley celebrates its 40th anniversary, I am delighted to welcome James Hereford as the new Chair of our Board of Directors, alongside the esteemed additions of Scott Cundy, Heidi Dieter, and Aaron Hudy,” Medical Alley President and CEO Roberta “Bobbie” Dressen said. “Their diverse expertise and visionary leadership are invaluable assets to Medical Alley. Together, we are poised to further cement Medical Alley’s position as the epicenter of health innovation and care.”
James Hereford is the president and chief executive officer of Fairview Health Services, overseeing 10 hospitals and medical centers, and more than 34,000 employees. Prior to joining Fairview, Hereford served as chief operations officer at Stanford Health Care. He succeeds Jodi Hubler, who completed her term as Board Chair in 2023.
“It’s an honor to serve as Chair of the Medical Alley Board of Directors, a global leader in healthcare innovation,” Hereford said. “It’s a privilege to lead alongside such a dynamic team at a time when our mission — to activate and amplify healthcare transformation — is more vital than ever.”
Scott Cundy currently serves as senior vice president and chief quality officer at Medtronic, overseeing global quality for the company. He has an extensive background in product quality, engineering, and regulatory affairs, complimented by significant execution and operations expertise. Cundy is also a member of the Medtronic Executive Committee.
“For me personally, Medical Alley has been such a wonderful resource,” Cundy said. “I am excited to share my expertise and insights with an organization that has shared so much with me.”
Heidi Dieter is the chief research administrator for Mayo Clinic. In this role, Dieter drives efforts across the organization to advance the research mission and strategic priorities of Mayo Clinic. In her 17 years at Mayo Clinic, she has held several leadership roles within research and clinical practice. Prior to Mayo Clinic, she spent ten years as a leader in for profit health care companies across the country.
“I look forward to joining the board of Medical Alley to work with its members focused on innovation and care,” Dieter said. “Research at Mayo Clinic relentlessly drives cures through discoveries that deliver hope and better health today and for future generations.”
Aaron Hudy serves as United States and Canada West Central Region President at GE Healthcare. Hudy has more than 25 years of healthcare experience, including senior leadership roles at Siemens Healthcare, Toshiba Medical Systems, and Phillips Healthcare.
“Medical Alley has created an instrumental network of healthcare leaders working to transform care,” said Hudy. “I am overjoyed to have the opportunity to work alongside my colleagues on the board and help make a positive difference in the lives of clinicians and patients. This is a pivotal time in our industry, and as leaders, we have a responsibility to advocate for innovative solutions and access to quality care.”
Cundy and Dieter will succeed Sheri Dodd and Jim Rogers respectively, both of whom completed their tenures on the Medical Alley Board of Directors at the close of 2023. Dodd and Rogers were highly influential in the growth of the organization, both serving as Board Chair; Dodd from 2019 to 2021, Rogers from 2021 to 2023.
“I want to sincerely thank Jodi, Sheri, and Jim for their dedication and service to Medical Alley,” Dressen said. “Their contributions – specifically in leading Medical Alley through the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing our Health Transformation Initiative (HTI), and launching Medical Alley Starts have set the stage for a new era of dynamic growth and innovation. Their legacy will continue to be a beacon of inspiration for us all at Medical Alley.”
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About Medical Alley®: Founded in 1984, Medical Alley represents one of the most diverse and influential healthcare communities in the world. Our global network of more than 800 partners spans the full continuum of care – from payers to providers to digital health, biotech, medical device and everything in between. Our vision is to elevate the Medical Alley region as the epicenter of health innovation and care.
