Carol Friesen serves as CEO of OSF HealthCare Eastern Region. OSF HealthCare is a 14-hospital, $3.7 billion-net revenue, and 24,000-mission partner health system. In her current role, Friesen has responsibility for OSF HealthCare’s Northern Region, composed of four hospitals in Illinois and Michigan, three centers for health, three cancer centers, and a college of nursing in Illinois. Altogether she oversees roughly $800 million in net revenue, 4,000 mission partners, and 1,400 physicians and advanced practice providers.

 

Over her career, Friesen has served as CEO, CFO and vice president for different organizations. Prior to joining OSF HealthCare, Friesen served as vice president of health system services at Bryan Health, led the 52-member hospital Heartland Health Alliance, and served as president and CEO of Bryan Health—Crete Area Medical Center. She started her career in finance and served as CFO before transitioning into operations.

 

Friesen served as the national chair of Health Financial Management Association for the 2017–2018 term. A member since 1999, her HFMA involvement at the national, regional and local levels has been extensive and marked with numerous awards, including the Metal of Honor and Shelton Award. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and was awarded an ACHE Early Careerist Award in 2007. Through continual involvement, Friesen is a frequent speaker, moderator and guest faculty member at regional and national ACHE events.

 

She holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Bellevue (Neb.) University.