Byline: CHEN MAY YEE; STAFF WRITER
After six months without a leader, Hazelden Foundation on Monday named hospital executive Mark Mishek to head the famed drug and alcohol addiction treatment center.
Mishek is president of United Hospital in St. Paul. He takes over as president and chief executive of Hazelden after the stormy tenure of Ellen Breyer, who modernized Hazelden but ultimately alienated many in the close-knit recovery community.
A 57-year-old St. Paul native, Mishek has more than 20 years' experience with Allina Hospitals and Clinics, the biggest provider group in the Twin Cities area.
Mishek 'has demonstrated his ability to manage complex health care organizations,' said Norb Conzemius, chairman of Hazelden's Board of Trustees. 'His contribution and level of commitment to service and quality patient care will be a valuable asset to Hazelden as we grow and innovate.'
Just as weighty in the insular treatment world is Mishek's other credential: He is in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction and has been sober for 13 years.
He comes on board at a time of change in the industry. The recovery movement, which started at Hazelden 60 years ago and spread around the country, was battered by managed care in the 1990s as health insurers favored cheaper short stays and outpatient treatment over the Minnesota Model of costly, inpatient care.
More recently, Hazelden and other standard-bearers of abstinence have grappled with whether to embrace new pharmaceuticals that treat addiction. They also face competition from new spa-like treatment centers favored by Hollywood celebrities.
While no longer the go-to place it once was, Hazelden remains a giant in its field. In 2007, it had operating revenue of $109.3 million and a record 10,754 patients. Donors gave a record $12 million.
Money and mission
As chief executive, Breyer brought big changes during her five years at Hazelden, including opening a women's center and launching a branding makeover.
But some of her moves were controversial, such as signing a major contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and moving Hazelden's corporate headquarters from its main campus in Center City to downtown Minneapolis. In her final months at Hazelden, there was an exodus in the executive ranks before Breyer resigned in February and left in April.
Mishek won't start until November, but those who await his arrival hope he'll succeed in forging a happier marriage between money and mission.
'Professionally, he has the business acumen crucial to meeting the challenges Hazelden faces,' said William Moyers, executive director of Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy. 'On the other hand, as a person in long-term recovery, he understands the heart and soul of what the mission is.'
Mishek has deep experience managing conflict. Before becoming president of United Hospital, he was general counsel at Allina when it and then sister-company Medica were under investigation by then-Attorney General Mike Hatch over administrative expenses.
Asked about career highlights, Mishek cites seeing the organization through Hatch's audit as his 'biggest achievement' in 27 years at Allina.
In five years at United Hospital, Mishek has raised funds to rebuild and equip an aging campus, revamped the neurosciences program and is building a new Emergency Department. The hospital had $450 million in revenue last year, four times that of Hazelden.
When he heard the top job at Hazelden was open, Mishek said, he was not looking to move. But Hazelden's reputation and his own experience with addiction swayed him.
'The mission at Hazelden is very important to me personally,' he said. 'I could see it was a great fit.'
Chen May Yee - 612-673-7434
MARK G. MISHEK
Age: 57
Home: St. Paul
Education: Bachelor's degree (1974) and law degree (1977) from the University of Minnesota.
Current job: President of United Hospital, St. Paul, part of Allina Hospitals and Clinics.
Starting Nov. 3: President and chief executive of Hazelden Foundation, Center City, Minn.
Other interests: Chair of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and on the boards of Capital City Partnership and ClearWay Minnesota. Past board member of Portico Healthnet.
Source: Hazelden Foundation
