Avera St. Mary’s Hospital and Avera Health announces appointments to its Board of Directors for its new fiscal year which began July 1, 2026.
Avera St. Mary’s Hospital
Kristin Brost.
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After serving as vice chair since 2024, Kristin Brost will serve as board chair, serving a two-year term that runs through June 30, 2028. She was reappointed to a second four-year term in 2025. She is past chair of the Capital Area Counseling Service Board, and has served as a board member for the South Dakota Discovery Center, Post 8 Baseball, Oahe YMCA and Pierre Players Community Theater.
She is Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BankWest.
“I look forward to continuing to work alongside the dedicated board members and employees of Avera St. Mary’s. It is a privilege to serve our mission and support efforts that strengthen connections between our communities and our exceptional healthcare professionals,” Brost said.
Jeff Hallem.
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Jeff Hallem will serve as vice chair. Jeff joined the board in 2024 for a four-year term following a career as an attorney with the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.
Outgoing board chair Rob Wylie will continue serving as a board member. He was reappointed to a second four-year term in 2025.
Avera St. Mary’s governing board includes Jamie Cronin of Gettysburg, SD; Dr. Mark Hagy, Meredith Lee, Rachel Williams, all of Pierre, SD; Rita Blasius, of Parkston, SD; and Sr. Debra Kolecka, OSB, of Yankton, SD. Rita and Sr. Kolecka are both members of the Caring for Life Catholic Health Ministries.
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“Our board members serve as important ambassadors for Avera St. Mary’s, bringing the perspectives of our communities to the table while championing the needs of our patients, residents and employees. Their partnership helps ensure we remain responsive to those we serve and faithful to our Mission. I am grateful for the time, expertise and insight each board member contributes in service to Avera St. Mary’s,” said Shantel Krebs, Regional President and CEO of Avera St. Mary’s. “I look forward to working alongside Kristin and benefiting from her thoughtful leadership and perspective as she guides our board over the next two years. I also extend my sincere gratitude to Rob for his years of dedicated leadership as board chair. His guidance, commitment and steadfast support have helped strengthen Avera St. Mary’s.”
Avera Health
Robert Fouberg.
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Robert Fouberg will serve as board chair, serving a two-year term that runs through June 30, 2028. He has been a board member since 2020.
Fouberg, of Aberdeen, is Chairman and CEO of Dacotah Bank and its parent holding company, Dacotah Banks, Inc. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Augustana University, Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His career spans private law practice, policy work in Washington, D.C., and leadership within the banking industry. Fouberg also serves on the boards of South Dakota Community Foundation, Enterprise 605, Inc., and the American Bankers Association Foundation, and has served on the Avera St. Luke’s Hospital Board of Directors.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as board chair during an exciting season of growth and innovation for Avera. I look forward to working with fellow board members and Avera leaders to live out the Avera mission in the communities we serve,” Fouberg said.
Doneen Hollingsworth.
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Doneen Hollingsworth of Pierre, SD, remains vice chair. Hollingsworth is retired Secretary of Health for the state of South Dakota and held other roles in state government. She has served on the South Dakota Board of Nursing and the boards of Capital Area Counseling Services and Boys and Girls Clubs of the Capital Area. She joined the Avera board in 2019.
The Avera Health Board welcomes new board members, J. Pat Costello, Dr. Andrew Ellsworth and Danna Schuster.
Pat Costello.
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Costello, of Sioux Falls, has a broad range of experience that includes accounting, the food and beverage industry, government, small business and economic development. He was previously the market manager for Builders FirstSource, and earlier was President/CEO of Schoeneman’s Building Materials Center. He has served as Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Sioux Falls City Councilor. He is past chair of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation Board and holds a degree from Arizona State University. He’s also past board chair and member of the Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center Board of Trustees.
Andrew Ellsworth.
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Dr. Ellsworth, of Brookings, SD, is a family medicine physician with Access Health and Avera Brookings Medical Clinic. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Augustana University, medical degree from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine, and attended residency at the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho. Dr. Ellsworth is a past president of the South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians. He has served on the boards for the Brookings Health System, Avera Health Plans and the American Academy of Primary Care Endoscopy. He volunteers his time with On Call with the Prairie Doc, which includes a newspaper column, radio show and a live medical information television show on South Dakota Public Broadcasting.
Danna Schuster.
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Schuster, of Le Mars, Iowa, held positions in insurance sales, marketing and development, and in recent years has focused on community service. She is current board chair for Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars and Board President for Le Mars Community Theatre, past board member for Gehlen Catholic School, as well as many other service positions. She holds a bachelors of arts degree from Buena Vista University.
Outgoing board members are Dr. Jason Wickersham and Dr. Luis Rojas.
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“We thank Robert Fouberg for his leadership as incoming board chair and appreciate the perspective he brings as a leader in banking, law and public policy. We also thank Doneen Hollingsworth for drawing upon her depth of knowledge and experience as she continues to serve as vice chair,” said Jim Dover, FACHE, President and CEO of Avera Health. “We welcome our new board members and thank Drs. Wickersham and Rojas for their service on the board. Avera truly benefits from experienced leaders such as these, and we appreciate their willingness to share their time and talents to benefit Avera staff, patients and their families.”
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