Altru Selects Dr. Josh Deere as New President

Grand Forks, N.D. - Altru Health System announced today that Dr. Josh Deere has been selected as Altru’s president, effective today, September 1, 2022.

“On behalf of Altru’s Board of Directors, we are thrilled to share that Dr. Josh Deere will be Altru’s next president,” shared Karen Thingelstad, chair of Altru’s Board of Directors. “Dr. Deere’s experience in physician leadership, focus on providing exceptional patient experiences and a long-standing commitment to our community align with the vision the board of directors has for this role.”

Dr. Deere has been a physician leader at Altru for eleven years, serving as chair of family medicine for four years, medical director of primary care for seven years and most recently as the interim chief medical officer since February of 2022. He has practiced as a primary care physician at Altru since 2009.

“I am excited to become Altru’s president and to continue serving our organization in physician leadership,” shared Dr. Deere. “As president, I, along with my physician leader colleagues, bring clinical expertise to the forefront, ensuring decisions are made with the care of the patient at the center. I am honored to continue to work alongside Todd Forkel, Altru’s CEO, as we lead our team toward Altru’s vision of providing world-class care to the residents we serve.”

Originally from Kennedy, Minn., Dr. Deere earned his medical degree from the University of North Dakota and completed a family medicine residency through the Altru Family Medicine Residency program. Dr. Deere and his wife, Liz, have two children, Olivia (15) and Isaac (11). In his free time, he enjoys spending time at the lake with family, traveling and playing golf.

“Being on the leadership team for our locally owned health system is a privilege,” expressed Dr. Deere. “I have spent my entire life in the upper Red River Valley, and it is incredibly important to me to continue to provide high-quality care, close to home for those we serve.”